Episode #1.4

Mrs. Hughes is visited by an old flame, who is asking for her hand in marriage. The Dowager Countess hires Matthew to try to disinherit himself from the family fortune.

We finally see more of the sweet-natured Lady Sybil, the most endearing character of the series she tries to help the housemaid achieve her dreams. Rob James-Collier is a really good actor as well, he makes me really despise his character.

If the goal for Julian Fellowes was to have us hate Barrow and Miss O'Brien in short order, goal achieved. Robert James-Collier and Siobhan Finneran very good at portraying thoroughly unpleasant people. Mr Bates was right on the money with his assessment of Thomas, that's for sure.

Downton has a new chauffeur named Tom Branson.

And Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham continues to get all the best lines courtesy of Fellows. Her quip after sitting on a swivel chair that she finds out was invented by Thomas Jefferson was fantastic: "Why does every day involve a fight with an American?"

That said, Jim Carter's Carson gives her a run for her money in the facial expression department.

Ep 4 slows the plot but gives the cast room to breathe, and it's paying off. Michelle Dockery's Mary is becoming more compelling. She's still icy, but now we see cracks- grief, guilt, and something like regret. Dockery's control of expression is quietly impressive.

Dan Stevens as Matthew grows more natural with each episode. His early stiffness is giving way to confidence, especially in scenes opposite Dockery. Their dynamic is building, awkward but intriguing.

Jessica Brown Findlay's Sybil stands out here. Her passion for change feels genuine, and she's finally more than the "nice" sister... there's spark now.

Brendan Coyle continues to make Bates sympathetic without begging for it, while Joanne Froggatt (Anna) adds warmth and quiet steel.

Even Jim Carter gives Carson a moment of real depth, softening that butler façade.

Not much happens, but the acting carries it... and that's what's keeping me in.

My rating: 7.5/10.

The summer of 1914 is such a pivotal point in European history. From this moment on, the life as the Crawley's have known it at Downton Abbey will never be the same. The plot made big leaps in time too. When the Crawley family returned to Downton from London in the summer of 1914, we are only told in passing that Lady Sybil had a coming out party! What? We missed a ball. No way. Big oversight. Everyone knows that all the best stuff happens at balls! Jane Austen knew that and used it to her advantage. Julian Fellowes must have forgotten, or the budget did not allow. Anyway, even if I felt slighted for not being invited to her big party, we did get all sorts of other eye popping personal events. Sisterly feuds, bickering, scheming, murder, fights and more fights. I had a friend tell me he felt that Downton was really the new Dynasty of prime time TV. Remember the wildly popular 1980's American drama with glitzy clothes, big stars and melodramatic plots? It was an American drama mind you, but I can see the similarities. Big house, family money, family squabbles over power and money. If anyone recalls Dynasty's most famous scene, will we have a cat fight in the Downton pond with Violet, the Dowager Countes and Mrs. Crawley to look forward too? There were many great performances, but I will focus on my two favorites: Lady Sybil and the kitchen maid Daisy. Two young ladies on opposite floors of Downton Abbey who could easily be in each others shoes, but for their side of the blanket. Lady Sybil is developing into a little firebrand! Her political activism is a total puzzlement to her family who think her charitable causes are extreme and her politics even more so. She is a Liberal. Her father is a Tory. He believes that the radical Irish chauffeur Branson (Allen Leech), who claims to be a socialist, has fueled her notions. After she attends a political rally against her father's wishes, the family dinner conversation becomes very heated in front of the servants no less. Oh, of course the Dowager Countess must have her share of the conversation and rhetorically questions her granddaughter's being there at all.

I am attracted to the period by how they express themselves

Some of quotes that interested me alone the episode .

Gwen : Anna is like my sister , she wont betray me anyway lady sybil : Then she is not like my sisters

Matthew crawley: It is generous in given circumstances lady mary : It's easy to be generous when you have nothing to lose

Mr.Bates : Nothing is harder than living with false hopes

Mr. Bates: you are lady to me , never knew finer one