Downton Abbey: Christmas Special Recap

Today we’re taking a quick break from the North and South Celebration because it’s my turn to host the recap of Sunday’s Downton Abbey.  Here’s what Sarah and I have to say (Sarah in italics):

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The finale of Season 2 brings the arrival of Christmas to Downton. Gifts are exchanged; the family even gives the servants gifts. Carson receives a book on the history of England’s finest families and obviously thinks it’s the best. I think Carson is a bit of an adorable dork.

Me too! I also loved seeing them give gifts to the downstairs group. Everything was so thoughtful and it was nice to see.

Oh-and Sybil is off in Ireland with her new husband Tom aka Branson and even though we don’t get to see her this episode, we get news from her that she is pregnant. Lord Grantham still isn’t keen on the idea of Sybil being married to Tom and didn’t attend the wedding, but Cora is thrilled with the news and tries to get Lord Grantham excited about being a grandfather.

Richard gets more and more annoying with each episode. When he asked “Will I never be rid of him” you could see that there was still something there between Matthew and Mary! I also feel bad for Mary-she’s trying to do the right thing, but you can see it’s wearing on her as Richard is hard to be with.

New Year’s comes and goes, but everyone remains tense over Bates’ situation.

Lady Rosamund visits Downton, along with her meddling maid, Shore. A friend of the family, Lord Hepworth, also briefly stays at Downton and begins courting her. He’s a fortune hunter, but Rosumand hasn’t yet decided if she minds. In a rare moment of vulnerability, she confesses to feeling lonely. It looks as if her lonely situation will continue, though, after she catches him with her maid.

I felt so bad for Rosamund. She wants someone to be with and she thought she had someone and he was only interested in her maid. I thought something fishy was up when the maid kept visiting the room claiming that she was talk to Rosamund about Lord Hepworth. Good thing Anna saw through it all!

Thomas has been trying to get back into the good graces of Lord Grantham. O’Brien suggests he “looses” something Grantham loves only to return it to him. Thomas hides Lord Grantham’s beloved dog, Isis, only to discover that the dog got out of the shed he put her in. Thomas runs all over trying to find the dog, since it’s his fault she’s missing, only to discover children in town found the dog and claimed the reward. Lord Grantham, not knowing it was Thomas’ fault, is impressed when he discovers he had been out looking for his dog all day and decides Thomas can have a job at Downton again.

I have to admit, it was fun to see Thomas squirm when his plans when awry! I hated that he kidnapped Isis in the first place, but I’m so glad she made it back safe and sound!

Between this and Thomas’ muddle of the black market affair, he can’t seem to do anything right lately!

Lord Grantham notices the arguments between Mary and Richard and asks Cora why Mary stays with him. She finally  tells him of Mary’s indiscretion with Pamuk. He handles it rather well, considering.

When he gets Mary alone, he gently confronts her. After she does a bit of explaining, he does the unthinkable. He tells her not to marry Richard. Her happiness is more important to him than the scandal that will occur. In his words, she should visit her grandmama in New York and bring back an American cowboy.

Mary and a cowboy? That has possibilities…

Go Lord Grantham!! He was so sweet with Mary and I loved that he said he would rather see her happy. I thought it was hilarious when they mentioned Mary meeting an American cowboy-ha! I’m so happy they’re not pressuring Mary into marrying Richard-I think it helps no one really liked him to begin with! I also liked that they maid mention of her grandmother, since we’ll be seeing her in season 3.

When Richard makes his way back to Downton, the showdown happens. Mary tries to keep it civil, but their voices escalate and Matthew comes rushing in. This had to be incredibly painful for the proud Richard, being dumped publicly. He retaliates by telling Matthew that Lavinia thought he didn’t love her. This sends Matthew over the edge and soon, the he and Ricard are rolling around, breaking vases and pummeling the heck out of each other.

Richard leaves the next morning. He tells Mary, “I loved you more than you ever loved me.”

I was so excited that Matthew came rushing in and I think Richard got what he deserved. He was being such a jerk to everyone. I know he said he loved Mary, but I don’t know if he ever really did. He’s going to release Mary’s story, but I wonder if this is the last we’ll see of him-I think he may have more up his sleeves.

Downstairs, Bates’ trial looms over everyone. He has been tried and convicted of murder. This sends everyone into a tailspin, since they all thought he would not be considered guilty. However, there is soon news that his verdict has been changed from hanging to life in prison. While not much, it’ll ensure Bates stays alive causing everyone, especially Anna, much relief.

The set it up so much to make Bates guilty and I still don’t think he is!! O’Brien seemed very interested in everything that happened-I still think she had something to do with everything. And the way Richard protected the scandel from getting out-maybe he was involved as well! I don’t think it was all about protecting the family and Mary-I think he had his own interests there.

Daisy, on the other hand, is starting to feel unappreciated. She finally goes to visit William’s father, and in the sweetest moment, he asks her to be his daughter. Immediately, he starts acting as her father figure, telling her to talk to Mrs. Patmore. She does, and Mrs. Patmore, is agreeable to the idea of her becoming an assistant cook!

Daisy has been bugging me this season with her “but I didn’t love William!” She never saw that she really did care for him until she went and visited his father and saw that she really did love him-maybe not the same way he loved her, but what she did was a good thing. I also liked that she listened to William’s father instead of Rosamund’s meddling maid who kept telling her she should leave and be a cook somewhere else.

The servants ball soon commences, and everyone has a lovely time. Mrs. Patmore dancing with Matthew and Thomas with Violet was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in quite awhile.

And then it happens. What we’ve all been waiting for since Downton Abbey began.

Mary is standing outside and Matthew soon follows her. She has told him about Pamuk and now she asks him if he will forgive her. He says, “I don’t think there’s anything to forgive.” then goes on to make one of the most romantic speeches, getting down on one knee and everything.

This was the most romantic scene ever! I adored Matthew’s speech and how he said that both he and Mary had pasts and that he didn’t have anything to forgive her for. I’m also so happy she told him! And I was squeeing majorly when Matthew proposed! I hope we get a happy ending with these two, but we’ll see what Season 3 has in store for us!!

Mary says yes.