Downton Abbey: Episode 4.3

Downton Abbey: Episode 4.3
ITV
12 January 2014
Historical Drama
DVD
D+

Jeez, this episode!  Well, first of all, I was thinking C+/B-, because I don't like opera or gambling.  But while the whole house party and most of the servants are upstairs, a visiting servant rapes Anna!  It's not explicit, but we do hear some of her screams.  That took it down to a C- but what really sunk the episode is Anna's shame and determination to keep it a secret from her husband, because he would murder the rapist and have to go back to prison.  This feels even more out of character than Tom worrying about fitting in with the posh guests; Branson wouldn't have cared.  I did like that Mary has a new love interest, which she feels guilty about, although he makes her laugh and gives good advice.  Although this season now averages a high C, I'll give it at least one more chance to make a comeback, because obviously I do feel invested in a lot of the characters.

Andrew Alexander, Joanna David, and Patrick Kennedy would all be back later in the season as respectively Sir John Bullock, the Duchess of Yeovil, and Terence Sampson.  Tom Cullen would make it into Season Five as Anthony Gillingham.  Nigel Harman plays Green, the rapist, and, yes, he'd return, too.  Catherine Morshead would direct four episodes.