'Downton Abbey' Recap: Season 3 Episode 1

Downton Abbey airs Sundays at 9:00 pm and is available to stream by WTTW Passport members. Recap the previous episode.
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It’s now early spring. At the village church where Matthew and Mary’s wedding rehearsal is in progress, Matthew asks after Sybil, who has written that she and Branson (hereafter Tom) can’t afford to attend the wedding. Robert thinks it’s for the best, as their presence (an earl’s daughter having married a chauffeur) would be a distraction. Isobel can’t see the problem and later takes it up with Violet and Cora. To her surprise, Violet thinks having them at the wedding would normalize Tom in the eyes of the county, provided he conforms to their ways. (Good luck with that.) Isobel suggests she will send them the money. Cora is against it as Robert has forbidden it and “would be furious.” This comes as news to Violet, and we see the wheels turning in her head.

That evening, Robert hangs up from a tense phone call with his lawyer Mr. Murray, who has summoned him to an urgent meeting in London. Robert assures Mary and later Cora that nothing’s the matter. (Which of course means the exact opposite.)

Downstairs, the rest of the household is getting ready to host the wedding reception – Carson doesn’t know how he’ll manage without a footman. Turns out, O’Brien’s young nephew, Alfred Nugent, is looking for a job, but Carson quickly shuts that down – with a society wedding on his hands, he doesn’t have time to train green amateurs. Naturally, O’Brien goes over his head to Cora, who is just fine with it, and a distracted Robert agrees.

Anna visits Bates in prison. She has found Vera’s diary while cleaning the house – it’s full of names and addresses, and one of Vera’s friends, Mrs. Bartlett, might have evidence that could clear Bates’ name and prove that Vera’s death was by suicide and not murder. They will work together on it. In other news, Bates has a new cellmate, Craig, whom he doesn’t trust. “Never make an enemy by accident,” counsels Anna.

Alfred Nugent has arrived at Downton. Carson dislikes him already: he’s very tall and his only postwar experience is as a hotel waiter. Thomas, his position in the house still precarious, is not keen on this new hire, but Daisy is instantly smitten.

Matthew and Mary discuss the future. Mary is all for them moving into Downton; Matthew knows they will have to live there eventually but for now he wants a house of their own. They table the discussion for now.

In London, Robert receives shocking news: going against Murray’s advice, Robert had invested almost all of Cora’s inheritance in one Canadian railway company, believing its value would skyrocket after the war. But the company is now declaring bankruptcy and his investment has been lost. Murray informs Robert that he will have to sell most or all of Downton. Robert refuses to face facts. Later, realizing that he thoughtlessly agreed to hiring the new footman, he admonishes a puzzled Cora: nobody else can be taken on.

Edith encounters Sir Anthony Strallen in the village. They banter about the wedding, and Edith reveals that Cora’s mother is coming all the way from New York and that Sybil and Tom are joining them after all, unbeknownst to Robert.

At Crawley House, Molesley is assuming that he will be valet to Matthew at Downton after the wedding. But Matthew gently explains that he won’t want a valet. Molesley is disappointed, as he was always hoping to work at “the big house.” Matthew softens the blow: he’s depending on Molesley to continue serving his mother, who “absolutely relies” on him. 

Later, Thomas is incensed that he has been assigned to serve as valet for the lowly Tom, and he adamantly refuses. So Mrs. Hughes assigns the inexperienced Alfred to that job and soon after, gives him the position of Matthew’s valet.

As Alfred nervously prepares to serve at his first family dinner, Daisy is fuming. Apparently Mrs. Patmore’s promise of a new kitchen maid has not yet panned out (and won’t for the foreseeable future), so Daisy is overworked. Thomas privately urges her to go on strike. Later, we learn that Alfred’s real ambition is to be a chef. O’Brien privately asks Thomas if he could help show Alfred the ropes. Thomas, bitter that he himself waited years to be promoted to valet, angrily refuses. But he has forgotten that O’Brien holds grudges.

At dinner, Mary happily reveals that Sybil and Tom are now coming to the wedding, and Cora informs everyone of her mother’s travel plans. As everyone absorbs this news, an untrained Alfred (towering over everyone like a giraffe) is awkward to say the least. Afterward, Matthew informs Mary that Mr. Swire’s attorney has requested a meeting. “That must mean Mr. Swire has left you something,” Mary posits. Still feeling guilty about Lavinia, Matthew hopes he hasn’t. But the next day, he learns that he is the third of three possible heirs to Mr. Swire’s vast fortune. The first heir is dead, and the second is nowhere to be found. He tells Mary that if it turns out he’s the heir, he can’t accept the money. “Of course not,” she agrees. But she is baffled.

A Brash New Brother-in-Law

Sybil and Tom arrive from Ireland. Robert has mixed feelings about seeing Sybil and still resents Tom. Everyone else, apart from a glacial Carson, awkwardly makes an effort to make Tom feel welcome. Sybil, warmly embracing her father, asks if it was he who sent them the money to attend. Robert is surprised and displeased to hear that someone did.

That night at dinner, Tom, wearing his one good suit, is unconcerned that he isn’t properly dressed, and doesn’t own (or intend to acquire) a morning coat for the wedding either. He is also as militant about Irish independence as ever, lashing out at Isobel and Matthew for asking innocent questions. The ladies try to steer the conversation in a safer direction…to Irish gardens.

Later, Tom attempts to visit the staff downstairs. Mrs. Hughes and Anna are cordial, but a furious Carson wants nothing to do with him – he has presumed above his station, an unforgivable offense. Sybil does try to persuade Tom to invest in some evening clothes and “stop talking about Ireland all the time.” Nope, he replies, not going to happen.

Also that evening, Robert breaks the terrible news to Cora about her lost fortune. “Wasn’t it foolish to invest so much in one enterprise?” she asks. Well, yes. He bursts into tears and she comforts him: they will survive, the wedding will be a “wonderful last” event.

In the village, Matthew encounters Tom, who has decided that everyone will be happier if he stays at the pub instead. “I know they don’t want me here,” Tom insists. Matthew assures him that he and Mary don’t feel that way and urges Tom to return with him. “We’re brothers-in-law with high-minded wives. We’d better stick together,” Matthew tells him.

That evening as Anna is creating a new hairstyle for Edith for a special pre-wedding dinner, Edith confides that she’s hoping to impress Sir Anthony. She doesn’t believe he is too old for her, even if the rest of the family does. 

Downstairs, the formally attired guests have arrived, and we learn that Matthew’s best man has bowed out due to illness. We meet a Crawley cousin, Larry Gray, a supercilious young man who had once unsuccessfully wooed Sybil. Larry drops withering insults on Tom, still clad in his business suit. But Tom correctly implies that Larry is a jerk and a snob.

Meanwhile, Edith has cornered Sir Anthony talking with Isobel and bravely invites him to the wedding, not taking no for an answer. Sir Anthony, flustered, acquieses and compliments a thrilled Edith on her “jolly” new hairdo, but he is suddenly distracted by the sight of Larry doing something shady with a drink in the corner.

Cut to dinner in full swing, and Tom is out of control, woozy, and furiously railing about Irish independence. But he has had only one drink. Sybil and Matthew try to calm him down to no avail, and Lord Merton (Larry’s father), also politely tries to intervene. Suddenly, Sir Anthony turns to Larry, forcefully accusing him of spiking Tom’s drink. Larry laughs it off as a joke. The Crawley daughters are outraged, and Mary defends Tom to the rest of the table. Larry is unrepentant: after all, he says, Tom is “only a grubby little chauffeur chap.” Merton leaps to his feet and calls out his son. As Sybil and Matthew help Tom to stand, Merton apologies, saying he hopes Tom will recover before the wedding. “I hope so, too,” Matthew tells the table, “because I want him to be my best man.” Sybil is touched, Tom is grateful for Matthew’s solidarity, and Mary and Isobel are delighted. Everyone else is dumbfounded. And Edith later compliments Sir Anthony for exposing Larry’s sabotage, kissing his cheek. He doesn’t know quite what to make of her, and Robert, observing from a distance, is uneasy as well.

In prison, Bates is in his cell going over Anna’s letters. His thuggish cellmate Craig is, as advertised, a troublemaker, taunting Bates about being “pious” and assuring him his efforts to clear his name will fail. Threateningly, Bates warns Craig not to push his luck. Later, Craig hides something in their cell and threatens to stab Bates if he reveals what he saw. Bates, no pushover, makes certain Craig knows there will be consequences if he does.

A Wedding (Finally)

Cut to Mary the day before the wedding, modeling her chic going-away outfit for Anna and her sisters. Robert interrupts and privately shares the bad news about losing Cora’s fortune; it’s Mary’s right to know so she and Matthew can make informed decisions.

Meanwhile, over at Crawley House Tom has been ambushed by Isobel and Violet, who have asked Molesley to alter Matthew’s old morning suit for Tom to wear to the wedding. Tom tries to refuse (“it’s the uniform of oppression”), but over his and Matthew’s objections, the ladies steamroll right over them. He will be dressed properly for this event.

And back at Downton as family and staff await in the drive, Cora’s flamboyant American mother Martha Levinson makes her grand entrance in a bright red town car. She’s…a lot, and manages at least six unsubtle put-downs of English traditions before she sweeps into the house. Later, she grills Matthew about why he deserves to inherit her “late husband’s money” and after Sybil tries to explain that Tom is no longer a chauffeur but a journalist, Martha is completely clueless. Later, Martha and Violet meet again after many years and it’s clear they are worthy adversaries.

Daisy, seizing her opportunity during wedding preparations, is officially on strike. Martha’s pretty young maid Reed arrives to deliver her mistress’ dietary requirements, catching Alfred’s eye, and Mrs. Patmore blithely ignores Daisy’s protest; eventually, a bored Daisy caves.

Matthew, alone with Mary as he is preparing to leave, reveals that he is almost certainly going to be named heir to Mr. Swire’s fortune. Mary, greatly relieved, shares what Robert told her about losing Cora’s money. “But now we’re saved!” cries Mary jubilantly. Not so fast – Matthew is sympathetic but still believes it would be wrong to keep the windfall. Mary (probably rightly) thinks he is letting his guilt override his good sense and accuses him of turning his back on the family. “You’re not on our side!” she wails, running up the stairs sobbing as he gapes after her.

That night at dinner as Mary broods over Matthew’s “betrayal,” Violet reveals that it was she who sent Sybil and Tom the funds for the wedding. Tom is surprised and touched. “You’re family now,” Violet tells him. “You’ll find we Crawleys stick together.” Mary, who can take no more, retorts, “Not always,” and rushes out of the room in tears. Edith, knowing only that Matthew and Mary had quarreled earlier, shares that information, and Tom, in his role as best man, volunteers to mediate with Matthew.

Preparing for bed, Mary tearfully shares her side of the story with Anna. Anna urges her to focus on what’s truly important. “He’s a good man,” she tells Mary. “They’re not like buses – there won’t be another one along in ten minutes’ time.” At Crawley House, Tom too knocks some sense into Matthew: “You won’t be happy with anyone else while Lady Mary walks the earth.”

Cut to Mary’s bedroom, where there is a soft knock on the door. Anna answers to find Matthew in the corridor. Mary refuses to see him, citing “night-before-the-wedding” bad luck. Talking through the door, he repeats Tom’s argument, adding, “and I think you feel the same about me.” Mary, melting, can’t deny it. He asks to kiss her, suggesting it will work if they both keep their eyes closed. He does; she doesn’t; but evidently the wedding is back on.

The next morning, Robert thanks Tom, stiff and uncomfortable in his remade morning suit, for intervening with Matthew. It’s clear that something has shifted between them.

As everyone arrives at the church, Edith determinedly steers a somewhat befuddled Sir Anthony into the family section.

Matthew and Mary meet at the altar. Matthew jokes that he wasn’t sure Mary would show up. “I’m glad to hear it,” she responds, smiling. “I should hate to be predictable.”

Disorderly Downton

Cut to several weeks later. Mary and Matthew, returning from their honeymoon in the south of France, are approaching Downton in Mathew’s snappy new two-seater convertible. Everyone is knocked out by the car and happy to see them. 

Martha is still in residence at Downton and is very clearly wearing out her welcome. After dinner over cigars, Matthew and Robert discuss the loss of Cora’s fortune and the news of Mr. Swire’s will. Robert is flabbergasted (as Mary was) that Matthew can’t bring himself to keep the inheritance, especially given that Downton is now in peril. Later, Mary and Violet (now also in the know) conspire to convince Martha to put up the money to save the estate – Cora’s playboy brother Harold is Martha’s only remaining heir. Without Cora being in on it, Mary and Violet lay it on thick, resolving to host an elaborate dinner a few days hence so Martha can see “Downton on parade.” Cora, on the other hand, doesn’t have a problem with the Crawleys moving to a smaller estate and doesn’t want her brother “to suffer for our folly.”

Downstairs, Thomas is incensed to learn that Alfred is now serving as valet to Matthew; he himself was never asked. O’Brien’s smug expression suggests she was involved. Later, Alfred asks Thomas how to get a stain out of Matthew’s tailcoat. Thomas, with a gleam in his eye, suggests he might have a remedy. The next day, an annoyed Matthew finds not just a stain but a ruinous burn…Thomas has deliberately given Alfred the wrong cleaning solution. Alfred accuses him in front of the other servants, including his aunt O’Brien. Not a smart move on Thomas’s part, and he compounds it by trying to convince Robert that Alfred is too green for the position, suggesting Molesley should be hired to work for Matthew.

In other news, to Daisy’s displeasure, Alfred is flirting with Reed and she with him. And it’s increasingly apparent that the stove isn’t working properly (this will be a problem later).

Mrs. Hughes privately shares some disturbing news with Mrs. Patmore: she has discovered a lump in her breast. She is terrified; Mrs. Patmore insists that they go to see Dr. Clarkson together. Mrs. Hughes worries about the cost. “Better to pay a doctor than an undertaker,” Mrs. Patmore says, not very comfortingly. Mrs. Hughes swears Mrs. Patmore to secrecy. Clarkson is fairly certain her mass is benign but her tests are inconclusive. He might not have an answer for two months.

Isobel has found a scandalous new occupation: teaching new skills to women who had to resort to prostitution after losing their breadwinners in the war. Walking through a shady part of town, she thinks she recognizes one of the garishly made-up women soliciting on the street: it’s Ethel. Ethel spots her and ducks out of sight. A few days later, though, she shows up at one of Isobel’s workshops but quickly retreats in fear.

Edith is still aggressively pursuing Sir Anthony, to the family’s disapproval. At his house to invite him to dinner, Edith won’t listen to his protests that he is too old and infirm for her, despite his attraction to her. Robert later agrees and asks him to stay away from Edith. Sir Anthony writes to Edith to let her know and she is heartbroken. Martha takes her side against Robert, and Edith argues that most of the men her age were killed in the war. Robert relents.

At the prison, Anna tells Bates that she has located a good friend of Vera’s: Mrs. Bartlett. Anna will approach her to see what she knows.

The night of the big dinner as Reed surreptitiously watches, to get back at Thomas O’Brien steals and hides all of Robert’s evening shirts so he will be forced to come down in black tie (the horror). As will Matthew: his mended tailcoat has been delayed from London. And the stove has completely broken down – there’s no cooked food to serve for dinner. Martha takes the situation in hand: the staff will create a buffet of whatever is left in the larder and the guests will spread all over the house in an indoor picnic. Cora and Isobel agree that “it will be great fun!” Mary and Violet are chagrined: so much for the grand dinner they had planned to impress Martha. But despite some initial misgivings, the guests take it in stride and the evening is an unpretentious success, complete with a singalong. And Edith and Sir Anthony privately come to an arrangement to marry.

Martha, it turns out, was on to Mary and Violet’s plot all along. She now lowers the boom: she can’t save Downton, beyond offering to put them all up in her house in Newport and contributing a little cash for expenses. And she decides it’s time to go home.

Late that evening, Carson, realizing something is up with Mrs. Hughes, tries to get her to open up. She doesn’t, resigned to whatever the future will be.