Things are on a bit of a dramatic pause as John Bates is finally out of prison and back at Downton Abbey finally. Other than Anna suggesting that Thomas be completely sacked, they really have nothing to do. O'Brien, who knows Thomas inside and out, utilizes his loneliness to try to manipulate him into thinking that Jimmy likes him which of course will lead to a bitter emotional slap for Thomas. O'Brien obviously had no issue with Thomas being gay until she found a way to use that to hurt him when he, in her mind, anyway, betrayed her. Unfortunately, the staff has to be around when their scheming explodes in their faces, leaving the lose bits and pieces to be wiped off of them.
As for Ethel's story, she finds herself being treated with disrespect while doing her job by the prim and proper townsfolk and Isobel refuses to take it under consideration to let her go. Ethel is an interesting character I wish they could have done more with, but it's obvious that she only could go so far considering the number of characters they had.
The main story surrounding Thomas's attempted seduction of Jimmy is disturbing because of how it is manipulated by O'Brien, but is historically important as a look into society's feelings towards this subject in the early 1920's. There's less about the upstairs goings on than normal although the appearance of Tom's uncooth brother for Sybil's christening and a little on the estate changes by Matthew do have some impact. There's also a little bit devoted to Edith's writing career but these are plot developments that will have further and more detailed importance later on.
As for Ethel's story, she finds herself being treated with disrespect while doing her job by the prim and proper townsfolk and Isobel refuses to take it under consideration to let her go. Ethel is an interesting character I wish they could have done more with, but it's obvious that she only could go so far considering the number of characters they had.
The main story surrounding Thomas's attempted seduction of Jimmy is disturbing because of how it is manipulated by O'Brien, but is historically important as a look into society's feelings towards this subject in the early 1920's. There's less about the upstairs goings on than normal although the appearance of Tom's uncooth brother for Sybil's christening and a little on the estate changes by Matthew do have some impact. There's also a little bit devoted to Edith's writing career but these are plot developments that will have further and more detailed importance later on.