'Downton Abbey' Recap: Wedding Bells!
Warning: This recap for Season 6, “Episode Three” of Downton Abbey contains spoilers.
Going to the chapel, and… Carson and Mrs. Hughes got married!
The slow-moving, very proper, and incredibly sweet relationship between Downton Abbey’s butler and housekeeper resulted in the wedding we’ve been waiting and hoping for. It was worth the ‘shipping time, to see how nervous and excited both were the morning of their nuptials, and how blissful they looked at the reception.
They’re not the only ones with bright futures on the horizon: Anna and Edith, two of the most put-upon characters on the show, may finally be getting their own happy endings. Let’s knock on wood, though, because who knows what murder plot or unexpected death Julian Fellowes might throw their way. For now, at least, things are looking up.
So, what’s happening with the couples of Downton this week? Read on:
Carson and Mrs. Hughes
The wedding is just days away, but Mrs. Hughes is a little bummed. Not only does she not have a pretty dress to wear, she isn’t having the kind of reception she wanted.
Ever the good friend, Mrs. Patmore works to fix both of those problems. First, she orders a new dress from a catalog. Then, she informs Lady Grantham about the reception issue.
Lady G brings in Mrs. Hughes to the drawing room to ask her in front of the whole family what she, the bride, really wants. Mrs. Hughes finally ‘fesses up, and Carson agrees to hold their party in the schoolhouse.
As for the dress, Mary tells Anna to borrow an evening coat from Lady Grantham to fancy things up a bit. But as Mrs. Hughes is modeling outfits in Cora’s room, Her Ladyship walks in. She’s already got a headache from a dreadful hospital meeting (more on that later), and so she overreacts and chews Mrs. Hughes out.
Related: ‘Downton Abbey’ Final Season: Cast, Creator Tease Romance, Resolutions, and a 'Tragic Hero’
Mary is appalled and demands her mother apologize, which a genuinely regretful Cora does. She also gives Mrs. Hughes the coat to keep.
The wedding day comes, and Carson is adorably nervous, practicing his vows and checking the ring. Anna and Miss Baxter arrive to dress the bride. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear,” Mrs. Hughes chuckles.
They say “I do” and walk out of the church with beaming faces. At the reception, Carson toasts his new wife, uh, Mrs. Carson: “I am the happiest and luckiest of men, that a woman of such grace and charm should entrust her life’s happiness to my unworthy charge, passeth all understanding!”
As everyone raises their glasses, one voice rings out to congratulate them — it’s Tom! He’s back from America! (More on that later, too.)
Edith and Bertie
Edith has to pop down to London to soothe her tyrant of an editor, and while there, she runs into Bertie Pelham. You may need a reminder, just as she does — he’s the agent from Brancaster Castle, and they met during Lord Sinderby’s shooting party (the Series 5 Christmas special).
He asks her to meet for a drink, but when the time comes, Edith has to cancel — her editor’s up and quit! But Bertie offers to come back to the office to help out, and they spend the entire night sorting pictures, typing copy, and drinking lots of coffee.
After the magazine is sent off to the printers, Bertie commends Edith for a job well done. “You inspire me,” he says. She doesn’t think she’s the sort of person who anyone admires, but he thinks differently.
“They would if they knew you,” he says. Finally, someone appreciates poor Edith!
Anna and Bates
When Mary asks if Anna’s thought about what Dr. Ryder said (about her “cervical incompetence,” sheesh), Anna shyly reveals that she’s pregnant again. “Lord knows Bates isn’t the problem!” Mary jokes. LOL.
Anna doesn’t want to say anything to Mr. Bates yet to get his hopes up, but he can tell she’s happier. “There’s something about you,” he says at the wedding reception. “And there’s something about you, Mr. Bates,” she replies. Awwww! These two better have a baby by the end of the season.
As for the singletons…
Daisy hears the Drewes have left Yew Tree Farm and assumes they’ll give it to Mr. Mason. She prematurely thanks Lady Grantham, who doesn’t have the heart to tell her it’s not a done deal.
Tom and Sybbie are back! For good! “I learned that Downton is my home, and that you are my family,” he tells a thrilled Mary, Robert, Cora, and Edith.
This week in Dowager Countess vs. Isobel:
The hospital war is starting to get vicious. “Did you drink at luncheon?” Violet snaps at Isobel. When Cora visits the Yorkshire Hospital, the Dowager really unleashes her fury, causing Cora to have a raging headache (which leads to her yelling at Mrs. Hughes). Isobel takes her bad mood out on Dr. Clarkson, though she later apologizes to him at the wedding.
And when Dr. Clarkson admits he’s reconsidering his stance? Oh, the Dowager Countess is not pleased. The argument that Lord Merton is in favor of it doesn’t help. “A peer in favor of reform? It’s like a turkey in favor of Christmas,” she says.
As for the Dowager’s downstairs staff, Spratt and Denker are still engaged in a war of their own. Denker gets a leg up, though, when she discovers Spratt hid his prison-escapee nephew in the potting shed. “I can keep secrets if I want to,” Denker says smugly. Oh, but does she want to?
Poor Thomas moment: He has an interview at Dryden Park. Unfortunately, it’s half falling down and the ancient owner, Sir Michael, has nothing to his name but grand memories of the past. Scratch that job off the list!
Poor Edith moment: Other than her awful editor quitting, Edith’s got it pretty good right now.
Dowager Countess quip of the week: “I know several couples who are perfectly happy, who haven’t spoken in years.”
Downton Abbey airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Masterpiece on PBS.
