Review: Downton Abbey Premiere (Spoilers)

“Downton Abbey” is a house of gloom. This season picks up its fourth season six months after the end of season three. Last season saw births and deaths, and this season picks up with many characters grieving. Matthew’s death following the birth of his and Mary’s son has left Mary reverting back the ice queen girl we all love (sorta?).

Warning: Spoilers to follow!

At the beginning of the premiere the whole house is in a tizzy because Mrs. O’Brien has snuck off in the night to be a maid in India. Don’t worry about who is going to take care of Lady Grantham, because Braithwaite is back. After a local ad at the post office Lady Grantham decides to hire a servant that used to work at Downton. Of course no one thought to tell her she was dismissed after she came on to Branson.

Lord Grantham is stuck dealing with the estate after Matthew’s death. Apparently the lawyer didn’t leave a will. That sounds suspicious to anyone else? Matthew’s son is entitled to everything, and Lord Grantham is left to run the estate until George is of age. All he wants to take care of everything and let Mary recover, but Branson wants her to be involved. Soon Lord Grantham finds Matthew’s will and see that he intended Mary to be his sole heir.

Edith is still carrying on with Michael Gregson who wants her to move with him to Germany so he can divorce his crazy wife. He offers to become a German citizen so he can divorce his wife, and Edith is so touched she asks him to kiss her in public. What a scandal!

Mary spends half the episode wearing black, staring out a window, and not having any emotions. Which is startlingly irritating because we have seen her grow so much over the last three years, and I hate to see characters revert even though it’s legitimate. A lack of a will has left Mary as a mother of an heir with nothing to her name, but what her parents give her. They refer to Mary’s son as a ‘poor orphan,’ which is both terrible and so very sad. Mary has reason to be mourning, most of the household tries to convince her to rejoin the world of the living. Tom tries to convince everyone that Mary needs to be involved in the running of the estate. He thinks this will help lift her out of her depression. It seems the only people who can convince Mary to move out of her depression are…Carson and the Countess.

Isobel is almost as inconsolable as Mary. She will not go to see him, and practically everyone at Downton tries to convince her that being a grandmother will help her move on, but it seems there is nothing for it. Soon Mrs. Hughes convinces Isobel to take in an old acquaintance of Carson and she remembers how important it is to be kind and move forward.

Least favorite character award goes to Rose, who is childish and stupid. I doubt that will change so she gets it most likely for the season, and f course Thomas. I mean he is just creepy.

Most shocking moment of the episode was when Nanny West called little Sybbie a wicked half-breed, and then Lady Grantham promptly dismissed her.  While I hate to see one of Thomas’ evil plans work out well I say good riddance!!

Downton Abbey airs Sunday nights on PBS at 9/8c

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What did you think of the premiere? Tweet us @litdarling