Downton Abbey Episodes 1-3 Recaps: Lord Gillngham, Resident Stalker (Season Premiere)

Season 4 opens in February 1922. Lady Mary is mourning Matthew (who was killed in a car accident last season). He did not however leave a will and the manor goes to Baby George (who's not a very good estate manager). They later find a letter from Matthew making Mary his sole heir. Mary wants to take a more active role in the business affairs (which not everyone is happy about). Miss O'Brien has run off somewhere. Mrs Patamore battles an electric whisk.

There is a house party with a number of guests. A famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba is the entertainment. There is some dispute as to where she should dine. Tom feels out of place. Remember he was previous a chauffeur before wedding Sybil). Edna later brings him some whiskey and then sneaks into his room. Bad idea Tom! Oh great, now she says she's pregnant and wants him to do the honorable thing. But Mrs Hughes has her number and threatens her with bodily harm if she proceeds with blackmailing him. Edna is forced to resign and leaves.

Lord Gillingham has the hots for Lady Mary. He is quite a looker but it's too sooner after Matthew's death. His man servant, Mr Green, attacks Anna and rapes her while everyone else is upstairs listening to the performance. She makes Mrs Hughes promise not to tell Bates. She is afraid he will kill Mr Green and then be hanged for it. The secret though is already starting to drive a wedge between them. She tells Bates she wants to move back into the house so she can properly attend to her duties. And I really hope Anna is not pregnant from the rape since she said she would kill herself than be pregnant due to the incident.

In unrelated news a card shark takes the men's money at the house party. Edith's friend/boyfriend, Mr. Gregson, beats him at his own game and wins everyone's money back (earning some brownie points in the process). Carson laments his lost love, Alice, to Mrs. Hughes. She buys him a picture frame so he can keep her picture on his desk. Will we see Alice in the future? And the award for worse name goes to Rosamund Painswick (Robert's sister).

Lady Edith later spends the night out with Mr. Gregson. For shame! Is her reputation ruined? And he asked her to sign some papers supposedly given her control of his estate should anything happen to him while away. Girl, she should not have done that.

Mary and Tony share a passionate kiss (after she spurns his quickie marriage proposal). What did he know her like three days? He'll be back (especially since Mary's already thinking she didnt make the right decision).

Favorite quotes:

"Look, I never met Matthew but I'm sure he was a splendid chap. But he's dead and I'm alive."- Lord Gillngham
“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that’s all we have.”- Carson.
“Better a broken heart than a broken neck"- Anna about her current marital troubles with Bates.
“I will never love again as I love you in this moment and I must have something to remember"- Lord Gillingham to Lady Mary. OK, again, you've known her like 3 days. I think this guy has stalker potential.
"If you want a reference or another job during your natural lifetime, you’ll hold your tongue!”- Mrs Hughes to a not pregnant Edna.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I'm late to the "Downton" party but I always enjoy a good British show. I hope to catch up on previous episodes some time soon.