“I’m going upstairs to take off my hat.”
Downton Abbey is back and the opening episode of the period drama’s fifth season does not disappoint, placing numerous long-running storylines and a plethora of new subplots into the chute and setting them off.
The sense of permanence that supplies Downton Abbey with much of its gravitational pull is front and center in this feature-length episode. Lord and Lady Grantham are celebrating their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary, while Mr. Carson and Lord Grantham demonstrate the goodwill that underlies their life-long relationship when villagers form a committee to organize a World War I memorial and select Mr. Carson to head their committee instead of Lord Grantham.
Both men are uncomfortable with the nontraditional choice, but move forward in a way that honours and supports the other. These two are more alike than any other characters at Downton, a fact that is showcased by their actions in the climactic fire scene. Each is calmly in charge of the evacuation of their part of the house. Lord Grantham shines in this moment of terror and personal jeopardy, calmly directing the younger men to get the others out of Downton while he remains to battle the blaze. Courage, indeed.
The Dowager Countess is reliably on form with a nice serving of juicy one-liners, and is deliciously meddling in Isobel’s love life. We know that the Dowager’s concern for Isobel’s happiness is tempered by her desire to prevent Isobel from eclipsing the Dowager’s social standing by becoming the wife of Lord Merton. But we don’t mind because everyone knows that Isobel and Dr. Clarkson are much better suited to each other, anyway.
Lady Mary’s storyline promises more scenes with the dishy Lord Gillingham and the equally dishy Charles Blake. Mary’s got some 21st Century ideas on picking a husband which we’re anxious to see play out. Meanwhile, Lady Edith continues to suffer under the injustice of her circumstances. If she can’t be happy, let’s at least hope that she finds her backbone this season.
We finally learn Miss Baxter’s deep, dark secret and are on the verge of seeing Cora wise up and give Mr. Barrow what’s coming to him when he, once again, is at the right place at the right time to do a good deed and save his job.
As ever with Thomas, his exact motivations can be hard to fathom at times (equally so when it comes to his friendship with Jimmy), but he remains one of Downton’s most intriguingly complex characters. On the lighter side of the episode, the loveable Mr. Molesley has a bad hair day trying to impress Baxter and there is an easy warmth in the pair’s chemistry.
If we can find one flaw with the episode, it’s with the elaborate dinner party given in honor of Lord and Lady Grantham’s anniversary. Lady Rose invites Tom’s schoolteacher friend from the village, and despite being reluctant to attend, Miss Bunting shows up and sprays the dinner table with incendiary political commentary, alienating her hosts. As entertaining as the fireworks were, it didn’t quite ring true that a guest would be so bold or so ill-mannered.
It’s a splendid start to what promises to be another riveting season that will keep our heads swimming with the ups and downs of the beloved group that lives at the Abbey.
Next week: Richard E Grant!
Aired at 9pm on Sunday 21 September 2014 on ITV.
> Order Season 5 on DVD on Amazon.
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