Downton Abbey (TV Series) Episode #6.1 (2015) User Reviews

The Stresses of Time

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 7 September 2020]

After some really serious issues were presented in the final episode of Season 5, we need to ask ourselves where the suspense is coming from. The greatest thing is a cloud that hangs over everything because of modernity. Lord Grantham is abundantly aware that costs are going up and the world is changing dramatically. This, especially, puts stress on the servants who, in some cases, have spent a lifetime at the place. The fox hunt at the beginning seems so much like in your face snobbery. Issues that abound have Grannie and her insistence that an outside agency doesn't take over the local hospital. Mary faces possible blackmail, and Daisy risks losing employment. Most interesting is the realities of Mrs. Hughes and Carson becoming intimate after their forthcoming marriage. A very good episode.

Satisfying, if not realistic finale.

[robert-259-28954 · 8/10 · 12 February 2017]

I started out as a Downton Abbey skeptic, but after going on a totally unexpected marathon viewing of all eight seasons, I've emerged just like everyone else... a devoted, enthusiastic fan. This was surely one of the most delightful TV series to watch- to the eye, to the ear, and to the spirit. The superb acting, the sumptuous sets, the absolute perfection to detail, was wondrous to behold. Even the music was first-rate, an oft-overlooked part of any great production. But as Shakespeare was wont to say, "The play's the thing," and without the incredible writing skills of Julian Fellowes, DA could have easily been just another soap opera, with an English accent. You could say that Fellowes brought a sense of class and gentility to a genre mired in the worst of all possible worlds. That said, although I would have liked to have given the final episode a solid "10," alas, he decided-unadvisedly in my opinion-to give everyone a happy Hollywood ending, and while satisfying to the heart, not exactly within the realm of believability. Not to be overly harsh, I think if he would have left at least a few of the relationships to the imagination, instead of everyone winning the prince, the ending of this television masterpiece would have resonated more strongly in its finale. In any event, this is one show that I will dearly miss. It was that good.

Its the Last Season

[GusherPop · 10/10 · 14 May 2022]

"Your lot's finished!" How often have we heard this? It's become a common refrain from the commoners, and seems kind of like a silly schoolyard taunt on its face, but it belies a seething that must have always been there just under the politely ordered surface of this class system, where everyone was held in their places by nothing but common agreement. That thin veneer of obedience is now worn away, exposing the resentment hiding behind a million "yes, m'lady's. We've seen it in subtle changes and interactions over the years, like last season when Mary tried to prevent Detective Vyner from carting Anna away by pulling rank, "I am not Miss. I am Lady Mary Crawley", which, to her shock, had zero effect. And now this; a pushy woman claiming to be a chambermaid from the hotel where Mary had her Try Before-You-Buy weekend with Tony the Tiger turns up at Downton threatening to expose her. Mary might have a different point of view there. She might not think of herself as so lucky. Yes, of course she is on the surface and in many ways; she's titled, wealthy, pretty, but not lucky, really, in the ways that mean the most to her. As imperious as she is it is easy to forget that, like Edith, she has had her share of heartbreak and disappointment. When we first met her, she seemed to want nothing more than to smash the entail and be the rightful heir to the estate and everything that would come with it. All these years later, after a circuitous path, Downton is essentially hers, but now it's as much a liability as anything, so it's a hollow victory. When we see Thomas' clip-clop horsey relationship with Little Lord Georgie (in his red velvet jacket), what we also see in this simple act is the young Carson and little Lady Mary. We can picture where their relationship began; we can picture Carson playing the horse and Mary, like little Georgie, commanding, "Faster! Faster!". It is now six months on from where we left Carson and Mrs. Hughes, Old Booby Carson having just popped the question, and she said yes. Yet they still haven't sent out any Save the Date cards. Mrs. Hughes is dragging her feet, worried that her figure is less than Greek and that she will be a disappointment to Mr. Carson. But instead of speaking directly to her intended herself, Coach Hughes sends Dr. Ruth Patmore in off the bench to negotiate her prenup and ask about everything you ever wanted to know about...um...you know...but were afraid to ask. Unfortunately, Mrs. Patmore, ill-equipped for the task, quickly resorts to chugging port and looking around like a cat chasing a laser pointer. That's the last time Mrs. Patmore will express concern for anyone lest she get drafted again into another embarrassing ménage. But in the end, Carson is expert at Charades and figures it out, sort of. He asks Mrs. Patmore to relay his feelings to Mrs. Hughes; that he loves her, that in his eyes she is beautiful, that he wants a real marriage, a true marriage, a mate for his poetic soul. Mrs. Hughes' fears are allayed and they run towards each other in slow motion. Aside from Elsie Hughes, no one ever thinks to quote Oliver Cromwell when they want to inspire romance.

A Fast-Paced World

[jpismyname · 10/10 · 8 January 2018]

Indeed, time is moving fast, and the world is already changing in 1925. Who needs a butler and lady's maid? The household faces a problem to reduce the staff, but not yet.

Then there's Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. I think they're a lovely couple. I've been watching nothing but Downton Abbey lately that I feel so much care for the characters, and I feel so happy for them.

Ah, let's see how this magnificent series will end.

Jumping the shark

[skinnybert · 4/10 · 24 September 2023]

You can really tell what people are watching a TV series for, when it takes a nose-dive in writing quality and the punters still rate it ten out of ten. Yes, the costumes are still wonderful, and the setting lovely to behold. But suddenly Violet's character appears to be possessed by some demon, Mrs Hughes is unable to recall what it means to marry someone, and everyone behaves so as to allow a perfect stranger to invade a supposedly well-run household. None of it is really bad per se -- if this were the first episode of a new show, it would be fairly promising. But we've seen these people before, so we know who they are and what they've been up to. This isn't the first episode to have weak plot and mediocre writing, but it's the first to show characters not remembering their own selves: who they've been, what they've done, and how to go on as they've already been doing. The actors do well with their roles -- it just doesn't follow what we've already seen, and too often just represents plot happening so there's something to fill more episodes. And that is the definition of jumping the shark.

ITV rely on an old favourite

[studioAT · 5/10 · 20 July 2020]

If you play even the best song in the world over and over it loses all meaning.

ITV are trying to do that with 'Downton'. Not content with showing it on ITV3 non-stop they've now started showing this 6th series as part of their "Another Chance To See" programming, which everyone knows is code for "sorry, we've nothing new to show you". Presumably they'll run through the 6th series and have the film as their big Christmas Day film.

This is a good episode, I enjoyed it, but much like the BBC did with 'Only Fools' ITV are relying on 'Downton' far too much.

Season 6

[scntyguy · 3/10 · 11 June 2021]

In season 6, Cora turns into a witch! She is on a power play and dead set against her mother in law and sides with Mrs Crawley in taking her Mother in law down! Not a good way to end the show!

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎