Downton Abbey (TV Series) Episode #4.4 (2013) User Reviews

Good

[jpismyname · 8/10 · 1 January 2018]

Edna tries to convince Branson to marry her if she is pregnant. I really think Edna's a pathetic character and was unnecessary in the series. I wish the writers didn't just lazily made Miss O'Brien go. Meanwhile, Mr. Gillingham proposes to Lady Mary. I'm glad she refuses. Then there's poor, sweet Anna Bates who refuses to talk to Bates about the horrific incident that happened to her.

Good riddance of Edna, by the way. I really hope she won't come back.

Some Narrow Escapes

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 20 August 2020]

Edna. Good riddance. Let Tom lead his life. The saga of the Bates continues with poor Anna a realistic victim, especially for her time. Mary seems to be highly sought after for marriage (even though very little time has passed). She is also seeing herself more and more as the future matriarch of Downton. Mrs. Hughes really carries a heavy burden.

Magic hair...

[ktrawick · 8/10 · 2 June 2022]

Edith Crawley's hair has been blonde since the beginning, but in episode 4:4 her hair goes from blonde to a rich brown (when she's kissing the editor) back to blonde when she's sneaking into her cousin's house at 6am the next day. Magic....

The whole Edna thing was so totally unnecessary.

April showers continue to fall for the suffering ladies of the manor, upstairs and down.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 23 February 2021]

A bit of racism rears its ugly head through Lady Rosamund (Samantha Bond) who, being over protective and domineering, sends Tom over to rescue Rose when she finds herself dancing with black band singer Gary Carr, coming to her rescue after her escort runs out intoxicated. He's part of a four episode arch and one of the most memorable short term characters as the show briefly flirts with an interracial romance as part of the liberated Rose's storyline. What makes Rose so fascinating is that she doesn't go out of her way to be liberated or even realizes that she is liberated, but her actions are certainly ahead of their time.

A storyline previously flirted within season 3 and brought back with the return of Edna comes back as she deals with the one-night stand she had with the drunken Tom. It's obvious that she's an opportunist, and this episode marks the conclusion of her return. Quodos to Mrs. Hughes for her quick thinking in dealing with Edna once again. Mary's reunion with Lord Tony Gillingham gives the potential of a new romance, but that's not good news for Anna because his valet, Mr. Green, is the man who raped her. Obviously the plots developed in the previous two episodes are expanding into stronger plots so you have to deal with lulls to get to the good stuff. Anna, the housemaid of misery, will have to go through a lot more trauma before she gets over this reprehensible situation she wasn't responsible for.

The one big worry for Mary is that Isabel won't accept her in a new relationship, but Isabel proves herself to be very graceful resulting in some witty lines with Violet complementing her in her own wry way. While Samantha Bond is a good actress and perfect casting as Maggie Smith's daughter, I'm glad that she's only recurring as she's like a leaky faucet, necessary to know that you have a plumbing problem but irritating after a while. The romance between Edith and Mr. Gregson continues slowly but that too is building up, returning the middle daughter to her place as Downton's Queen of tragedy.

Silence Can Be Far More Destructive Than Words!

[spasek · 8/10 · 14 November 2023]

The aftermath of Anna's assault and Mary and Tony Gillingham are the focal points of this episode, along with Tom's dalliance with Ms. Braithwaite.

We can understand and perhaps even sympathize with Anna's plight to a point. And given the time period and the position of women, it can be even more understandable. However, Anna's fears are the same fears many women have in the same situation. She blames herself, and she doesn't seem to realize that her silence is far more destructive than telling her husband or even Mary what has happened. Silence, in this case, doesn't help anyone. Odds are that Mr. Green has already done this to a number of women, and he will continue to do so. Anna is also destroying her relationship with Mr. Bates due to her fears of what he might do. She even says, "Better that he has a broken heart than a broken neck." Well, at least a broken neck is quick, so her logic of making him suffer with a broken heart doesn't exactly make her an endearing wife. Just a selfish and cruel one.

Anna, however, has a huge network of support, both upstairs and down. She should know that Mary would do anything for her, as well as the rest of the family. And there's no better support person than Mrs. Hughes. It's hard to get out of playing the role of the victim, but there are also few other roles that are more laden with selfishness and cowardice.

Meanwhile, Mary finds herself in the company of Tony Gillingham again, due to meddling from her mother as well as Rosamund. Meddlers really are atrocious people, as they care only about themselves. They always claim that their actions are for the other person, but if that were true, they wouldn't meddle at all, and it's clear that Mary simply isn't ready to get involved with anyone yet.

And Tom Branson--who is still stuck in limbo where his placement within the family is concerned as well as missing his wife--does a foolish thing under the influence of alcohol, set up by Ms. Braithwaite in her attempt to trap him.

Mrs. Hughes has always been one of my all-time favorite characters of the show. She outwits Edna and helps to free Tom. I love how she does it and why she's one of the very best people to have in your corner. The downstairs people are far more powerful than people realize because they are the eyes and ears of the home. Not much ever escapes their notice.

Another solid episode from a somewhat dark Season 4.

Don't judge me . . . I hate Edna!

[pobodysnerfect-90918 · 6/10 · 26 January 2020]

She's evil and I detest her. Tom could do so much better, so just leave him alone. Everything else was good, except for her.

Worst season ever.

[natashajamos-01315 · 2/10 · 14 May 2022]

It's only been six months since the u timely death of Matthew and already men are sniffing around Mary. Geez.

Edna good riddance to the worst character.

From Pride to Snivel

[figuress · 2/10 · 27 May 2022]

It's disappointing to see Tom and Anna - who were both so self-assured, wise, confident and full of pride - reduced to sniveling pathetic characters. Tom simply ignored the advice of Ms. Hughes and fell under the spell of a trollop and Anna abandoned all love and affection for Mr. Bates. Also it's odd that Tom - not being shown in one scene with his baby - seems to have abandoned fatherhood and is just being shown as a lonely widower.

Not to mention it took four seasons and four episodes before one single person of color was introduced and even then - although the character headlines at a club dignified for all of them to attend (and is an accomplished singer and a bandleader) - they consider him with disgust as that "Black man."