Robert breaks the money news, or lack of, to Cora, who wants him to hold off telling Mary. As we all know Mary will marry into money. Yet another thing for the two lovebirds to argue over, as you know that's brewing too. Seems to me there was some trouble in paradise there as soon as the show began, almost got the impression they didn't want to marry after all, which is confirmed when Mary after finding out Matthew may inherit money left to him by Swire, urges him to keep it to help poor old papa keep Downton. Well, he's going to be part of the family now. Their argument being overheard by Edith (Laura Carmichael).
Yes Edith who is still pining over Sir Anthony (Robert Bathurst) and seems to be throwing herself at him every chance she gets. He however, is oblivious to this. Lots of goings on downstairs too, with the help getting into a tizzy over having to bow to a lowly chauffeur, Branson, when he arrives! Carson (Jim Carter) point blank refusing to play valet to him, as does Thomas (Rob James-Collier). This is seen by his arrival and Branson clearly sticks out like a sore thumb in his 'ordinary' suit. He won't waste money on 'appropriate' attire so as not to become "one of them." Sybil thanks Robert for sending her the money which obviously he hasn't cos there's none to send!
Lots of goings on about Branson not having a proper morning coat or tails for dinner and he refuses to get one even when his wife asks him to. Now he's not into all that refinery but if she asked him, he could have made an effort instead of looking like a scruff. This was left to the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) to take it upon herself to get him wear a proper suit for the wedding, albeit one of Matthew's hand-me-downs. Again he objects to this and Isobel (Penelope Wilton) and the Dowager after listening to his objections, insists he's getting the new suit.
Cue the arrival of Lord Merton (Douglas Reith) and Larry (Charlie Anson) an old beau of Sybil's so naturally there'll be lots of jibes and jokes there at Branson's expense. Again shown when Larry remarks on Branson's luggage being lost which explains his clothes. Branson replies it wasn't lost unlike his manners. Sir Anthony spots Larry getting up to something, which is revealed at the dinner table when Branson goes into a rant about politics and the Brits yet again, appearing drunk.
Sir Anthony capturing Edith's heart all over again as he defends Branson when he tells everyone Larry put something in his drink, a pill, making him appear drunk. To which Larry's father Lord Merton objects in the strongest possible terms and Matthew asks Branson to be his best man. A favour returned by Branson when he talks Matthew into marrying Mary after their blew as he wouldn't be happy without her as long "as she roamed the earth." As he wasn't without Sybil. They're marrying/married into the family and need to stick together.
Thomas and O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) are at loggerheads, what happened to their conniving alliance of two series. Thomas now valet to Robert doesn't want to help new footman Albert (Matt Milne) fast track his way into being a valet. Daisy (Sophie McShera) is in a sulk as she wasn't made Mrs Patmore's (Lesley Nichol) assistant and there was money enough to hire Albert but not a maid to take her place.
Bates (Brendan Coyle) is still in prison with scenes interspersed with Anna (Joanne Froggat) visiting him there, just so we know he's still around. She finds a journal written in Vera's handwriting and they again discuss the issues surrounding her suicide. He also tells her to go on the honeymoon with Mary and Matthew to the South of France for them and to make some memories for them. Seems nothing much happened with the case then, which is being dragged out.
Robert finally accepts Branson into the family and Sybil finds out it was the Dowager herself who sent them the money so she could come over for the wedding with her husband. Which is news to everyone.
I found this episode to be a little slow off the mark and not quite the same as the other two. Though it did have its moments such as the arguments, over politics, over money, it didn't have the same feel to it. Wonder if there will be any point to the marriage seeing as Dan Stevens has said he may not be back for another series, wishing to make his mark on Hollywood. He doesn't like the way in which they're only given a few scripts so they don't know what's happening throughout the series.
Still hope it does get better as we hit the roaring twenties and roaring they were as far as all the arguing, ranting and raving that was going on.
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