VOD TV review: Downton Abbey Season 4, Episode 7
Review Overview
Pacing
3Predictability
3Neil Brazier | On 06, Nov 2013
Everything is coming to an awfully predictable conclusion at Downton Abbey. Edith is toying with her emotions, Tom has settled his (at least for this episode), Bates knows Anna’s assailant and it’s all going to come to a head.
Any betting man can deduce that Bates is going to kill Gillingham’s valet, with the whole of Downton agreeing to cover it up somehow – perhaps it might even be Anna who sinks the final sword? We have one episode left leading up to the Christmas special and while Downton does enjoy repeating itself, even this is all feeling a little too familiar.
Everything moves fast in Yorkshire – the perfect stopping-off point between London and Inverness – as Gillingham is back at Downton, vying for Mary’s affections. Despite only spending a few days with her as she mourned for Matthew (and having gotten engaged since), he clearly still has eyes for here. But she’s been getting dirty (literally) with Charles Blake, as they cleaned the pig pen. Mary must have been suffering from the same illness as her Grandmamma, as despite saying it was a long walk to the pig pen, she still decided three inch heels were the shoes to wear.
Meanwhile, Robert is shipped off to America to see his brother-in-law Harold, who has been suffering financial hard times. He returns looking not too forlorn, meaning he probably hasn’t given all of Downton’s money away and merely given Harold a stake in the land. Rose meanwhile, so eager to have fun, is ready to elope with the black jazz singer and Edith is planning on keeping her baby.
The fireworks are all set – but there has to be a happy ending in there somewhere, right?
Season 4 been haphazard to watch; too slow at points, too fast at others. With no real emotional value for the most part, we were then smacked in the face with a rape scene. After all that, the finale has expectations sitting upon its shoulders. Can it carry the burden?
Downton Abbey Season Four is available to watch on ITV Player or to buy on blinkbox and iTunes. Downton Abbey Seasons One through Three are available to stream on Netflix.