SPOILER ALERT! This post is intended for those who have already seen Season 3 Episode 1!
Well, it is spring of 1920 and drop-waisted dresses, long beads, bobbed hair and Marcel Waves are abounding. Downton Abbey is back!! The Archbishop is here and the rehearsal for Mary and Matthew's wedding is underway. Can it be true?
OK, I could stare at that photo for ages. Is it the dress or the staircase that is taking my breath away? Both, I imagine. I know Mary can be a real witch, but I can forgive Matthew for wanting both her and that fabulous house. What a combo!
We have been waiting so long for this wedding to actually happen, it seems unreal that they are starting the season with it. And it was like a royal wedding from the coach with liveried footmen to the entire village decorated with bunting and cheering.
Lord Grantham: I'm so happy. So very happy. I think my chest will explode.
Oh, Lord Grantham. You lost Cora's fortune gambling on the Canadian Grand Trunk Railway, Downton Abbey may have to be sold and all you can say is that your chest will explode? Tsk, tsk! Good thing Reggie Swire may swing a few shillings Matthew's way.
Sybil and Branson are back from Ireland. Baby Branson is on the way and Branson (Tom as he is now known) is letting loose in the dining room again. From the glaring and snapping of wine glass stems, methinks our fave butler Carson is expecting a return of the poo soup tureen from Season 2.
Looks like Branson and Matthew are going to be fast friends. All this talk about marrying Crawley sisters and sticking together looks promising for future episodes.
Free Bates! Free Bates! Free Bates!
Any bets on how many episodes it takes Anna to crack the case? I am betting Julian Fellowes rides this right to the end of season 3.
Shirley MacLaine as Cora's vulgar American mother came off fairly well. She looked like she was actually frightening most of the English cast and she and Maggie Smith looked like they truly despised each other.
'Twas a bit odd when she sang "Let me call you sweetheart" right to The Dowager didn't you think? And ending with kissing her hand? One whiskey too many, Mrs. Levinson!
So, we have a new footman, more scheming downstairs (Thomas and O'Brien are at it again) and Lady Edith is throwing herself at the old dude again. Downton has hit it's stride again thank goodness. We are in for another great ride!
And now for the quotes of the evening...
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Martha Levinson: Oh dear, I'm afraid the war has made old women of us both.
Dowager Countess Violet: I wouldn't say that, but then I always keep out of the sun.
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Mary: Carson's motto is "Be prepared".
Dowager Countess Violet: I'm afraid Baden-Powell has stolen it.
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Anna Bates: What I see is a good man my lady. They're not like buses. There won't be another one in ten minutes' time.
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Matthew Crawley: You really feel you can recruit Cousin Robert for Sinn Fein?
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Tom Branson: You won't be happy with anyone else while Lady Mary walks this earth
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Dowager Countess Violet: Oh, do you think I might have a drink? (Violet turns her head and realizes she just addressed Robert) Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you were a waiter.
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Sir Anthony: You look very nice. Have you done something jolly with your hair?
I loved the scene of the night before the wedding outside Mary's door! Branson advising Matthew - hear, hear! Anna advising Mary that Matthew's not a bus! And the closing of the eyes. I was laughing out loud and cheering them on! Loved Mary's wedding dress!
ReplyDeleteI found the lost shirts and burned tails story lines a bit silly. Also I think Matthew feeling guilty over taking Reggie Swire's money to save Downton is stupid, however I loved everyone having a picnic at Downton!
Downton Abbey is pure escapism for me!
Hi Kate. Yes the kiss with the eyes closed was adorable. But she peeked! (ok for the bride I guess!)
DeleteLove it!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too (guilty pleasure). We have company now that Downton Abbey fever has taken over the mainstream!
DeleteOther than the script silliness (slipping Branson a mickey), I thought it was fun. The costumes are gorgeous and the acting superb (except Shirley MacLaine. I think she was trying too hard).
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. Yes, I think they have hit their stride again. Something about Shirley MacLaine's performance was odd, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
DeleteShirley MacLaine just didn't fit at all into the cast. There was no chemistry and her character made no sense. Lady Grantham is proper... her mother should have been more so, American or not.
DeleteShirley MacLaine was an amazing actress for decades but she had some sort of breakdown in the 90's and started babbling on about aliens coming to take us or something. She's been weird ever since. She was cast in an Anne of Green Gables movie and it was just totally bizarre as well. She's not who she used to be and it shows.
I really loved this episode! Downton Abbey is my favorite tv show. :) I liked Shirley MacLaine. I thought she did a good job. The costumes were very beautiful. I wished there could have been more of the wedding scene, though.
ReplyDeleteHello Banrion. I so agree with you. More wedding! More costume close-ups! This show makes me happy.
DeleteMy favorite line was the one directed at Edith: "I say, have you done something jolly with your hair?" I intend to use that line as much as possible. I also thought it was telling of the close bond between Mary and Carson, when she asked him how she looked in her wedding dress, seemingly ignoring her father...I expect she knows Carson would never have lost the family money in such a risky venture! And how lucky is Matthew Crawley? Two inheritances just falling from the sky and into his lap! LOVE LOVE LOVE this show! Thank you for a most jolly recap!
ReplyDeleteHi Beth. Oh, I love that line too! My whole family started commenting on each other's jolly hair. Except my husband who was calling the Marcel waves speed bumps!
Deletewhat did Lord Robert say after Mary instructed Sybil to take the drugged Tom upstairs? Something in French?
ReplyDelete