“Downton Abbey” faced a big hurdle this season: how to carry on without the character of Matthew Crawley. Creator Julian Fellowes opted to explore Lady Mary’s widowhood, but in the process the show introduced some story lines that made us think that our beloved “Downton,” now in production on Season 5, needs a shake-up.
What’s wrong:
The rape story line
Anna, who never once questioned Bates’ innocence when he was on trial for the murder of his ex-wife and fought for his exoneration, won’t tell her husband what happened because she’s afraid he’ll kill the man who did commit the crime. So did she secretly think he was guilty all along? And Anna, God love her, is too perfect. If we wanted a walking sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, we would just read one.
Thomas
Mr. Barrow, as he is called, is the same old pain in the neck he has always been, despite the fact that Mrs. Hughes, Lord Grantham and Bates showed him great kindness when it was revealed he was gay. For God’s sake, Carson didn’t even fire him for hitting on Jimmy. That would have happened anywhere else — and he probably would have been jailed to boot. So why is Thomas still plotting with Cora’s lady’s maid du jour? Annoying.
Lady Rose
She’s supposed to be a siren, but none of the swells who are lusting after Lady Mary and her money give her a second look. Rose has deep pockets too. And she’s way more fun than Lady Mary.
The children
There are two babies in that big house, and you almost never see them. You especially never see Lady Mary with her son, who is not even a year old. It would be easier to like her more if she had a few scenes with young George.
Daisy
She’s been saddled with another bad love story line. Wasn’t it enough that she was forced to marry the dying soldier whom she didn’t love? And then moon after gay Thomas? So now she has to spend part of every episode longing for Alfred, who only has eyes for Ivy — who has no personality, so of course all the horny studs downstairs want her.
How to fix it:
Have Thomas pull one trick too many, and finally get fired.
To get back at the House of Grantham, he sells a story to Mary’s old beau, newspaper magnate Carlisle, who publishes: “The Notorious Daughters of the House of Grantham.” Mary had a diplomat die in her bed. Sybil ran off with the chauffeur. And now, it is revealed, Edith has a bastard daughter! The effect is to have the other swells, including the royals, stiff the family.
Have Carson and Mrs. Hughes finally try to have a real relationship, which unsettles everyone in the house.
How can the servants manage when the two bosses are distracted, confused and in love?
Get rid of Rose.
She is completely annoying and her presence in the plotlines is so jarring: She can supposedly attract any man she wants, and yet, none of Mary’s suitors give her the time of day. Is she a heart-breaker or isn’t she?
Have Robert run into his almost-mistress, Jane, the house maid whom he almost slept with while his wife nearly died from influenza.
The fire rekindles. He’s become so powerless, and needs to do something stupid to express his frustration with his dwindling standing in life.
Give one of the babies a life-threatening disease.
We see almost no interaction of Mary or Branson with their children. Maybe the connection between Mary and her son finally breaks the Matthew spell.