Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 7 Review

Bates (Brendan Coyle) was released this week and finally arrived home, much to the pleasure of Robert (Hugh Bonneville) who was overjoyed to welcome him back and agreed to get him a cottage and to settle him back in quick smart.  Seeing as he'll be returning to his valet duties now.  Leaving Thomas (Rob James-Collier) in the lurch.  Thus he had nothing to lose when passion finally overcome him.  That and O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) telling him how much James (Ed Speleers) talks about him.  Thus he snuck into James's room, just as Albert (Matt Milne) was arriving back from the pictures and caught the two of them kissing.
Actually it was one sided and of course, James won't be telling anyone, not until he gets found out obviously.

The Dowager (Maggie Smith) took it upon herself to tell Isabel (Penelope Wilton) that Ethel (Amy Nuttall) should go her own way and should find another job.  With her repeat remark of Ethel having many suits to "fit all occasions."  This was further reinforced by her seeing Ethel in tears when she came from the grocer's shop.  Edith's (Laura Carmichael) job came up again as it would and she got the Dowager on side by saying she wanted her to do something and this is it.  The Dowager agrees only in return for a favour. This being advertizing a position for Ethel.  Anyone could tell Edith and the editor would have an attraction.  Wonder if he's married, no one said.

Obviously Robert was still against the job offer, as well as many other things, including Matthew's (Dan Stevens) proposals which resulted in the resignation of foreman, Jarvis (Terence Harvey). A man who has been around since the time of the Dowager's husband.  So naturally Matthew couldn't put a foot right, as he once again accused Robery of letting the estate being left to fall to pieces.  Robert once again convincing him it was the result of bad investments.  Matthew reminding him, not too subtly, that he also used up Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) money in the process.

Matthew thought of having the farm up and running and Robert refused to go into competition with the other farmers.  With Branson (Allen Leech) reminding us again that his grandfather was a sheep farmer.  When Cora and the Dowager decided he should work at the farm instead of living above a garage with his daughter.  Cora saying it was what Sybil would have wanted.  Robert accepting on the condition that Cora and the Dowager would admit they were wrong if things go haywire.  With the Dowager adding, that's easy as she's "never wrong."

Speaking of Branson his brother, Kieran (Ruiari Conaghan) turned up this week showing just how uncouth the rest of the family is, ha.  He even wanted to have dinner with servants instead of with Cora and the family and Branson sopke up for his mother-in-law which was music to Carson's (Jim Carter) ears!

Alfred took Ivy (Cara Theobold) out, much to Daisy's (Sophie McShera) chagrin and Ivy told him if James doesn't have any feelings for her, then maybe the two of them could have something. Which led Albert to Jame's room at that time of night and chancing upon Thomas there too.  Of course Albert would tell Carson what he saw, leading him to have yet more moral judgements to make.  Last time it was about Ethel, this time about Thomas and his 'alternate' lifestyle, which as we know was a criminal offence at that time.  Carson leaving it up to James to decide whether to call the police or not.  Er, seems just as one Downton servant has no sooner got out of prison that another one's fate hangs in the balance.  Being the last episode next week, seems the police will be called, not to mention Thomas will be out of a job anyway, so that was 'convenient.
But what of O'Brien let's see her get her comeuppance too for all her scheming otherwise it hardly seems fair.

Matthew thinks they can't have children cos of his war injury with Mary (Michelle Dockery) trying to convince him it's not.  The looks on her face somehow gives the feeling it might be her.

So much for the women standing by Ethel last episode over their luncheon and this episode, the Dowager insists on sweeping Ethel under the carpet and having her shift off to London or somewhere, just so the village can get back to normal.  It seems that way.  Didn't like the way in which Thomas just burst into James's room and kissed him when he's sleeping, if  O'Brien, kept telling him how James was raving about Thomas, wouldn't he have woken him up, or at least spoken to him, instead of charging in there without thinking.  The same with Albert bursting in on James like this just to ask about his intentions with Ivy.  Albert and James aren't friends, they don't even like each other, so Albert could have waited until morning.  Seems all of O'Brien's scheming has worked in her favour, not to mention the added bonus of actually having Albert walk in, without this being planned.

Seems the Crawley's were scheming themselves as far as Branson and the job of estate manager was concerned. Just to give him the position so Sybil would be raised in an environment they approve of.  Not to mention Branson accepting the job to begin with even if Robert turned up at the christening.