Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review

When Downton Abbey premiered more than a decade ago, it looked to be nothing more than your run-of-the-mill BPD (British Period Drama). Who knew that it would become a worldwide cultural phenomenon that still enthralls audiences?

Downton Abbey: A New Era hit theaters a few weeks ago. The film starts with the wedding of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton). After the ceremony, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) announces that she has inherited a previously unknown villa in the south of France. While Robert (Hugh Bonneville), Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), and most of the family travel to see this newest acquisition, Mary (Michelle Dockery) stays behind.

With the roof leaking, she has accepted an offer from a Director to use the Abbey as a film set. Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) brings the glamour of Hollywood along with his lead actors: Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock).

The best word to describe the experience of watching this film is meta. This movie was made with so much love that it pours out of the screen. Julian Fellows brilliantly balances both the instinctive narrative and the wants of the audience. It’s not an easy task, given the expectations of the fanbase.

I’ve been a fan of the show since the first episode. I was not disappointed. It was everything I wanted and more.

My only qualm is that a little over 2 hours, it is just a tad long. However, Fellows gets a pass, given the number of storylines he has to balance.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Downton Abbey: A New Era is presently in theaters.

Advertisement

Mrs. Wilson Review

When we marry, the expectation is that the person we are marrying is who they say they are.

In the miniseries, Mrs. Wilson, Alison Wilson (Ruth Wilson, playing her grandmother), receives a rude awakening after the death of her much older husband, Alexander (Iain Glen). Her husband was good at keeping secrets. His most potent secret was that she was not his only living wife. Coleman (Fiona Shaw), her husband’s handler from World War II is not too forthcoming with information. There is also the question of Dorothy Wick (Keeley Hawes), who keeps popping up as Alison tries to find out the truth of her husband’s life. As the series flips between the beginnings of Alison and Alexander’s (who was known as Alec) early relationship during the war to the 1960’s, where the widowed Alison is desperate for answers.

I have to admit that I am impressed with this series. I am impressed because this is a very personal story for Wilson. It takes a lot to share a personal story that is part of her family lore with the public. As a viewer, I can understand why Alison was not the last woman to fall for Alec. He was charming, intelligent and appeared to radiate qualities that would qualify him as a good man.

Both Wilson and Glen are familiar faces to Masterpiece viewers. Wilson made her Masterpiece debut in the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre. In 2011, Glen had a brief role as Sir Richard Carlisle, Lady Mary’s fiance on Downton Abbey. As Alison and Alec, I was rooting for them as a couple. On the same note, my heart was aching for Alison as she grieved not only for her husband, but for the husband she knew.

I recommend it.

The first two episodes of Mrs. Wilson are online. The final episode airs this Sunday at 9PM on PBS. 

Downton Abbey Series 6 Episode 4: Tom Needs A Job, Gwen’s Back & Daisy Has Not Learned Her Lesson

As usual, this recap contains spoilers. Read at your own risk if you have not seen the episode.

Upstairs

• The issue with the hospital is becoming rather tiresome. Cora (Elizabeth McGovern)/Isobel (Penelope Wilton) vs Violet (Dame Maggie Smith) is become too intense. Please Julian Fellows, tell me that this story line will be put to bed soon.
• Not that Tom Branson (Allen Leech) is back, he needs a job. With Mary (Michelle Dockery) running the estate, Tom has to once more find his footing in the world that is Downton Abbey.
• Speaking of Mary, the Dowager and Lady Shackleton (Harriet Walter) are playing matchmaker. This time it’s Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), who Mary met at the end of season 5 at the rented country estate of Rose’s (Lily James) in-laws. While I have not been completely spoiled, I do know that Henry is more than a match for Mary.
• With the drama with her former editor in the past, Edith (Laura Carmichael) is looking to hire an editor, while her father, Robert (Hugh Bonneville) continues to deny that his health may not be what it once was. But Cora is beginning to suspect that a trip to the doctor is needed. Rosamund (Samantha Bond) returns to her childhood home to convince Edith become a trustee of woman’s college. Rosamund thinks she is playing matchmaker for Edith with the college’s treasurer, but something entirely different and wonderful occurs.
• In a mid-season surprise that made this fan very happy, the former Gwen Dawson (Rose Leslie) returned to Downton. Not as a housemaid, but as Mrs. Harding. Her husband, John  (Philip Battley) is the treasurer of the women’s college. Of course the first one to recognizes Gwen out of her uniform is Thomas (Rob James-Collier), who got too big for his britches this episode. But let’s stay upstairs for a little while longer before we venture downstairs. As soon as the light bulb goes off for the Crawley’s, Gwen starts talking about Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay). Bring on the waterworks. As a result of this lunch, Mary begins to question what she is doing with her life.   In case you need a reminder of Gwen’s time as housemaid, here it is.

Downstairs

• Back to Thomas. Now that Mr. and Mrs. Carson (Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan) are on their honeymoon, Thomas is in charge downstairs. He likes to be at the head of the table a little too much. Of course, it takes Robert to remind Thomas about the true nature of leadership.
• Mr. and Mrs. Carson return from their honeymoon at the end of the episode. The question is, what shall they be referred to as. For comfort’s sake, Carson and Mrs. Hughes. It’s nice to see that some things never change.
• I am thoroughly convinced that Julian Fellow’s sadistic streak has gone too far. Now that Anna (Joanne Froggatt) is pregnant, he decides to scare her, Mary and the audience by giving her what appears to be another miscarriage. Thankfully, Mary and Anna are able to get to London and confirm that Anna has not lost this pregnancy. The joy on Mr. Bates’s (Brendan Coyle) face that he is to be a father is contagious. I truly hope that we will see Baby Bates by the end of the series.
• The merry war at the Dowager house has quieted down, at least for this week.
• Miss Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) is approached by the police. Her former colleague who convinced her to steal the jewels years ago has been implicated in a similar crime. If Miss Baxter were to testify for the police, she might help them to put him away for good. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) tries to convince her to testify.
•  Now that Yew Tree Farm is empty, Daisy (Sophie McShera) is convinced that Cora has gone against her word to give to Mr. Mason (Paul Copley). Against the recommendation of her co-workers, she nearly knocks Cora down, thinking that Yew Tree Farm is going to someone else, but just at the last second, Robert tells her that it is going Mr. Mason.  That that was too close for comfort for me.

Overall 

We are about halfway through this final series. That means that the loose ends will slowly start to be tied up. I like the potential of Henry Talbot and Mary. It takes a certain kind of man to keep Lady Mary Crawley happy. As for the rest of the plot this episode, the pacing is good, I hope I will be pleasantly surprised and happy with the final episode.

Dowager quote of the week: On the subject of Henry Talbot as a possible match for Mary, “She needs more than a handsome smile,” Violet says upon seeing Mary with Henry, “and a hand on the gear shift.” Who knew the Dowager was that dirty?

See you next week.

 

Missing-Series 4 Spoiler READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

*-These characters belong with love and respect; belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc. I am simply a humble admirer borrowing the characters.

*-The story contains a spoiler based for series 4, episode 1. Read at your own risk.

Missing

It all happened so fast. George’s birth and Matthew’s accident.

There were nearly a 100 bedrooms for Mary to choose from after Matthew died. But she chose to stay in the bedroom that she shared with him during their short marriage, to sleep in the bed where their son, their only child was created.

It took three months of coaxing from Anna and Cora to convince to Mary to allow the sheets to be washed.

Mary’s depression caused her parents to be concerned. She had never been melancholy sort, but loosing Matthew seemed to have broken her.

She might have not left her room, if it wasn’t for Georgie. George Matthew Crawley, Mary and Matthew’s son and heir to his grandfather’s title was the light of her life. Her grandmother kept insisting that Mary hire a nursemaid, but Mary declined. The only person to nurse her son was his mother.

Tonight was a party being thrown in her honor. Robert and Cora hoped that some new faces might bring a smile to their eldest daughter’s face.

When Sybil died, Mary missed her sister and sympathized with her husband. Tom had become part of the family and Sybee was adored by the adults around her. But until Matthew died, she did not understand the magnitude of such a loss, to parent your child without the one person who you loved above all others.

Tom had been her rock in past six months; she didn’t know what she would do without him.

“Are you ready?” Cora gently knocked before stepping into the room while Anna put the finishing touches on Mary’s hair.

“As I will ever be”.

“Will there be anything else, milady” Anna asked.

“No, Anna, that will be all, thank you” with a final curtsy, Anna left the room.

“You look lovely, my darling”.

“I hope so, mama”.

As Mary began to ascend down the stairs, she heard George cry.

“Georgie”.

“Mary, I checked on Georgie and Sybie. They are both sleeping”.

“Mama, please, I will be right down, I promise”.

Entering the nursery, Mary found both her son and niece sleeping peacefully.

“I do the same thing” Tom came up behind her.

“Sybil would be proud of you, Tom, the way you’ve built your life here”.

“I think Matthew would say the same thing about you. He’s fine boy, Mary, you should be very proud of him”.

“I am, every day”.

“Tom, Mary, are you coming?” Now it was Edith’s turn to call out.

“Yes, we’re coming”.

The party was a great success. Mary’s smile started to slowly return that evening. Though she would never truly get over the loss of her husband, she knew that everything would be alright in the end.

Birthday

*-The only character that I have created is Reggie Crawley. The rest belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc.

Birthday

The invitations had been sent out three weeks ago. The RSVPS had been returned.

The decorations were being put up and the kitchen was working to make sure that the guests would be properly fed.

Tomorrow was the 10th birthday of Master Reginald Robert Crawley, grandson and heir to the Earl of Grantham.

It was also the 10th anniversary of the passing of his late father, Matthew Crawley.

Despite his young age, Reggie knew that his birthday was also the day that his father died in the car accident.

The adults around him spoke in low tones, trying to not spoil the celebration. His mother, Lady Mary Crawley and his paternal grandmother Isobel Crawley, each a vibrant and outgoing woman in her own right, were unusually quiet.

Mary was consulting with Anna about the finals details for the party when Reggie stood in her doorway.

“Mama, am I the reason that papa died?”.

“I’ll be back, my lady”.

“Come here” Reggie walked into his mother’s arms.

“You are not to blame for your father’s death. It was an accident, nothing else”.

“Why did he have to die?” Reggie asked, his eyes as blue as Matthew’s.

Mary had always known that Reggie was Matthew’s son, but at that moment, it as if Matthew was standing in front of her.

“If I had answer, darling, I would tell you. But I do know that your father is watching over us and I will always treasure our time together”.

“I miss him, mama”.

“We all miss him” Mary began to feel tears dot her eyelashes. It was nearly ten years since Matthew died, but the grief had never fully subsided.

Lifting her son’s face up to hers, she kissed his tears away.

“Papa wouldn’t want you crying, darling. He would want you to enjoy your birthday”.

“I love you, mama” Reggie again folded himself into his mother’s arms.

“And I love you, my darling boy”.

The party was a rousing success. The birthday boy was a gracious and giving host, the children invited thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Later that night, long after the guests had left, the party had been cleaned up and the residents of Downton Abbey had gone to bed, a sliver of moon light passed through windows.

It first stopped in Mary’s bedroom before darting into Reggie’s room.

“I’m here son, I will never leave your or mother, I promise” it then disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Relief – Series 3 Christmas Episode Spoiler- Read At Your Own Risk

*-The only character that I have created is Reggie Crawley. The rest belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc.

*-The story takes place right after World War II ends.

*-The story contains a huge and heartbreaking spoiler from the Christmas episode. If you have not seen the episode, read at your own risk.

*-WRAF- Womens Unit in the Royal Air Force. I didn’t do a lot of research about the WRAF, if the history isn’t 100% accurate, I apologize.
Relief

The war was coming to an end; the soldiers were finally coming home.

Lady Mary Crawley was not an emotional woman, at least not in her everyday life.

But today was not an ordinary day. Her son and only child, her darling boy, Reggie was coming home.

Matthew had died right after Reggie was born, that day was the hardest of her life. Her grandmother and Isobel died fifteen years ago, within six months of each other. Her mother died two years ago. She loved and missed them, but it was the death of Matthew so soon after their wedding and their son’s birth that nearly broke her.

In time, she began to heal and raised their son the way Matthew would have wanted him to be raised. Reggie had his father’s striking blue eyes and his humor, and his mother’s dark hair and intelligence.

When the war broke out, Mary knew that her son would enlist; it was just a matter of when.

“Will I do?” Reggie asked his mother, stepping into the library in full uniform.

“You will, my dear, very well” he looked so much like Matthew at that moment, it was hard to believe that the baby she once held in her arms was now a grown man.

“I will come back safe and sound, mother, I promise you”.

“I know you will”.

The war years were not easy for any of them, least of all, Mary. When it was announced that the war in Europe was over, Mary could finally smile again.

“Miss Branson, my lady” the maid announced. For a moment, Mary could see Anna; the girl only slightly resembled her.

Anna was more than an employee. Anna was more like a sister and a friend; Mary was as close to Anna as she was to Edith. After Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson retired, Anna and Bates took over the positions of housekeeper and butler. But the years wore on and Bates’s health began to decline. It was not easy to let Anna go to take care of her husband, but Mary knew it was the right thing to do.

“Sybee darling, I thought you were working until tomorrow” Sybee had followed in her mother’s footsteps, joining the nursing core of the WRAF. After her honorable discharge, Sybee took a position as a nurse in the local hospital, taking up her mother’s mantle.

“I asked one of the girls to switch with me; I wanted to be there to welcome Reggie home”.

“Mary, what time is train coming in?” Robert was heard at the top of the stairs.

“Papa, you shouldn’t be out of bed. Reggie has promised to come see you as soon as we arrive”. Robert Crawley was not a young man anymore, despite what he kept telling himself. The doctor’s recommendation was that Robert cut back and allow Tom, Mary and Edith to run the estate. But stepping down as master of Downton Abbey was not an easy concept for Robert to swallow.

“Pardon me, my lady, there is a young man to see you”.

“Did he give a name?” Mary asked.

“No my lady, he didn’t”.

Entering the library, the young man waiting for her in the library was not who she expected.

“I’m home, mother”.

“My darling boy, you don’t know how glad I am to see you” Mary hugged her son.

“And I am happy to be home”.

“Reggie, your home, we were all so worried about you” Sybee ran to her cousin, locking her arms around him.

“I’m home now; you don’t have to worry anymore”.

“What the commotion down there?” Robert called out.

“I decided to take an earlier train and surprise you all” Reggie stood at the bottom of the staircase.

“My dear boy, you don’t know how much we all missed you” Reggie ran up the stairs to hug his grandfather.

“Reggie, whatever you want for dinner tonight, we will have”.

After dinner, with the car waiting to take Tom and Sybee home, Sybee whispered into her cousin’s ear “I have to work tomorrow morning, but I have some time in the afternoon. I want you to come with me into the village. There is someone I would like you to meet”.

“Does Reggie know?” Robert turned to his daughter, watched his only grandchildren walk hand in hand. They were only a year apart, raised as if they were brother and sister and not cousins.

While serving in the WRAF, Sybee met a young man and after a year of courtship, he came to Yorkshire to meet her family. Tom reported to father and sister in laws that the young man was intelligent, had a solid career and adored his daughter. In short, he had no objections to this young man. Sybee was not yet engaged, but it looked that she would be engaged soon.

“He will know tomorrow”.

“Will there be anything else, tonight, my lady?” her lady’s maid asked as Mary was prepared for bed.

“Nothing else tonight, thank you”.

Every night during the war, Mary prayed. She prayed to god, her grandparents, to Isobel, her mother and sister and most of all, Matthew. She would pray that they would watch over her son and guide him back to Downton safely.

Today, her prayers were answered and for the first time in years, she could sleep soundly.

I Will Always Love You

*-I Will Always Love You” Is by Dolly Parton. Lady Mary Crawley, Matthew Crawley and Lavinia Swire belong to Julian Fellows. Set in early series 2. Neither the song or the Downton Abbey characters are mine and no copyright infringement is intended.

 *- In light of Whitney Houston’s recent passing, I thought this song was a perfect for a Mary/Matthew fic.

 *Thank you to Sara (MrsBates93) for beta reading.

  I Will Always Love You

 There were two faces to Lady Mary Crawley. There was the confident, in control Mary that she had perfected years ago. Then there was the inner Mary, the one with the loving heart that was worn on her sleeve, if anyone had bothered to notice.

 If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you ev’ry step of the way.

 It had been two years since she had spoken to Matthew. Two years since she let him walk away. They might have married or have had children by now, if had she said yes. But it was too late; he had moved on with his life and brought his fiancé, Miss Lavinia Swire to meet the family.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You, my darling you. Hmm.

 Mary loved Matthew; he was the only man she would ever truly love. His fiancé was amiable and sweet and seemed overwhelmed by the possibility of her future life. But as Mary Crawley did best, she put on a proper smile and greeted her cousin warmly.

Bittersweet memories
That is all I’m taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry.
We both know I’m not what you, you need.

 She missed Matthew, she missed their talks. There were few people whom she could talk so openly with. He respected her opinions and did not avoid certain subjects because she was female.

 But Matthew deserved happiness and if Lavinia made him happy, she would not stand in their way. He also deserved a wife who had not allowed her lust for a stranger ruin her reputation.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.

They would have a beautiful life and beautiful children. Their son would one day become the Earl of Grantham.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.

If loving Matthew meant letting him go and be happy, then so be it. It was better to have loved and lost than have never loved at all. Mary would always love Matthew.

You, darling, I love you.
Ooh, I’ll always, I’ll always love you

 

After Dinner

*-These characters belong to Mr. Fellows and Co, with the exception of Edward Reginald Crawley. I am just a humble admirer.

 *-Thank you to Sara for beta reading.

After Dinner

 

They had returned from their honeymoon a week ago. Spending two weeks in Rome was an experience neither would forget.

 Crawley House in London was being prepared as a permanent residence for Mary and Matthew. They were scheduled to leave in one week, but until then, they were living with Isobel in the village.

 Tonight they were at Downton for dinner and despite his best effort, Matthew could not keep his eyes off his wife.

 Mary was trying to eat dinner and listen to her father’s story, but her husband was determined to distract her.

 She let out a yelp as Matthew tickled her ankle with his toe.

 “Is something wrong?” Robert asked.

 “Nothing, please continue”.

 Mary shot her husband a look, warning him to behave.

 After dinner was finally complete, Matthew announced, “If you excuse us, I think we will retire for the rest of the evening”.

 “Should I have the car sent around?” Cora asked.

 “No thank you, Cousin Cora, I don’t think we need the car just yet”

 The sound of their footsteps were heard until the door to Mary’s former bedroom was slammed behind them. Their kiss quickly escalated as she pushed his jacket off and his lips blazed a trail down her bare neck.

 Mary and Matthew were not seen again until the next morning, each wearing a broad smile.

 For the next nine months, Isobel and Violet would debate ferociously about the name of the future Earl of Grantham. The debate ended when Edward Reginald Crawley was born.

Come Back To Me

*-I don’t own these characters. They belong to Julian Fellows and Co.

 Come Back To Me

They stood on the train station, neither knowing what to say.

 She removed the small stuffed dog from her bag, their hands briefly touched as he took it from her.

 The dog had been a gift from her mother, given to her when she was very young.

 When Mary was six, her parents decided to take a holiday to celebrate their anniversary.  Mary and her sisters were to spend the week with Robert’s sister and brother in law in London.

 The night before they were leave to for London, Cora found her oldest daughter crying in her bed.

 “Oh my dear child, hush, there is no need to cry”.

 “Why are you and papa going away? Cant we stay here?” Mary asked.

 “You know that your papa and I love you all of you. Don’t you trust your aunt and uncle to take care of you?”.

 “I still don’t want you to go” Mary protested.

 “That’s why I brought this?” Cora revealed the toy dog in her hand.

 “For me?” Mary asked, her tears beginning to dry as she hugged the small dog.

 “Yes, but I must tell you a story first” Cora pulled her daughter into her lap.

 “The night before I was to marry your father, I was terrified. I was in a new country, knowing no one other than your father, your grandparents and your aunt…”.

 “Did you love him?” Mary asked.

 “As much as I could, we barely knew each other. My father came into my bedroom and presented me with this. He said that whenever I became lonely, to hold onto the dog and think of them. After a while, I was no longer lonely, I fell in love with your father and that, my darling girl, is how you came along. Are you feeling better?”.

 “Yes, mama”.

 “Good, now back to bed” Cora pulled the covers up and kissed her daughter.

 As he accepted the dog and the kiss on the cheek, the words were on her lips.

 “Come back to me”.

 But she couldn’t say them and watched him walk away. One day she would tell him how she felt, but that was not today.