Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 6 Review

No actual scenes of Sybil's funeral but the episode began straight after.  Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) still blames Robert (Hugh Bonneville) for not listening to Dr Clarkson (David Robb).  Thus their marriage was still in pieces and Cora refused to let Robert back into their marital bed.  This led to the Dowager (Maggie Smith) intervening and practically asking Dr Clarkson to reach the point of no return by telling the Crawley's that Sybil would have died anyway and could not be saved.  Of course only after he had gathered all the evidence and research to prove this was medically viable.  Never let it be said that the Dowager would actually stoop to allowing anyone to blatantly lie.

I thought this was an affront to Sybil's memory really and what all the family had endured, especially Branson (Allen Leech) when they had so much hope if she had the Cesarean that she could have been saved.  It just showed that Robert, the man, lord and master was right once again and that he had nothing to feel guilty about, except only grieve for his daughter.  Also giving that pompous doctor a green light for making life and death decisions without having the necessary insight or medical expertise to do so.

At breakfast Edith (Laura Carmichael) brought up the question of the christening and having the Anglican reverend round to discuss it.  Branson being adamant he wants to name the baby Sybil and christen her a Catholic, being Irish.  Leading to yet more outrage for Robert.  However this was not the end of his woes, since Matthew (Dan Stevens) is still 'hounding' him as Robert would put it about the affairs of Downtown and how it has been left to fall to smithereens, financially.

Matthew showed Branson the rundown farm with Branson admitting he's from a line of farmers.  Do we think he may be sticking around to go into farming?  That would give the Dowager plenty to talk about, from chauffeur to farmer.  Mary (Michelle Dockery) firmly sides with Branson on the issue of the christening since Sybil wanted it that way. She loved Branson and was happy for the baby to be a Catholic.

Isobel (Penelope Wilton) invites the Crawley women to luncheon and that includes the Dowager, who invites herself really since Isobel didn't see her sitting on the sofa when inviting Cora.  Isobel isn't game for Ethel (Amy Nuttall) to cook though and wants her only to prepare some cold meats and salad.  Leaving Ethel to beg for help from Mrs Patmore (Leslie Nichol) re cooking tips.  As you know Carson (Jim Carter) having banned the staff from the house, spies Mrs Patmore leaving.  Mrs Patmore asking if he thinks she'd be corrupted by Ethel.

The ladies attend and enjoy the meal until Robert is told of this by Carson, who thinks it's his duty to forever interfere in such affairs and interrupts, fury in his eyes and his tone.  Cora and the others refuse to leave when he asks them and the Dowager commenting the dessert looks good.

Downstairs the drama continues as Thomas (Rob James-Collier) can't keep his hands to himself, making James feel even more uncomfortable and O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) enjoying every moment of it.  Ivy (Cara Theobold) can't get enough of James who doesn't want anything to do with her and Albert (Matt Milne) wants Ivy who is hated by Daisy (Sophie McShera).  As Mrs Patmore says they've all got feelings for the wrong people.  Daisy thinks she has a chance with Albert when he asks her to teach him the Foxtrot, until she learns it's just to impress Ivy. Daisy gets an offer to work on the farm with Mason (Paul Copley) wanting to leave it to her when he dies.  He doesn't think houses like Downtown will survive forever.

Bates (Brendan Coyle) manages to threaten Craig (Jason Furnival) that unless he and Durrant (Neil Bell) stay put of his business, he'll go to the governor and tell them they're bringing in drugs and wanted him involved.  Mrs Bartlett changes her story after Murray (Jonathan Coy) threatens her with police action.  Thus allowing Bates to be freed.  News which Robert finds pleasing.  Seems the Dowager's ploy works and upon hearing Clarkson's news Robert and Cora both manage to reconcile.

Seemed a bit of a filler episode with many issues covering old ground, the christening, the love triangle and Robert and Cora being so easily brought together again.  It would have been better if he had been left out in the cold a little longer, especially since he couldn't admit his real feelings over Sybil's passing to Cora, like the analogy with the rose, her favourite flower and it's in bloom, but he can't tell her that; with Mary encouraging him to tell Cora all this.  It seemed hurried and rushed.  Though the line with the rose, or not being bale to tell Sybil he saw something funny in the paper, ensures the audience is still on Robert's side as far as a grieving father goes.

Same thing with Bates being released with Murray and Anna (Joanne Froggatt) having to do very little, seems Bates and his bully tactics saved his bacon.  The issue of Edith's job at the paper was raised and Cora once again stated that Robert refuses to move with the times.  Also finding fault with naming the baby Sybil, which he considers "ghoulish."  Of course he would name her after her mother, she's all he has left of her.  The Dowager at luncheon, commenting how Ethel has an 'outfit for every occasion.' When Robert was debating, one-sidedly, the 'virtues' of being in the same house with a fallen woman.