In a switch from previous seasons, the Christmas Special actually took place during the summer. It's the "Society Season," and time for Rose to be unveiled to London's upper classes. The entire family are at the Crawley's London house, and are joined by Cora's mother, and brother (played by Paul Gimatti and Shirley MacLaine) from America.
The question of Bates' involvement with Green's death is finally answered. Mary chooses not find out, and burns the ticket to London found in his jacket. Mary meanwhile has two (or possibly three if you count Evelyn Napier) suitors jostling for her hand in marriage. She finds out Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) actually has money to his name which changes her perception of him. Following her introduction to the King, he appears at Rose's party to take the first dance. The Dowager Duchess Violet had a great 'cat fight' scene with Martha. Edith decides to take her future into her hands, and brings the baby back to give her to the farmer we met in the first episode.
The servants take advantage of the break, and a day by the seaside is arranged. Daisy is invited to become Harold Levinson's cook (which position Ivy ends up taking). Baxter broke free of whatever hold Thomas had on her, and looks to be on the road to happiness with Moseley. Thomas is trying his best to spoil it though. The final shot of the episode was one of the most memorable of the series: Carson, and Mrs. Hughes playing in the waves.
Downton Musings:
Season #5? Looks that way; there's a listing for it on IMDB. Part of me hopes it's the last. These dramas are usually better quality over quantity.
-I wish the stunt casting would stop; Downton Abbey doesn't need Shirley MacLaine, and Paul Gimatti to be a success.
-Baxter and Molesley are cute.
-Mary bugs me: In this episode, it's as if the writers hit the reset button with Mary, and her love affair with Matthew never happened. Now she has three possible suitors, and it's as if it's a game to her to play one off against the other. Character development would be nice.
-Character Development 2: Thomas: Season 3 was a big arc for him; we found out he was gay, he was beaten up, and generally reviled by the other characters for it. Would've loved seeing some more of the consequences, and a peek into what it must have been like for a gay person in the '20's. Instead we get plotting, scheming Thomas who spent a couple of episodes in America. What a waste!
-Give him a kiss: I would've kissed Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) before he left the house in the morning.
-Is Gregson dead? or a spy?
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