What I’m Watching: Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey: Season 6, Episode 2 (B+)

Sometimes this show feels incredibly cyclical, and that’s because the same things do happen over and over again. The biggest example is Mrs. Drewe being attached to Marigold and showing too much affection towards her, which in turn makes people question why Edith adopted her in the first place. Fortunately, the Drewe family has now moved away, and so that shouldn’t be much of a problem anymore, though the truth surely must eventually come out. Violet and Isobel disagreeing about what to do with the hospital is far from the most exciting storyline, but it’s good to see them both asserting themselves. Not that she’s ever had any trouble with that, but Mary also isn’t backing down, making sure that it’s known that she has taken over for Tom and not letting anyone intimidate her. She would do well to tone down her approach to Carson’s wedding being held in the estate, since Mrs. Hughes rightfully argues that their wedding should be about them and not about the family that they have served for the majority of their lives. Now that she’s a free woman for sure, Anna working on getting pregnant is a worthwhile development, and it’s nice that Mary is helping her to do that, though Bates is sure to figure out something is afoot and push too much to find out what it is. Thomas has appeared very dejected lately and for good reason, since it feels as if he’s being pushed out. Carson not objecting to him asking to go on a job interview didn’t feel great, and realizing immediately that he wasn’t even going to be considered for a post that he felt demanded far too much of him hurt even more. The times really are changing, and Thomas and Carson are surprisingly alike in their appreciation of the way the system has conventionally worked.