As always, Critical Notes are after the breakdown.
ONE
Downton becomes a hospital. Isabelle directs the maids how close the bed frames should be. Cora wonders where the family will actually sit now, but Isabelle’s in charge it seems. In comes the Doctor and Sybil, helping, as they discuss why only officers will be at Downton.
The Dowager, with Carson, defends the practice to Sybil. Rest is needed, not tension. And Edith, eager to help and be supportive, is told by Isabelle to get out of the way.
TWO
At the servant’s table Carson thanks staff for their help. With O’Brien’s adamant opinion, Carson reiterates that chain of command will be sorted soon. Isabelle won’t always be the dominant voice. Lang leaves the table suddenly.
Violet finds Mary. How does Lavinia know Richard Carlisle? Mary seems unconcerned. Well, the Dowager is going to London for the day and she’ll have Lavinia to tea.
In the kitchen Patmore wonders if she’s now to run a canteen. The officers will eat with the family? I think that’s what Carson told her. Daisy reads a letter from William that says he’ll come home for a night before shipping out. Branson receives a mysterious letter, but the focus goes back to Daisy and her concern that William might have “plans”.
THREE
Anna running an errand in the village sees, well, that’s Bates. He went behind the tree very quickly. Hard dolly in on Anna, and then she runs toward where he was. He’s gone, though.
FOUR
The ladies are in the hospital room, watching the beds being made and discussing who will be in charge. Cora looks overwhelmed.
Haha, here comes our O’Brien. As she dresses Cora for dinner she talks down Isabelle. One of our own has to be in charge, she says, or Isabelle will install a toady who’ll get into everything. Cora, sounding defeated, says, “But, who?” I swear it’s not pre-planned on O’Brien’s part, but of the moment. “What about Thomas, My Lady?” Ooh, Cora goes snobby and says, “The footman, managing Downton Abbey?” O’Brien only blinks once, then comes back with: He’s not a footman now. He’s a corporal with battle experience. Oh, Cora’s on board now. These two! Ever a pleasure.
Now Anna curls Mary’s hair. Mary notices her face, and says, “You seem preoccupied.” Anna pauses, then tells of her experience. Mary says she’ll call Richard and have him investigate Bates’ situation in London. Anna likes that. Oh, the electric curling iron is something new. The two of them are just practicing with it.
Cut to the promised tea with Lavinia. Violet is with Rosamund as they get the explanation: Her father and uncle know Richard. Rosamund couldn’t look any more archly at her mother. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to make of this scene beyond the family questioning Matthew’s fiancee.
Branson washes the car. Oh, there’s Sybil to share the news with us: he’s been called up. That’s what the mysterious letter said. Don’t worry, he’s going to be a conscientious objector. Sybil can’t really understand. He’ll go to prison, but he prefers that to dying. He’s pretty forceful in his opinion, and doesn’t seem to care what she thinks about it.
Coming down the stairs toward the kitchen, Lang keeps dropping brushes and valet gear. I think it’s because he’s got the shakes. Patmore coaxes him to tell her what’s wrong, and he accuses the household of not knowing what’s going on across the Channel. She’s kind as she rebuts him. Do you know how afraid they all are, Lang says. Then Patmore tells him the truth about her nephew. His response is also kind.
Yay, it’s the evil smokers! What are they up to? Oh, O’Brien tries to sell him on the hospital position. To be in charge, to tell Mr. Carson what to do! Thomas is reluctant. What’s in it for you? O’Brien’s answer is straightforward: stop Isabelle from bossing Cora about. Thomas is suspicious at her change of opinion about Her Ladyship. O’Brien is forceful in saying, “I won’t hurt her and I won’t let anyone else hurt her, neither.” He’ll come, he decides, if she can arrange it.
The Dowager with Cora and Robert argue with Isabelle and the Doctor about the state of their household. Isabelle really is quite bossy about which rooms in their own house they’ll be able to use. Robert puts his foot down about the dinner situation. Doctor intervenes with good news: Corporal Barrow will be in charge. Oh, ho, look at Isabelle’s face! She must’ve had plans. Haha, and Robert is not too happy either. Oh, no, hahaha! Robert says the men won’t listen to a corporal, and Doctor says his rank has been raised to sergeant. Cora looks pleased and Isabelle looks ill. Delicious.
Carson discusses the William situation with Robert. Is there any way to . . . keep him from harm? They then discuss Thomas. Cora doesn’t know he’s a thief because they decided at the time not to tell her. Well, they’re not exactly happy about Thomas but there’s nothing to do about it now.
Oh, dear, the servant’s table and Branson telling them all the latest news from Russia. Boy, he’s enthusiastic about Lenin. Oh, and the sweet lad thinks the imprisoned Tsar and family won’t be hurt. Anna’s the one who pushes back on that notion. Oh, no, oh, no! As the chatter goes back and forth about wartime choices, Lang jumps in and tells Patmore’s secret. Patmore runs out of the room crying and Lang belatedly realizes what he’s done. Hughes rips into him in her dignified way.
Exterior of the house as someone (Thomas) arrives. We see the servant’s bell for Front Door ring. Carson says, “Why are you coming in this way?” Ha, oh, Thomas loves that Carson’s uncomfortable.
Robert looks around his sacred library, which is now the rec room, including a ping pong table. Cora looks around the front room, which is now set with dinner tables. Then the whole family goes to the door to greet the arriving wounded. Follow Sybil as she enters and proceeds through what is now Downton hospital. There’s a weird shot of Lang looking down on it all from the staircase. As the maids carry linens, Ethel eyeballs the men and Anna tells her they’re off limits if she knows what’s good for her. Matthew arrives for the day, finds Mary, and they speak as friends amongst the bustle. Branson gets his physical in the middle of it all. Now Isabelle and Thomas have a tussle over who’s in charge. Hahaha, Cora comes into the kitchen and pointedly tells Isabelle they’ll continue this conversation upstairs. O’Brien says to Thomas, “See?” Don’t worry, he says, and he leaves all the servants in the kitchen behind as he goes off with the mucky-mucks.
In the library Cora upbraids Isabelle, letting out all her frustrations. Mary interrupts with a letter. Evelyn (remember him, the nice chap?) would like to come to Downton for his convalescence. Cora says, Of course, and Isabelle says, There’s no way. Here comes the Robert hammer. Yes! Either we invite who we like into our home, or the rest of you get out. Doctor says, thank you, all diplomatically. And then Isabelle — hahaha! — says, what about the dog? (Boy, she has a tin ear, doesn’t she?) It’s satisfying to see her smashed one more time, although I wonder if that’s totally fair to the character.
Mary finds Anna making one of the room beds and gets her alone. Richard phoned. Bates is indeed in the area, working in a local pub. Anna’s like, a pub? Why? But Mary keeps her focused: what will you do now that you know?
SWITCH
Robert tries to read the paper in his little screened-in corner of the library. Ping pong thwacking is heard, over. He looks up, perhaps disturbed, but then settles in.
FIVE
In front of the house Branson polishes the car. Sybil walks up and he says, “They turned me down.” (The army rejected him?) A heart murmur. Haha, he’s only upset that he’ll miss his chance to humiliate the British army. She asks why he’s so angry, and his Irish story comes out with a lot of vitriol. His proposal to Sybil from before is nowhere in evidence now. He may be short with her because of the rejection, but he just seems more angry about the war than personal matters. She’s looking more closely at him, though, so the romantic intrigue carries forward.
Hospital life. Edith distributes books. Hughes catches Ethel giving special attention to a handsome young man. Heh.
Mary sits with Granny, who tells her that Rosamund will get to the bottom of this Lavinia secret.
Anna and Ethel in nightgowns talk in their room. Ethel really believes the major wants to get to know her better. And Anna’s still practicing her hair curling, which I have a hard time believing is necessary. She knows how to use a curling iron, you know. Is the electric aspect that much different?
The motor bus drops Anna in the village at the pub. There’s Bates, tending bar. An unresolved scene, with more to come, I assume.
Here’s Rosamund having tea with Violet and Mary. She’s got the dirt: Lavinia gave family secrets to Richard to publish. And why? Because they were lovers, or so Rosamund claims with an excited glint.
Back to Bates and Anna, sitting at a quiet table. He purposely went to the village for a glimpse of Anna. He’s kept aside, though, because he’s settling things. Vera’s been unfaithful and he has proof, blah, blah. I need her to go quietly, he says, because she’s made threats of selling stuff to the papers. What stuff, Anna asks. (Aha! Yikes.) He moves on, though. She offers to live with him now, to be his mistress. It won’t be long, he says, and they’ll wait.
Branson polishes the brass when O’Brien steps out. You’re not going to war, she says. Is it true, he asks, that Matthew is bringing a famous general here? Rut-roh. Branson’s quite the revolutionary this season.
The family in formal wear discuss this general’s arrival and how to show him around. Carson is not happy to serve a fancy dinner with no footmen. Oh, dear, Cora and Isabelle are on a sniping spree.
Edith, still in formal gown, goes through the hospital room and is stopped by a man. He wants to write his mother, and he reveals that his hand is gone. Everyone has told him that Edith is the one who can help him. She’s very sympathetic and genuine.
Coming into the butler’s pantry, Branson offers to help serve for Carson at the dinner. Carson is very grateful (little knowing what horrible thing Branson plans).
Exterior nighttime shot of Downton as tortured screaming is heard, over. Servants step out of their rooms to see what is happening. Carson and Thomas meet in the hall: it’s Lang. O’Brien helps wake him and convince him he’s having a bad dream.
Daytime, and family and staff line up before the front door to greet their guest. Thomas calls out the salute, and Carson gives him a priceless look. The car stops and out comes Matthew with the general. As introductions go around, Isabelle jumps in to announce she’ll accompany him on his tour. (Oh, c’mon, she’s not this obsessed!) Oh, haha! Thomas mentions a concern about Isabelle to Doctor, all while giving O’Brien the conspirator’s eye. Meanwhile, Rosamund is looking gleeful daggers at Lavinia, who asks Mary to explain what’s the matter.
In the kitchen, Daisy worries that William is going to propose. “Well, then, you’re going to accept,” says Patmore.
Mary very gently lays out the evidence Rosamund believes she has, of stolen information that Lavinia took to Richard to print. She really doesn’t want this conversation, but then Lavinia confirms that it’s true.
During the tour, the general checks on the men. Edith gets a moment to shine in front of her family: she knows everything about all the wounded from visiting with them.
William is in the kitchen for his visit. He asks to speak with Daisy, but she’s busy. And here’s Branson in the footman’s livery.
Now the whole upstairs party is testing games in the rec room. The men wear the lovely formal red military coat. Rosamund pushes at Mary to tell Matthew about Lavinia. Good response from Mary: Her broken heart is due to Rosamund’s advice.
Branson heads upstairs with the soup tureen, looking like a demented terrorist.
Anna, tidying in Sybil’s room, finds a note on the floor that says, “Forgive me.” We don’t see what else it says, only that Anna takes off running. Crosscut Branson entering the dining area with Anna taking the stairs as fast as she can. Branson sets the tureen on the serving banquette, and Anna shows Hughes the note. Now they’re both running. Hughes shows the note to Carson. (Chain of command, I guess, lol, during an emergency.) Ah, there’s Carson. He crosses and slams his hand down on top of Branson’s on the tureen lid. Out they go, with Anna bringing the tureen. Only Mary notices the drama. Carson actually manhandles Branson down the stairs! In the kitchen they accuse him of attempted assassination, which surprises him. In the tureen is some gawdawful cow pie mess that he intended to throw on the general. As they dump the concoction down the sink (Ack!) and find a copper pan to serve the soup in, Carson worries how to continue dinner.
SIX
William in military uniform pipes up: I’ll serve, I don’t mind. The women kind of stare at him, why I’m not sure. He’s just too nice?
Upstairs Carson must make excuses to Robert about the soup course. William, still in uniform, stands ready, and Robert introduces him to the general. Meanwhile, the evil smokers listen at the door.
Dinner chatter turns to Matthew thanking the family for being kind to Lavinia. Lol, every woman there exchanges a glance, with different motivations.
SEVEN
The general asks Doctor who is in charge of the hospital when he’s away? His answer: both Mrs. Crawley and Lady Grantham. The evil smokers behind the door jamb smile at each other. General continues to praise their hospital, but he must make sure one person gets the recognition they deserve. He toasts Edith’s health (much to everyone else’s surprise). That’s gratifying. The quiet one gets noticed.
EIGHT
After dinner, Lavinia and Mary step aside into a private space. Lavinia immediately says she was never Richard’s lover and she wants to explain to Mary. Her father was in debt to Richard, and that’s why she gave up the information. Everything about the scene says that Lavinia is a good person. Mary really doesn’t want to be in the middle of this.
William asks Daisy for that picture he was promised. Oh, it’s a charming portrait. They stand in the kitchen, Patmore working in the background. He asks a semi-proposal and Daisy hesitates. Patmore jumps in: Isn’t this what you told me you were hoping for? It’s like a fairy story. (Poor Daisy looks completely cornered.) Aw, William is so happy. Are we engaged, he says. Daisy says, “Go on, then,” and he hugs her. For a proposal it didn’t have much actual proposing in it! Or accepting. Hughes sends William up for the general’s goodbye, leaving Daisy completely unresolved and stuck.
Matthew, saying goodbye, finds Mary with Rosamund. You have something to say to me about Lavinia? Mary is generous, Rosamund shuts up, and Matthew is happy.
Close-up on Lang in the line-up of servants waiting to see off the general. He quivers. Robert asks Matthew if he would take William as his personal soldier servant. Matthew agrees. Over his shoulder is Lang, whom Robert spots and rushes over to. Lang dives his head into Robert’s breast and breaks down. All these military uniforms make Lang feel he’ll have to return. Matthew says goodbye to Lavinia and Mary. There’s a very inevitable, farewell feeling to the scene.
NINE
Carson and Hughes share a port together in his office. They discuss Branson and Lang. Carson has decided Lang doesn’t belong at Downton. But what about Branson? Would you call the police on a man who wanted to pour slop over another man’s head? Carson seems ready to forgive.
The other servants sit around their table, doing odd jobs. In comes William, taking Daisy’s hand, to make an announcement. It’s awkward, although only for Daisy and Patmore. Everyone else feels the happiness William feels.
Carson knocks and enters Lang’s room, ready to release him, but Lang’s already packing. Two months wages and a good report when you’re ready to return to work.
Cora and Robert go to bed. He shares the news that he’ll have William serve with Matthew. She says how comfortable Mary and Matthew looked with each other, but Lavinia’s a nice girl. Mostly, they share regret and a lost moment as the shadow of war hangs over everything. End.
CRITICAL NOTES
The only beat in this episode that makes sense to me is the Switch, lol. What a strange, meandering structure.
Let’s look at the Two and Eight, beats that share information. The Trouble at the Two will resolve at the Eight. Also, because they happen so near the beginning and end, they are usually easy to identify. Lang, Lavinia, and Daisy are the Troubles. The power struggle at Downton hospital, because it’s introduced in the One, is an ongoing conflict that weaves in and out of the episode. Not a Two Trouble. Questions about Lavinia are peacefully settled at the Eight. Daisy accepts William’s proposal at the Eight, even though she’s not peaceful about it, lol. And Lang falls apart, all of the tension around him released in a painful scene, after which he leaves Downton for good. Once I’ve settled on the Two and Eight, and winnowed them by comparing them against each other, I can look at other numbers.
The Three, besides coming between the Two and Four, feels very clearcut here. It’s as if the story pauses at the Three. Something unexpected happens, something that may not even feel linear. Bates appears. We’re not sure what it means here at the beginning. As Lang, Lord Grantham’s valet, becomes unable to continue in service, we remember Bates is back in the story. A position opens. Will Bates return as valet? A good Three is working on us throughout the plot.
Sadly, as you can anticipate, the Six drops the ball. The Six and Seven in this episode are problematic. Which moments hit these beats? The storytelling is so packed, so scattered, it’s hard to find the beat that drives forward. We needed Lang at the Six. Earlier, when Branson volunteers to help at footman, he says to Carson, “I know you won’t ask Lang after what happened last time.” Show us this, perhaps, at the Six. The valet mirrors would’ve been satisfying. I’ve chosen the moment William volunteers as the Six, because it’s in a similar vein. William’s appearance before Robert and the general triggers the decision to match him with Matthew, which is good Six work. It doesn’t mirror, though, with the Three. This was a missed opportunity to broaden the story. As told, it’s choppy.
For the Seven I’ve chosen the Doctor’s decision to put both women in charge of the hospital. It’s an ongoing plot, introduced at the One, so it works well. It doesn’t drive the story into the climax, which is unfortunate, but it exists and I’ll count it as legitimate.
Part of what really threw me was the frantic Branson plot in the Five. People running about, high tension and excitement — these are usually Eight traits. It’s not in Downton’s nature to give us an exuberant Eight, so it’s unfair of me to ask it. Branson’s beat is so dramatic, though, that I became sidetracked.
However, The Switch is a treasure: Robert and the hospital now co-exist. That thwacking sound of the ping pong, over, while he pauses in his newspaper reading before returning to it, is such lovely show.