Series 3

"At war, at peace, Downton still stands and the Crawleys are still in it!"

—Martha Levinson when she arrives at Downton Abbey.

Martha: "Oh dear, I'm afraid the war has made old women of us both."

Violet: "Oh, I wouldn't say that - but then, I always keep out of the sun. Well, how do you find Downton on your return?"

Martha: "Much the same really. Probably too much the same, but then I don't want to cast a pall over all the happiness."

— Martha and Violet reuniting at Downton

Violet: "When I'm with her, I'm reminded of the virtues of the English."

Matthew: "But isn't she American?"

Violet: "Exactly."

— Violet and Matthew over dinner about Martha.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

Known information

• Martha Levinson, Cora's mother, will visit in 1920 and will spend two episodes at Downton.
• Rosamund will appear at least once in Series 3.
• Sybil and Branson will return to Downton Abbey before Martha arrives thanks to money from someone unknown, so they will meet Martha. They will later go back to Dublin but will eventually return to Downton
• Matthew and Mary will marry.
• Edith will marry; there are at least two potential suitors for her, Sir Anthony Strallan and Michael Gregson.
• There is a new kitchen maid, Ivy Stuart, after Daisy is promoted to assistant cook. Daisy however is jealous of Ivy's beauty and the fact that she captures half of the hearts downstairs.
• Ethel has fallen on hard times but receives help from Mrs Hughes.
• A baby (most likely Sybil's, as she is the only one pregnant) will be born.
• A well known character will die; It is currently unknown who.
• Ivy might not stay for long, as Myanna Buring joins the cast as Edna, a new maid, or, given that Sybil is having a child, Edna may be a nursery maid.
• A new character, Lady Rose MacClare, is supposed to be Lord Grantham's niece, but is actually the daughter of Robert's cousin, Susan, Marchioness of Flintshire and her husband, Hugh.
• Robert has lost all of Cora's money through bad investments.
• Thomas will fall out with O'Brien due to his bad treatment of her nephew and over his words that Alfred may not be capable of being a footman; Alfred's serving style rattles Mr Carson.
• Branson does not get along with his in-laws. He gets some strong reactions during a family dinner when he voices his views (even Sybil gets uncomfortable with this!), plus Carson refuses to act as valet to Branson, referring to him as "that grubby little chauffeur." Isobel, however, might support him. He may also have a cordial relationship with Matthew, because they sit by the fire together. Nevertheless he tries to fit in, but seeks a fine line between his ideals and his wife's happiness rather than conforming to Downton's rules. As for Sybil, she has found her place with him.
• Mary and Matthew argue to the point where she accuses him of disloyalty. In addition, Matthew is contacted by the lawyer of Lavinia's late father, while Branson tells him by the firelight he "won't be happy with anyone else while Lady Mary walks the earth."
• Thomas is promoted to valet, and has a "forbidden" love affair, most likely with Jimmy.
• There will be two new footmen who will cause quite a stir downstairs: O'Brien's nephew Alfred Nugent, and Jimmy Kent.
• Anna gets a promotion toward the end of the season as a ladies maid.
• One subplot will revolve around Catholicism (most likely involving Branson, who is confirmed to be Catholic), and the "Irish troubles" will have an impact on the Crawley family.
• The Marquess of Flintshire and his wife make an appearance in at least one episode.
• Daisy will take a fancy to Alfred, but he will pursue Ivy, who in turn is interested in Jimmy. But Jimmy is gay and wants to replace Alfred, and allies himself with Thomas. Thomas in turn falls for Jimmy, who gets into a few sticky situations over the course of the season.
• In the season finale, the family takes a summer vacation, in which only some of the staff are invited

Images

Mr. Bates doing time

Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes put aside their differences

Edith and Sir Anthony's relationship

A New character, Cora's American "Momma", Martha Levinson

Mr. Carson

Scheming O'Brien

Ladies square off

True love for Mary

External links

• List of Downton Abbey episodes for series 3 at the Internet Movie Database