Anna (Joanna Froggatt) Bates (Brendan Coyle) O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) Moseley (Kevin Doyle) all accompany the Grantham's, with the Dowager (Maggie Smith) in tow. As well as a very pregnant Mary (Michelle Dockery) Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Matthew. Edith breaks the news that Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) is to be there also and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) is eager to meet him, but not it seems Robert Hugh Bonneville). Branson (Allen Leech) stays behind to manage the estate and to stir things up with the new maid, Edna (MyAnna Buring). Okay it's Edna who gives chase to him. Have to say I didn't like Edna at all and she didn't really fit the show or the episode either. A maid with yearnings of a higher station is not at all what the Downton staff in Carson (Jim Carr) and Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) will tolerate.
A new grocer, Tufton (John Henshaw) turns up who sends Mrs Patmore's (Leslie Nichol) heart racing and especially since he tastes her wares. He brings her dried ginger instead of fresh and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) offers to go into Thirsk and change it for her, with Albert (Matt Milne) in tow. Seems like everyone is on speaking terms now with the fiasco of last series in the past. Which also includes Daisy (Sophie McShera) and Ivy (Cara Theobold). Albert it seems has also given up his pursuit of Daisy and Ivy now, it seems. Not to mention Thomas has taken to 'stalking' Jimmy/James (Ed Speleers). Well it appears that way and with the looks that pass between them, it's a wonder Jimmy is till around, ha.
Robert tells everyone about visiting Shrimpie, the Dowager's nephew, in Scotland, that's a nickname cos they had nicknames resembling fish. When they arrive it's obvious tensions are high between Shrimpie (Peter Egan) and his wife, Susan, parents of Rose (Lily James) who is glad to see them. O'Brien seems to be getting on with Susan's maid as she thinks they've found a fellow kindred spirit, another maid with ideas above her station, sorry I just love that phrase. It appears they dine early in the Highlands, whereas the Downton staff are used to eating late.
Thomas and the others decide they want to attend the Thirsk fair where Tufton will have a stand and they will need Carson's permission to attend. Carson who aims to work everyone like a horse whilst the upstairs lot are away is adamant they shouldn't have a break whilst still being paid. Mrs Hughes talks him round when Mrs Patmore asks her to the fair also as Tufton will be there. Obviously tufton is a cad in terms of only wanting her for her food, he even asks her to bring sandwiches. As Mrs Patmore buys a new pink outfit for the occasion. It's a bit 'girly' she thinks, but as Mrs Hughes tells her, it's good to be girly now and then.
Branson left to his own devices. has dinner with Isabel (Penelope Wilton) and she tells him it's okay to be his own man in that he can mix with whomever he likes now he runs the estate. Thus Edna kind of does the same thing in asking him if he's ashamed of his position. Even meeting him in the pub for lunch, cos she overhears he will be there, he has to walk Robert's dog, you see. She then invites him to come down and have dinner with them, instead of eating on his own. Isabel also having Doctor Clarkson (David Robb) over for dinner quite a bit too and we know where that was leading, with one-sided feelings on his part.
Mrs Hughes notices Tufton being free with the women and flirting with everyone in a skirt. As he says, "I love anytime, anyplace." The men enter into a tug of war with Jimmy betting the Downton lot will win and that doesn't go down well with the other team, seeing as the bookie is on their side. So they win of course and Jimmy has money to burn, so he buys drinks for everyone, gives Daisy and Ivy money. Before you know it, Jimmy ends up drunk and is cornered under the bridge by the other rope pullers. Only to be rescued by Thomas, who gets beaten for his trouble. Doctor Clarkson is about to propose to Isabel but is saved by her telling him she doesn't want to ruin a good friendship and Jimmy needs his help.
In the Highlands, Susan aims to get her hair like Cora and enlists Brien's help, making her own maid, Wilkins (Simone Lahbib) jealous. Anna and Bates help out Rose, who smokes outside and is cheered up by them. She then returns the favour by teaching Anna the Reel; for the Ghilles Ball. Shrimpie is to go to India and Susan doesn't want Rose to go. He also tells Robert he's lost Duneagle, which makes Robert see the light and admit to Cora that Matthew was right about his plans for Downton and without him he would have lost it too. Matthew takes Gregson under his wing and says he objects to his intentions towards Edith, in making him his mistress, as will Robert. However Edith is determined to not let this one get away.
Cora agrees to take Rose to Downtown whilst the two are in India, we knew she'd become an addition at the estate. Mary was being rather snobbish, as usual making comments about Gregson and how he brought his tails with him just to fit in at the Castle. Since Matthew and Mary were getting so close it was inevitable as to the outcome at the end. With him saying he loves her, she's changed his life and her adding he's the only one who could love her. At the ball, Wilkins spikes O'Brien's drink to get back at her which she doesn't drink, but Moseley does, so he engages in plenty of merrymaking and dancing at the ball, letting his hair down.
Jimmy checks up on Thomas and finds out he was following him, well he needed looking out for. Jimmy can't give him what he wants, but Thomas just wants to be friends with him, which he can be. So they bury the hatchet. Mrs Hughes tells Mrs Patmore about Tufton and his flirting with other women and she's relieved. He was only after her for the cooking. Albert finds he has a love for cooking also. Hey O'Brien wasn't around to relish Thomas getting beaten up.
Mary is overcome with her little dance and wants to return home early, without Matthew of course again cos we knew what was coming. Anna also surprises Bates and Mary with her dancing. When Mary arrives at the station she needs to be taken to hospital. The baby being born by the time Matthew arrives. He's pleased and she's done him proud. As Mary says they've done their duty, a male heir for Downton, which wasn't soon enough. She wants Matthew to get the others and bring them back, so what happened to the telephone now? He meets with an accident in his car and lies bleeding, life gone from him. SO will she name the baby Matthew now?
That was a bit too much for a Christmas episode, I knew it was coming throughout the episode and even managed to say how, but a year after Sybil is killed off and they decide to do the same thing. Another death after a baby is born, that's like saying babies are jinxed in this household. As I said, it was obvious with everyone singing Matthew's praises, not to mention Robert finally accepting his proposals were welcomed and didn't even tell him. Matthew knew about Gregson and his loony wife too, so he had to go. He knew too much, ha (sorry). Leaving Mary and Branson with lots in common now. Branson even broke down and cried over Sybil in front of Mrs Hughes, particularly when she told him Edna must go and how he'll find someone one day. Doubtful Mary will, I mean as she said Matthew was the only one who truly knew her and loved her.
Just think, last Christmas, they got together and this Christmas episode, Matthew was killed off. Surely there were other ways of coming up with an ending in which he could leave, that didn't involve another sorrowful death. The family will now go through another mourning ad upheaval as another baby won't know one of their parents. Of course they could move the story along in years in series 4, which will be disappointing if Matthew/Dan doesn't get his moment in the limelight with everyone saying goodbye to him. He's a character who will be missed. One who wasn't stuffy or arrogant and gave everyone a chance.
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