The end of World War I should bring peace and normalcy back to the residents of Downton, but the Lord of the manor Robert Crawley struggles to find logic in all the change and senseless loss, while his daughter Lady Sybil is determined that her life will never go back to the empty and unproductive existence of a debutant. An interesting development in Matthew's health changes his prospects in many eyes, and a fatal sickness will level the playing field for Lady Mary. In this packed two hour episode, some older plot lines were resolved and new ones introduced. Screenwriter Julian Fellowes certainly pulled out all the melodramatic stops. As emotions ran from regret, guilt, anger, envy, grief, desire and fear, I wondered what else could possibly have been squeezed into this once classy and well-written corset drama that has now slipped into "so middle-class" territory as granny would say. Granted, all this highly charged, multiple plot line, melodramatic tosh is intensely entertaining, but I am seriously craving a return to the more sophisticated narrative and character development of season one. I am most disappointed in the trite and sappy character that poor actor Dan Stevens is trying to add some dignity to. Some of the things that come out of Matthew Crawley's mouth are so, so, silly, that I am embarrassed for him. We were impressed, however, that O'Brien's bangs and Lady Mary's eyebrows suffered no harm during this week's series of incredibly wild events. 1919 sees the last of the recovering officers depart Downton, the house is reverted to its former state - but not so its residents. The future looms large for a lost and melancholy Robert, an uneasy Bates, a determined Sybil, a cunning, ambitious Thomas and a desperate Ethel. A stunning revelation deeply affects Robert and Cora and incites Richard to tighten his grip on Mary. But Mary has accepted her fate with detachment. Violet, however, will do no such thing, and even Carson reaches his limit. Sybil discovers unlikely, however unenthusiastic, allies. A wedding is planned but fate cruelly intervenes. In its wake lay guilt, grief and, among the servants, fresh horrors.
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