This episode is definitely my favorite of Season 5, and possibly of the entire series. I wept watching it. I wept sharing my favorite scenes with my husband. I think the writers and actors of Downton reached a higher level of excellence in this week's installation. With only two episodes left in the season, I can hardly wait to see what will happen next!
When the episode ended, I did not feel equal to writing about it. I still don't. But I promised you that I would, and so I did. Here is what I have to offer.
A blue sky smiles on Downton's spires
And cheers for happiness of them
Who call it home above, below,
Lord and ladies, maids and men.
But news of death is brought to her.
A life is shattered from within.
Loneliness weds desperation.
The stolen flower cannot win.
Cold beauty plays coy games with hearts,
With fashion, and tradition.
A point-to-point with human pawns,
Devoid of feeling and compassion.
A secret found by one who knows
What secrets must be kept.
A ticket cannot give the proof
Of innocence from death.
A cup of tea to hold at bay
What cannot be contained
Within a man, unseated prince,
Unrequited, but unchanged.
A marriage torn by apathy;
Neither one acquitted.
But love is faithful to forgive.
What was broken is now mended.
Friendless victim of himself
Alone, unwell, in pain,
Accepts the proffered charity,
Finds friendship in the rain.
Investment in the future,
With money or the mind,
Has others thinking past the present
With an offer to unite.
Love, love, love this! Ashley, God has definitely given you a gift. Sometimes I feel unworthy to really comment because of your quick-witted attention to detail and ability to just hit the nail on the head! ;-) Keep blogging! I'm just now catching up, but it has already brought me such lighthearted happiness! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd, btw...ugh, EDITH...as much as I understand, she's made the wrong choice AGAIN. Poor Mrs. Drewe! And poor Marigold, having to get up and suddenly leave the one mama she has ever really known/remembered. I think Lord and Lady Grantham have shown enough love to Edith and acceptance of the improper for Edith to feel safe just telling them the truth! But, I guess Edith feels like she has to leave because she will never escape the judgment and snide comments of her older sister as it is, much less if/when Mary finds out that Edith has been so stupid. I would LOVE for Mary to be able to put herself in her little sister's shoes. After all, at least Edith had intended to MARRY her baby daddy, where as Mary has no intention of marrying her beau of scandal. I so badly want those two sisters to just love one another. Can you tell? ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh Andra thank you! Your comments are so encouraging! Please don't ever feel like you can't comment! I really enjoy sharing ideas and opinions and seeing how others view the exact same material I have watched. We are all fellow fans!
ReplyDeleteThere is just no good solution to Marigold's situation. It doesn't help that most of the adults involved are not considering the effect on Marigold. It would be different if the Drew family had been unkind to her. But they weren't. Mrs. Drew obviously loved her fiercely. Edith loves Marigold in many of the same ways she "loves" anyone else. Selfishly, with a view to what that person can do for her, how much happiness they can bring to her. Not the other way around.
I do think that Marigold would be accepted at Downton. Through all the seasons of scandal, the family has pulled together every single time. I do not think this would be any different. But Edith doesn't know how to be accepted. She's trained her mind to be the underdog. It's no wonder that her actions bear that out.
Yes, good point about Edith training her mind to be the underdog and only loving selfishly. I wish she would just snap out of it!
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ReplyDeleteSubtly and skillfully composed, Ashley-- much like this episode's script! I was pleased to see progress on most of the subplots, along with or perhaps because of improved communications between some of the major players. For me, Mary's relapsed into old, bad, unlikeable habits, but I love that the DC and Mrs. Hughes continue to be at the top of their games. With all the personalities descending on Downton next week plus some budding romances downstairs, I'm expecting lots of fireworks ahead :) .
ReplyDeleteThank you David!
DeleteI agree completely-next week should be dynamite!
(Wasn't the conversation between Bates and Anna so very good? Finally, a return to two of our favorite characters in their element with each other. Huge sigh of relief there!)
Amen about the Bates'! Yay! :-)
DeleteVery impressive- I didn't know you were a poet! :) Ah, so many answers this week. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't love, as David said, is Mary going back to her old ways. I re-watched some s. 3 episodes this week, and I was reminded how Matthew really did bring out the best in her. I don't think Charles or Phony do that.
Speaking of Charles, while not Matthew, I love watching him. He cracks me up! This whole thing with Miss Foxx is becoming very amusing in my opinion. :P
Hooray for Anna and Bates and Lord and Lady Granthem getting on the same pages! Hooray for Mrs. Hughes being her wonderful self! Hooray for Tom! (I don't really have a reason for that one. Always hooray for Tom.)
I do hope we'll see puppies soon. That would be fantastic. Puppies promote good feelings of family and forgiveness all around, neither of which would be amiss. :)
I look forward to this week's episode, and your recap of it. :)
Yes! Puppies! ;-) I was rewatching the series premier with my mom this past weekend, and in the very first episode, Robert calls Isis "boy!" I thought Ashley might be proud of me for catching that one, lol!
DeleteGood catch, Andra!
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