Episode #3.7 (10 Feb. 2013)

A vindictive Ms. O'Brien hatches a damaging plot. Edith make a major decision. Matthew has a major plan for changing things, and Tom's brother pays a visit.

Director:

David Evans

Writers:

Julian Fellowes (creator), Julian Fellowes

Stars:

Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Bonneville	...	Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Laura Carmichael	...	Lady Edith Crawley
Jim Carter	...	Charles Carson
Brendan Coyle	...	John Bates
Michelle Dockery	...	Lady Mary Crawley
Kevin Doyle	...	Joseph Molesley
Siobhan Finneran	...	Sarah O'Brien
Joanne Froggatt	...	Anna Bates
Rob James-Collier	...	Thomas Barrow
Allen Leech	...	Tom Branson
Phyllis Logan	...	Mrs. Hughes
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Sophie McShera	...	Daisy Mason
Matt Milne	...	Alfred Nugent
Lesley Nicol	...	Mrs. Patmore

Storyline

Thomas fears for his job as Robert's valet and not just because John has been released back to Downton Abbey, to the delight of everybody else. The vengeful O'Brien, attempting to advance Alfred in the household, has tricked him into believing that his feelings for Jimmy are reciprocated, leading him to make a disastrous play for the shocked footman. And O'Brien makes sure that Carson finds out. Robert is doubly annoyed. Edith has decided to go to London and accept the journalist post, where she is charmed by magazine editor Gregson. Furthermore Matthew is insisting the estate be overhauled with new machinery, to make it self-sufficient. Tom's brother Kieran arrives from Liverpool for the wedding and does not endear himself to the family. However, when the old estate manager resigns in protest at Matthew's proposals Cora suggests Tom, who has farming knowledge, take on the job rather than return with Kieran to work in his garage. Isobel is angry with Violet who, claiming to act in ...

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Plot Keywords:

catholic priest | revenge | solicitor | gay kiss | photographer | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Release Date:

10 February 2013 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Jail, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min 48 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mrs. Hughes mentions "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Ivy and Alfred go to see a motion picture, starring Lilian Gish. Lilian Gish starred in an adaptation of "The Scarlet Letter" in 1926.

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Goofs

For baby Sybil's christening, Tom assures Lady Mary that a Protestant is permissible as a godparent provided the other godparent is Catholic. This is true only since 1983. Before that time, canon law allowed for a non-Catholic to stand in as a proxy to an actual godparent who couldn't be present, but that proxy had to be selected by the godparent rather than by the child's parents.

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Quotes

[the estate manager has resigned because of Matthew's proposed changes, and Cora and Violet suggest that Robert offers the job to Tom]
Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham: I'll do it on one condition - no, two. First, Matthew must agree.
Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham: He will.
Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham: Second, you will both admit it when you realise you were wrong.
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham: Oh, well, that is an easy caveat to accept, because I'm *never* wrong.

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Connections

References Way Down East (1920)

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Soundtracks

"Downton Abbey - The Suite"
(uncredited)
Written by John Lunn
Performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London

User Reviews

Downton Abbey Episode #7

Bates is now able to walk out of prison a free man as Ann waits in a car for him. Finally the two are reunited freely to love as he no longer must be kept in a cage that is prison. Downton is seen far in the distance with Bates arriving back in Downton as if nothing has seemed to happen with Thomas still there. Edith is getting letters from London to write her columns even though her father does not want him to go. Bates is back in Downton which finally makes the place happy once again. Violet comes to talk to Isobel about her bringing scandal on the family with Ethel working as her cook. Robert does not know if he should fire Thomas with Bates back so he talks to Cora about it. Robert does not respect the opinions Thomas is giving to help Downton. Violet is causing such trouble for everyone even making favors with Edith. Mary visits the baby and tells Tom she knows of him having the christening, he then asks her to be the babies godmother. Anna and Bates go house hunting. Thomas is still trying to get closer with Jimmy as he gives some bad advice to Alfred which makes him drop everything on Violet. Thomas sits alone in the dinning room while Jimmy comes in to talk to him telling him he has no family. Alfred and Ivy come back from the cinema with him telling her Jimmy is not interested in her. Thomas in the middle of the night goes into Jimmy's room as Alfred comes up the stairs. Thomas is kissing him and Alfred walks in as Jimmy gets really angry. At breakfast the next day everyone downstairs notices the tension between everyone. Lady Edith in London goes for her meeting and is also there to visit he aunt for Violet. Thomas sees nervous while dressing Robert because his position is not safe. At the dinner everyone wonders what happened the night before. Robert thinks the whole family is against him because lately he does not want to except change. Edith meets with a potential job giver. Tom's brother comes to Downton and seems to get along better with the downstairs help even though he is a guest of upstairs. Alfred tells O'Brien that he walked in on Jimmy and Thomas. Dinner with Tom's brother makes him standout with his manners and also Edith has a job as a journalist. Also Violet made the plan to put an ad for a job for Ethel away from here to get her a better life. Alfred tells Carson and he seems shocked by this news of Thomas. Violet then comes up with the plan to bring Tom closer to the family putting Robert more back in the past with Tom and Matthew working closer together. Thomas takes full responsibility for the act he did to JJimmy. At the christening the family get a photo which is without Sybill. OK episode but my biggest problems with the show is that every character except for Violet is uninteresting and badly written.

EPISODE GRADE: C+ (MVP: Maggie Smith)