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2013 Christmas Special, also known as The London Season, is the feature length Christmas special episode of Downton Abbey that ends series four. It first aired on December 25th, 2013 on ITV in the UK.
Production
Joining the main cast will be Shirley MacLaine who will reprise her role as Martha Levinson and Paul Giamatti who will be playing Harold Levinson.[1]
Synopsis
Almost everyone is in London for Rose's coming-out and presentation as a debutante, including Cora's mother Martha Levinson and brother Harold from the States, much to Violet's displeasure, and Lord Gillingham and Mr Blake, still chasing Mary, and mutually antagonistic towards each other. At a party, Rose's indiscretion leads to card-sharp Mr Sampson stealing a letter from one of the Prince of Wales's lady friends. When he learns of it, the Earl mobilises the family to get it back, and prevent scandal; he enlists the help of Bates, who uses his forging skills to get Mary into Sampson's flat, but the letter is not found. Mrs Hughes finds a train ticket for York to London for the day Green died in Bates's coat pocket; she tells Mary, and they agree to keep quiet, but later Mary has an attack of conscience, and thinks she should reveal it. Only when Bates picks Sampson's pocket as he is leaving, and retrieves the letter, does she relent and burns the ticket. Edith has had her baby and left her in Switzerland, but she is regretting her decision. She ignores Lady Rosamund's protestations and decides to revert to her original plan and give her daughter to a local farmer. Thomas still tries to pump Miss Baxter for scandal, but she resists, helped by Molesley's support. At the celebration Ball, Mary is startled to learn from Gillingham that the egalitarian Mr Blake is actually in line to inherit a huge estate from a cousin, so he is more suitable for her than she thought. The Countess offers the staff a fun day out; Carson's suggestions are rejected as too dull and worthy, and Mrs Hughes tricks him into choosing the seaside. The episode ends with the two of them holding hands and paddling.
Plot
Set in the summer of 1923. Rose's coming out ball will be at Buckingham Palace, with Cora's mother Martha and brother Harold in attendance. At the beggining of the episode Martha and Harold arrive earlier than expected, therefore Lady Grantham misses her arrival.Martha has expressed a desire to, in Robert's words, "see another London Season before she dies". Harold expresses how uncomfortable he feels in England. He has "never seen the need to leave his country."[2]
Terence Sampson returns unexpectedly to the show. Folowing his meddling ways of before, he steals a love letter from the Prince of Wales belonging to Freda Dudley Ward, the Prince's mistress. To retrieve this letter, Lady Mary, Rose and Charles Blake break into Sampson's flat but do not recover anything. Then Bates steals the letter of Terrence Sampson and the danger is averted.
The tension continues between Mary's suitors. Mary shares her time going on separate dates with each one. Mary continues to believe that Charles Blake wants to abolish the Aristocracy. She is later proven wrong when Lord Gillingham explains that Charles is the heir to a huge fortune.. Upon discovering this Mary lets "the war begin"
The Crawleys host a ball in Grantham House, unexpectedly the Prince arrives and opens the ball dancing with Rose. She becomes the "darling of London Society. As a reward for all their work Lady Grantham asks Carson to organise a day out for the staff. After originally thinking of boring ideas Mrs Hughes tricks him into a seaside trip.
Harold falls in love with one of Rose's friends. Lord Merton shows his emotions for Isobel and Daisy is admired by Harold's valet. Martha is also admired by Billy Asgarth. Lord Asgarth is simply interested in Martha's money.
Lady Edith has had her baby in Switzerland but regrets leaving it there. With a change of heart she decides to leave it with a farmer in England,
Behind the scenes
Filming for the episode took place in various locations in London and the south of England. This includes Lancaster House, which was used to depict the interiors of Buckingham Palace when Cora presents Lady Rose to The King and Queen; Goldsmith’s College; the beach at West Wittering in Sussex; and Basildon Park in Berkshire, which was used for the interiors of the Crawley family's previously unseen London residence, Grantham House.[2]
Cast List
References
- ↑ Downton Abbey Exclusive: Paul Giamatti Joins Season 4 Cast as Cora's Brother, Michael Ausiello, TV Line, 24th June, 2013.
- ↑ Downton Abbey at Christmas (video), ITV Press Center, 7th December, 2013.