Downton Abbey (TV Series) Episode #4.3 (2013) User Reviews

Poor Anna

[jpismyname · 9/10 · 1 January 2018]

This episode is truly unforgettable because of one horrible scene, which includes Anna Bates and another servant. How I hate him. Joanne Froggatt is simply a very talented actress.

Meanwhile, the Crawleys host a party for their aristocratic guests. Poor Branson feels left out, but still tries to blend in.

Sad and Intense

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 17 August 2020]

I know some didn't like this episode, saying that the rape scene was contrived. I disagree. It shows the power men can wield when women have little place in the world. Anna's inability to tell what happened is quite believable, considering Bates's past troubles. We see Edith's beau being treated badly by Robert and still diminished by him after saving him from huge losses in a poker game, ruled by a heartless card sharp. Edna has her knives out and is going after Branson again. By the way, what will happen to Branson in coming episodes?

The next big plot twist explodes.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 23 February 2021]

After two full episodes of happiness since Bates got released from prison for his ex-wife's murder, they are about to face their next crisis thanks to the rape of Anna. She's as gracious as always to Downton visitors, and one of their valets takes advantage of the festive occasion, violently attacking her while upstairs an opera singer performs. Anna doesn't tell her husband for obvious reasons knowing his temper, and will be forced to suffer in silence as she deals with this horrifying secret.

There's also the possibility of a new romance for Mary, and we have to presume by this time that she has been widowed for nearly a year. As for the widowed Tom Branson, he feels uncomfortable with the upper crust guests and tells Lord Grantham that he feels that it's best to move on from Downton. It's not just the granddaughter that the family would miss as they truly have begun to think of him as a valued member of the family.

For Lady Violet'a portrayer, Maggie Smith, it's a return to the music of Puccini which opened her classic Merchant Ivory film "A Room With a View", and it's just one of many career references to the actors that were written into the script at one point or another. Mary regresses to a bit of grief when Rose naively pulls Matthew's old victrola out of the attic, so her brief shot at romance is short lived. There's also more help for Mosley which is guaranteed to have him back on his feet in no time. Outside of the Anna situation though, nothing really major occurs even though as an episode it is entertaining.

Way too early

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 14 May 2022]

Unfortunately, Anna's decision to hide the truth from Bates (for arguable reasons, through her lens) is something Mrs. Hughes can do nothing to fix -- which is why it was so incredibly awesome for her to be able to bring the hammer on the witchy Edna later, regarding her ruse with Branson. Whether or not she and Branson even had sex is up for debate I suppose, but Mrs. Hughes' keen eye (and nose for the unscrupulous) found Edna out, and threatened her enough to send her running off in the night. It was a quick and satisfying end to a character who should have never come back in the first place, but at least she served the purpose in this hour of giving Mrs. Hughes one triumph (in addition to her gift to Carson; more on that later). Even "as mysterious as a bucket" Edith had sex incorporated into her story in (so far) its only triumphant incarnation this season. She signed some papers she didn't read (trouble...) and, bolstered by her belief that Gregson is actually moving to Munich in his quest to be with her, compromises her position by sleeping with him, and sneaking back into her aunt's house in the dawn. This isn't to say that Edith shouldn't be a character acting under the new liberal notions of the era, but did Rosamund's admonishment act as a prescient warning? Was all that talk of pregnancy out of wedlock elsewhere foreshadow an upcoming scandal for Edith? While the Gregson story line is one that has been developing over a long period of time on the show, Mary's interaction with the impulsive Gillingham is one that illustrates the series' issue with burning through plots too quickly. Gillingham basically stalked Mary for three days before proposing to her (and while he was engaged to another woman). What did he expect from her? It's only been six months since the death of the love of her life. While Gillingham seems like he is earnest, the timing is all wrong. While his character did help bring Mary back into the world (and force Isobel to come to terms with Mary moving on, paving the way for more suitors), the timeline was a little absurd. But of course, what else is new? (Matthew's spine, anyone ...)

Much too early

[kingsx_64 · 7/10 · 23 February 2021]

In a an almost perfect series, this episode has the first 'mistake'.

There is a 6 month jump in the timeline from the ending of season 4, to the beginning of season 5.

And I could care less. Because we the viewer have only had 3 episodes to deal with the death of a lovable, and fan favorite character. Matthew.

And immediately we are bashed over the head with yet another 'love interest' in the form of Anthony Gillingham. 3 episodes? Really?

Don't get me wrong. He's not a bad character. Also the actor is magnificent.

But the addition to the love interest plot line should have waited.

3 episodes is just way way too soon. At least for me.

Rubbish

[barokq8 · 1/10 · 22 March 2020]

For god sake! There's no reason to do this with Anna .. you didn't built the relation yet! Too much drama .. but give it with REASONS.

Uncharacteristically Lazy Writing

[critic_w · 3/10 · 22 January 2016]

Every writer can have an off day, even an off week or month. But in the midst of such general excellence, I was painfully disappointed to see such contrivance on Downton Abbey. The hallmark of lazy writing is when characters suffer a change in personality for the sake of a plot twist. We see them behave in ways quite different, or in the case of Anna, opposite to what they have been up until that point. When you see what was being setup you cannot help but think; Oh, what a stretch. When you add to that the other hallmark of writer laziness, characters being introduced for the sheer purpose supporting a plot twist, Deus ex machina of a sort, then you know ... something went terribly wrong in the writing room that week.

Perhaps they were still reeling from the loss of other central characters, or there was a dip in the ratings. Maybe it only seem overly convenient and contrived due to other changes in cast. But whatever the reason, this one was an insult to the intelligence of the Downton Abbey audience. I would go as far as to call it a breech of contract between entertainer and entertainee. An obvious contrivance beneath the stature of the series lowering it into lazy and unnecessary melodrama.