This special was really to tie up the loose ends and call it a day on the old stories which were left lingering from Series 5. Which sees the Crawley's heading over to Brancaster Castle, rented by the Sinderby's for a grouse shoot. Though it appears that Robert (Hugh Bonneville) is reluctant to go as he doesn't seem to be in good spirits, also picked up on by Cora (Elizabeth McGovern). Bates (Brendan Coyle) doesn't accompany them as he must stay for Anna(Joanne Froggatt) who has been arrested and put into prison. It's a wonder she didn't get bail, not like it was proved yet she's guilty and she hasn't even had a trail, sure the crawley's would've gladly put up bail. Mary (Michelle Dockery) visits her and Anna asks if she used an assumed name since the press won't be too happy when they find out she's here. Even with all this going on, she's still concerned about her reputation. Mary stands by her since she doesn't care and she'd be happy to say the Crawley's stand by her. Seems she can think of Anna which is more than she does for Edith (Laura Carmichael).
As Edith worries leaving behind Marigold and once again Mary comes up with the phrase of how she's the only mother here and she's not worried. Robert wants to tell Edith he knows, but Cora tells him it's not their secret, seeing as Edith wanted to call herself mother when she said goodbye. Doesn't appear that anyone was looking forward to the hoot and the only reason they went was cos they were Rose's in-laws. Lord Sinderby (James Faulkner) certainly didn't want them here and this was also shown by his snooty butler, Stollen, which is how they kept saying his name, which was actually, Stowell (Alun Armstrong) by name and nature, ha! Or that would be sullen, never mind. Well he has the final say on most things and seems to be running the house and having a holier than thou attitude, high and mighty also. Which Mary dislikes and so does Thomas (Rob James-Collier).
Stowell doesn't like Branson (Allan Leech) cos he's just the chauffeur who made good and tells Thomas he's the footman here as they're short staffed. This later leads Thomas to come up with a plan to embarrass him, hailed on by Mary, infact it was Mary's suggestion that Thomas do something to put him in his place. Surprised no one got fired over it! Which Thomas does by writing a note to the cook saying that Sinderby wants a simple meal. So at dinner he embarrasses Stowell when he says he sent the note to the cook from his valet, Daunt informing her of this. He says he did no such thing and gives him a dressing down in front of everyone, also calling Thomas, "a stupid fool." Of course Thomas won't let this pass and is determined to get his own back on Sinderby as well.
Thus he befriends Stowell who asks him to write and checks his writing against the other note. As if he'd use his own handwriting to do so. Thomas must have been a dab hand at forgeries at some point in his life. So he worms Sinderby's secrets out of him. At the grouse shoot, the agent, Bertie Pelham (Harry Hadden-Paton) has also been invited, as has a friend of Attius' (Matt Barber) who gets partnered with Mary. What was the purposes of the women accompanying the men, I mean it's not as if they'd get any shooting in, though I wouldn't have been surprised if Mary had wanted to get into it! If only to give Edith a scare. Ha.
Robert confesses to Cora he may be suffering from angina but he's not sure yet and she makes him miss the rest of the shoot. Seems like Mary gets another love interest in Henry Talbot Matthew Goode). At the house, a woman arrives, Diane (Alice Patten) with a young boy, who happens to be Sinderby's son and mistress, but Rose (Lily James) saves him by introducing her as her friend and gets Mary and Robert to do the same. Seems Sinderby is human like the rest of them and yet doesn't act that way. Later he apologizes to them and knows Rose is an asset and very clever too. As well as Mary getting Stowell to be kind to Branson. Since he's the one who knew the secret. But Lady Sinderby (Penny Downie) and Atticus are oblivious to this, seems Rose is keeping a secret from him now. But no matter as he's been offered a job in New York and Rose will be leaving with him.
Robert tells Cora he isn't certain of what's happening tomorrow, so he wants to tell Edith he knows about Marigold and she asks for his forgiveness. He should be asking her and he knows Michael was a good man. Branson has guessed that Marigold is hers, cos he's seen a number of such cases in his own family, leaving Mary the one in the dark as it should be. Can you imagine the repercussions for Edith from her. Though I wonder if she'll find out next series. Talbot has also found out and he asks Mary what's happening, but she's in no position to tell him, although he's astute. He's into cars and owns the one that Mary comments on. Isn't it a bit like Matthew and he was driving a fast car when he met his end! Yet it seems Mary doesn't recall that, but she seems to be going after him now.
Bates knows Anna is innocent and has no doubts, when she asks him the same thing she did when he was in prison, about not having doubts and he knows that for certain. He gets the idea to go on the run and confesses he pushed Green. (Imagine if that were true, they'd have gotten away with it, just a thought). Leaving Molesley (Kevin Doyle) to find out his alibi when he said he was in York, taking Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) with him and a photograph from Bates's cottage. Hey Molesley went snooping in his things.
The Dowager (Maggie Smith) brings Princess Irina (Jane Lapotaire) back and gives her some clothes and allows her to stay before Kuragin (Rade Sherbedgia) takes her away. The Princess, rather standoffish of course, as she knows what the two of them had planned, as the Dowager later confesses to Isobel (Penelope Wilton). She and the prince ran away to his yacht, but the Dowager's maid betrayed her and the Princess dragged her out of the carriage and sent her home in her cab. Thus she stayed with Lord Crawley and her children. Isobel looked like she wanted to laugh! Also Lord Merton (Douglas Reith) declared his continuing undying love for Isobel, convinced if he could get his sons to change their minds about accepting her, Isobel would marry him. Especially as she doesn't want to end up like the Dowager in her old age. The Dowager adding there were other men, well implying it, but not really saying anything to elaborate. The Dowager sends the Prince and Princess on their way and calls it quits with him, being the right thing to do.
Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) admits to Carson (Jim Carter) she doesn't have a penny to her name as everything she earns goes into looking after her mentally challenged sister, so she can't go ahead and invest in the property with him, but this doesn't deter him, as he goes ahead with it as planned and finally proposes to her. She accepts and plus she's been waiting a long time for it, as were we, cos it's been brewing for ages.
As Branson and Edith hang up the stockings for the children on their bed, Branson has regrets about leaving and Edith doesn't want him to go either. They share a thought for Sybil with Mary, as Robert overhears them and asks if Branson will leave Sibby behind until he settles in. Robert being tipsy and verging on being drunk since he found out he has an ulcer and needs to change his diet but only agrees to stay off booze until Christmas Eve, so he makes up for it now. Branson gives the speech on his behalf and then he gives one for Branson in return, pretending to be sober.
Anna is brought back and released on bail and Robert gets word to Bates to come home since they found out his alibi was proved. The police case won't stand up as the witness has his doubts now. So this was a Christmas to remember for the family, but not as much for us, cos really, there's not much that happened this ep. With Denka (Sue Johnston) and Spratt (Jeremy Swift) having a sprat between each other and challenging her to make the Dowager broth. So she gets Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) and Daisy (Sophie McShera) to help, but Daisy just makes it for her and is caught by Spratt after she delivers it. Then he throws it out and the Dowager samples the one Denka made, stating it's good when in actual fact it's not, just to stop the squabbling.
I seriously thought Molesley would find that hidden package belonging to Mary in Anna's house, but alas she must have disposed of it when she no longer needed it. Imagine the look on Molesley's face if he did. Matthew Goode more recently seen alongside Benedict Cumberbatch (now imagine if he made an appearance in this desperately need for new stories show, ratings would plummet to new heights!! Ha.) in The Imitation Game and with Allen leech too, and as Wicked Wickham in Death Comes to Pemberly, last year's seasonal offering. Alas no Bene!! Also I didn't think the murder of valet Green could be dragged out for so long and yes it has, by golly! It'll be ongoing for two years when Downton returns and let's see if this is actually concluded. Like I said, imagine if they were both in on it and get away with it! Ha. There's something about Bates that is a bit creepy in terms of his 'secrets'. Sure he's keeping some. I mean we get the revelation that Anna's step father had designs on her and she threatened him with a knife. She's a dark one too.
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