With the arrival of Cousin Matthew and his mother, Isabel Crawley, the stage is set for life changing incidents that will affect patriarch Robert, imperious mother Lady Violet, wife Cora and their three daughters, as well as the staff who have differing opinions in this change in the estate's future. For the nasty Sarah O'Brien, it means expressing opinions that could get her sacked if she doesn't change her attitude, and for Lady Mary, the stage is set for a love/hate relationship that will drive the next three seasons. It's also the beginning of a social rivalry between the eye rolling Countess of Grantham and Isabel Crawley, cementing the chemistry between two great Dames of the British theater, Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton. It is obvious that the writers have the plot played out for a romance between Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley, distant cousins, and they wisely take their time in planning it out.
"What's a weekend?" Dame Maggie Smith inquires after Matthew mentions the work week and the two days that follow. She also reacts with shocked humor at the mention of Greek hero Perseus and the princess Andromeder, a tip of the hat towards Dame Maggie's role as the Goddess Thetis in "Clash of the Titans", written by her late husband, Beverly Cross. Her snide introduction to Isabel has Dame Maggie doing a sniff that would have made the late Edna May Oliver very proud, making me wonder how Dame Maggie would be in a remake of "Pride and Prejudice" or as Miss Pross in "A Tale of Two Cities", considering that they also shared the role of David Copperfield's aunt Betsy Trotwood. There's also more detail concerning Mary's hatred and constant belittlement of sister Edith that gives both Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael some great material to play.
Then there's the obvious issues with members of the staff, the continued presence of Bates which rattles both Thomas and O'Brien, a bit of a crush by Daisy on the troubled Thomas (later to be remarked upon by Mrs. Pathmore) and the confidences shared between Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. A bit of Carson's past is explored as he becomes the attempted victim of a blackmailer, making Carson more human than he was standing around all poised and stern. You really get to see the hatred inside Siobhan Finneran's O'Brien for the lady she pretends to care about, snootily pointing out Elizabeth McGovern's American birth as an accusation of her lack of class, making her character truly hypocritical and deplorable. Yet in spite of that, she's commanding in every way through her performance.
Other highlights of the episode include the introduction of Dr. Clarkson and Isabel's involvement at the local hospital which includes her showing her medical prowess in dealing with a victim of dropsy. The visual of his lungs being cleared of water is disturbing in a historical sense but not grossly presented, and shows how far medical treatment has come, as well as reveal the compassion of Isabel that will guide the rest of the series and bring about a warm friendship eventually with her and Lady Violet. Individual details about each of the characters are well written, and with Matthew's desire not to become a cold member of the upperclass but maintain his own humanity makes him a likable hero all the more.
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