Fancy fans of Downton rejoice! Once again, we hear Laura Linney welcoming us to Masterpiece Classic.
After those Limeys across the pond got Season 3 back in September (first the Olympics, and now this?!?), we finally get two episodes of everyone’s favorite high class soap opera. And we certainly return to the high drama with some. . .well, some drama of the highest class.
The first episode revolves mostly around Matthew and Mary’s upcoming wedding, and the second begins with them returning from their honeymoon. Most importantly, and the theme running through both episodes, there is a major financial threat to the estate, and Matthew may have the key to fixing it, as may Cora’s mother, Martha, who is visiting from America.
Trying to keep this spoiler free, but here are some things you get to look forward to:
Shirley Maclaine, playing Cora’s mother, is quote possibly the only person on the planet who can keep up with Maggie Smith’s Voilet Crawley, The Dowager Countess.
The Dowager Countess gets in enough of her choicest barbs and beautiful meddling as we’ve come to expect.
Mary is still a drama queen and threatens to destroy her own wedding.
Bates is still in jail, but he and Anna have plans to right his case.
There’s also a great moment with his cellmate, and I see again why Bates is still my favorite character.
Edith has some romantic moments with Sir Anthony Strallan (or as I like to call him “Grandpa Boyfriend”).
Tom and Matthew do some male bonding over their positions as brothers-in-law.
Thomas continues to meddle and sabotage other members of the staff.
Mrs. Hughes has a health scare. For some reason she takes Ms. Patmore with her to the doctor… with some comic relief.
The best thing about this continues to be the excellent writing with an eye always toward theme and character. Change and the collision of the traditional and modern continue to be the driving forces. I had some problems with Season 2, but so far this seems to be a return to the excellence we demand from Downton.