ONE
A car with luggage passes a horse-drawn carriage through the village. Ah, the Crawleys, mother and son, are inside.
TWO
They arrive at Crawley House. Interesting: there’s a house waiting. Feel the weight of the legacy. Matthew wants to turn down the inheritance; his mother makes clear that is a legal impossibility. This is all good storymaking. Characters must accept the thing they want least.
Molesley, butler and valet, greets them. Of course Matthew balks. He’s a middle-class man who doesn’t want to be changed by a title.
THREE
Now we get Cora’s and Robert’s perspective. The former heir, Patrick, was raised to understand his role. Again, reinforcing the fish out of water trope for Matthew.
FOUR
What’s quite fun is to watch Mrs. Crawley treat the staff amicably, expecting them to do their jobs, while Matthew protests in the background. I think we would all want to be a combination of both reactions — anti-servitude, yet considerate about it — if thrust into this position. Good drama!
Hahaha! Oh, it just gets better. Matthew insists he won’t have one of the daughters pushed on him and in walks Lady Mary. Haha! She overheard him and burns him as she leaves. We really only know Mary as caustic so far. This is a perfect reaction for her. Delicious.
Now we’re in the staff area to get their opinions, which aren’t high, especially from O’Brien. Mrs. Crawley only has a maid, someone to fasten buttons and hooks, and not a proper lady’s maid.
And they arrive for dinner. The house, the family in full dress, the staff lined up for presentation — the grandeur is quite the point. Matthew steps in it, of course, while his mother is gracious. Then she approaches the Dowager as a friend. Haha — their classic camaraderie/rivalry has begun. And Carson gives the whole introduction a bit of side-eye. The rubbing against each other proceeds.
Gossip and comfort in the kitchen until Carson comes down. William has a seam tear in his jacket. He is firmly upbraided for it. Carson runs a very tight ship. It’s possible that the arrival of Crawley, someone so unsuited for the earldom, has made Carson extra attentive to the household.
SWITCH
Or, it’s all a set-up for this: An envelope is delivered at the back door for Carson, alarming him.
FIVE
We’ve just heard how strict he is, as if born for butlering. I think we’re about to get some backstory. Heh. Carson hightails it to the local pub as Bates takes a stroll nearby. He passes the village hospital, which lets the show transition to Mrs. Crawley volunteering there. She wants to be useful.
Bates, apparently, was going to visit Molesley so we can hear about Matthew’s idiosyncrasies. What’s interesting is the transition Matthew represents from an older style of grand living to a more modern, self-sufficient mode that will make household service obsolete. Molesley still has his income but his purpose is gone and it bothers him.
Anna sees Bates in the pantry fumbling with things rolling away from him. No! It’s Carson. Sneaking. Food in a rucksack.
Mrs. Crawley wants the doctor to try an innovative treatment and he refuses.
Cora walks in on staff as O’Brien is denigrating Matthew. Whoa, she comes down on her like bricks. Cora can be tough. O’Brien respectfully defends herself, which is so great but also so dangerous. Lively scene. And here comes Hughes quietly panicking at the disturbance with her people. Thomas pushes back, saying servants have a right in their space to speak freely. Ooh, juicy.
Oh, no! Matthew, dressing, tells Molesley his job is a silly occupation for a grown man. What a horrible lack of tact and understanding. We’re definitely supposed to side with the servants. Matthew deserves a smack. It’s almost unbelievable that anyone fairly gentle and smart would be so witless. Ah, this scene is placed as a counterpoint to the following. Mary, who can’t stand Matthew for these very reasons, must consider marrying him as a way to secure the estate.
Carson is still nervous, O’Brien is still angry, and the Dowager meets with the doctor to discuss how he can dismiss Mrs. Crawley (against his judgment).
SIX
Robert takes Matthew on a tour of the land.
Look back again at the Three. What we’re seeing is the eternal nature of Downton. Humans come and go. Robert considers the maintenance and stewardship of the Abbey his job. It’s the one aspect of being an earl that Matthew seems to connect with. Nice thematic mirror.
The next thing that happens is something that should’ve stayed on the Five side of the line:
While everyone but Bates and Anna are out to the village a bossy man arrives looking for Carson. He picks his own room, the family space, to wait. Sybil (the nice daughter) comes in and stays to protect Carson. Placing this scene before the Six would’ve disrupted nothing. It would’ve actually crisped up the Six a little. Here, it muddies the Seven.
SEVEN
Robert returns just as Carson hurries in. He and the stranger, both named Charlie, were a double act, entertaining on the stage. (The secret revealed!) Robert is surprised.
After Carson confesses all, including his stealing from the larder to feed this man, he tenders his resignation. Robert rolls his eyes and tells him not to be dramatic. Heh. Twenty pounds to the bossy man and never return or it’s jail. Aw, Carson is so embarrassed to have Lord Grantham intervene. Robert knows how to make decisions, though, and in both episodes so far he’s brought the hammer at the Seven.
EIGHT
Now things come to a head. Mrs. Crawley has treatment in her hand, demanding the doctor use it. He agrees, although he really can’t refuse her. She’s determined. The Dowager, who’s gotten word, arrives just as the patient is being prepared. Ew, haha! We all, Dowager, too, see the fluid drained from the heart. Crawley’s holding the wife, and the procedure works. Oh, yes, glorious moment! Well done. Moving.
Haha! Robert, when the doctor brings him up to date, decides that Isabelle Crawley should be made chairman of the board. Then she and the Dowager will have equal power. Oh, ho. And Matthew, as he’s leaving, asks Robert if he can fire Molesley. Bam, Robert nails him. Would you deny a man his living? Will you fire the maids, the butler, when you’re in charge here?
Again, as in Episode 1, it’s Robert with the climax. He’s a man who likes life smooth, but when it’s time for him to lead he does so very well. For a period drama, this is an interesting choice for the Eight. I like it.
NINE
Everyone prepares for a hospital ceremonial event. Mary admits she’s set her sights on a man named Evelyn. Carson checks in with Hughes: Do you find me ridiculous? William tries to ask Daisy to walk with him to the event, but she’s only interested in Thomas. Matthew asks for Molesley’s help with the cufflinks. And Carson thanks Bates for treating the Charlie matter with discretion. The world is stabilized, ready for another turn of the wheel during the next episode.
Finally, we get a good look at Isabelle and the Dowager side by side, partners in the hospital’s management. Oh, dear, they can’t stand each other. Delightful.