What I’m Watching: Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (B+)

Things certainly aren’t going well at Downton Abbey with money problems on everyone’s mind, illnesses coming out of nowhere, and deliberate vileness and betrayal among the staff. Violet encouraging Mary to ask her other grandmother for money was perhaps the best plotline, mainly since Violet couldn’t resist making fun of Americans while she was trying to suck up to her son’s mother-in-law. It looked like the problem might have been resolved, but that would have been too easy, so if Matthew can’t come around to the idea of saving the estate with his inheritance, some interesting cutbacks will have to be made. It couldn’t come at a worse time, of course, with Mrs. Hughes discovering that she might have cancer and Carson nearly bursting with the many mishaps disrupting nightly activities. It was sweet – and highly entertaining – to see Mrs. Patmore go along with Mrs. Hughes to visit the doctor, and, though it was only to make up for his previous behavior, it’s nice to see Carson check in on Mrs. Hughes at the end of the episode. Thomas purposely misleading Alfred to get him into trouble was horrible, and Mrs. O’Brien’s revenge was perfect, especially since Thomas made himself look worse by telling Robert that he had been set up. Alfred doesn’t deserve the treatment he gets, and it’s good that he’s accrued some American affection, which should last if Daisy doesn’t accidentally blab the news to Thomas. Edith fighting for her right to be with Sir Anthony was a brave move that’s been a long time coming, and I hope that it works out without any unhappy endings for her. In prison, the always-levelheaded Bates let his mean streak out, and it wouldn’t be good if he let that side get the best of him. On a lighter note, Violet mistaking Robert for a waiter because he wasn’t dressed properly was probably the episode’s most hilarious moment.