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Just as things have begun to settle into a ‘New Normal’ on
Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes escalates the drama and plotlines that will continue throughout Season 4! Out of all the episodes this season, these are the ones that tend to go by in a blink of an eye for me (at least until the holiday special in London, which is a treat in and of itself). In some ways, the show has returned to its roots: house parties, romantic liaisons, and pressing the barriers of socially accepted norms. Nevertheless, the show doesn’t shy away in giving us moments that shock and surprise us among the comforts we’ve come to expect from
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Rachel - Longtime Downton Fan
Christmas, a time that should be full of season’s tidings and joy, is instead rife with anguish and drama at Downton. This episode, of course, set the trend for
Downton Abbey Christmas specials, which range from excellent lines and happy endings (this one!) to specials that ended with far more questions and tears (Season 3, especially).
However, this particular Christmas special is one of the few that takes place during the holiday season, which always makes it such a fun rewatch for me. Even if, like Mrs. Hughes, I’m not in the mood to wear a paper hat and celebrate right alongside the cast, I find learning about the various customs across the pond fascinating: plum pudding, Christmas crackers, celebrations both upstairs and down (and celebrations that combine them both, like the Servants’ Ball at the end of the episode).
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Rachel - Longtime Downton Fan
As the popular Spider-Man quote goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Though as I rewatched last week’s episode of
Downton Abbey, that quote came to mind but with some Crawley-appropriate edits: “With great risks come great consequences.” Because that’s what unfolded last week both upstairs and downstairs ahead of World War I.
Caption Sybil, not yet living her best life.
If anyone is encouraging of others taking great risks, as well as her own ambitions, it’s Lady Sybil. Her interest in politics escalated in this episode as well as her determination to assist Gwen in finding a position as a secretary in order to leave her life as a housemaid behind. The latter is far more successful than the former (and each time I watch this episode, I still love the conversation Gwen shares with the representative from the telephone company when he insists his mother was a housemaid. She’s likely had no one th