Downton Abbey: Season 5/ Episode 5 – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview

While those at Downton continue to try to protect Mr. Bates, and Edith tries to salvage her ability to see Marigold, mostly everyone else is dealing with their romantic relations.

Review (with Spoilers)

I must admit I felt a bit bored by this episode. For while Lord Grantham gets in a fight, and we get to learn whether Tom and Ms. Bunting may become something, everyone else seemed rather ho-hum. Which I can’t say if it is because some of the stories feel a bit dragged out, or whether maybe I’m losing interest in the show. Either way, I’m hoping between a decision Edith made, the drama in the Grantham relationship, as well as maybe Rose livening things up, the next episode will be a bit more invigorating.

Topic 1: A Lady, a Drug Addict, and a Murderer – Edith, T. Barrow, Anna & Mr. Bates

Summary

With Mary peaking her interest, Rosalind comes to see Marigold and ends up telling the Dowager all about the situation. Something unfortunate to Edith, but with Tim saying his wife won’t let Edith see Marigold again, it makes it so between the Dowager, Rosalind, and Edith, they need some sort of plan to allow Edith access to the girl. Especially since, as of now, Marigold is pretty much the only person keeping Edith’s life worth living.

As for Mr. Barrow, his possible drug addiction is starting to show and even the people upstairs are noticing.

Then, when it comes to the Bates family, as the investigation continues, it seems more and more that Anna may very well become a stronger suspect than Mr. Bates and as Scotland Yard gets involved, it seems that this problem of Downton’s won’t be going away anytime soon.

Commentary

As much as I wish to care about Edith, since perhaps she has the most unfortunate life of all the characters, sometimes I feel like her character doesn’t have much direction. She began as the envious sister, and now quietly suffers and lives off our sympathy. And, at this point, I almost wish she would run off with Marigold somewhere. However, being that this is the 1920s, and any man Edith ever liked leaving her one way or the other, sadly we seemingly will be stuck with her.

As for Barrow and the Bates, I know I can’t be the only one who misses a more villainous Barrow. For while he does threaten to snitch on the Bates, considering he is losing grip on whatever he is taking, it seems like mutually assured destruction if he does say anything. Which is unfortunate since, until Baxter confessed to Lady Grantham, he helped give the show a nice little jolt. One which is certainly needed for the downstairs crew since as cute as Anna and Mr. Bates seemed early on in their relationship, I must say they have become quite boring. Also, I must note how odd it is Anna calls her own husband Mr. Bates after all these years, whether to his face or when she mentions him.

Topic 2: Love Is On Its Way – Rose, Ms. Crawley, and Mr. Moseley

Summary

A young man named Atticus, a Jewish-Russian immigrant, is visiting the area and he finds himself quite attracted to Rose. A feeling seemingly mutual and though he is only visiting Downton, he invites Rose to London to meet up whenever she is in town.

Then, when it comes to older cast members, both Ms. Crawley and Mr. Moseley don’t make any grand leaps with the person they have their eye on, but their relationships do seem to progress despite certain obstacles. Which, for Moseley, seemingly is just him being a bit too shy to say something, and when it comes to Ms. Crawley, well her obstacle is mostly herself.

Commentary

As I watch Ms. Crawley, I wonder to myself: When was the last time she felt like romance was an option? For, in my opinion, I see Ms. Crawley as someone who long has thrown away the idea of romance for she wanted to focus on her son. So, with Lord Merton strolling up, it has really caught her off guard since she is so geared toward loving just the child she birthed, or now Tom as her surrogate, that an actual man taking interest in her requires a mental and emotional adjustment.

Which perhaps may also be needed, a mental and emotional adjustment that is, for Moseley and Ms. Baxter to get together. For while I think Ms. Baxter knows Mr. Moseley likes her, between a bad relationship in her past, and him being a bit too shy to really express himself, it seems it may take a year and a day for those two to get together.

That is, unlike Rose and her boy Atticus. For with World War II looming, and with one of Rose’s Russians denouncing Atticus’ claim to Russian blood, you can see he may be used to show anti-Jewish sentiment. And considering how open minded Rose is, as well as naïve, it’s not hard to see the foreshadowing of what is to come.

Topic 3: Unrequited Love & Heartbreak – Cora & T. Branson

Summary

Mr. Bricker, while Lord Grantham is away, makes a move on Cora. Something she doesn’t want and, with Lord Grantham returning to see him in his room, and then Mr. Bricker speaking in such an audacious way, Lord Grantham slugs him. Thus further complicating Cora and his relationship.

As for Mr. Branson, Ms. Bunting is ready to leave and while the two share a kiss, it seems he is not leaving with her or going to stop her from going.

Commentary

I was rooting for Branson and Bunting to become a couple but, alas, it seemingly won’t happen. Though, at the very least, we got some action in Lord Grantham using his pent up frustration on Mr. Bricker. Something which makes for a decent consolation prize.