Upstairs Downstairs Episode 7

Martha: Well, Mary is finally pregnant. It seems it wasn't Matthew's problem after all. Carson is being overly protective and doesn't believe she should take the trip to Scotland.

Jill: Tom still is not one of the family completely. He is not invited and left behind when the rest of the family goes to Scotland. The dowager says, "He'll have some freedom, but we can't let it go to his head." So Tom is left at at home with the new mail, Edna.  Edna is relentless in her pursuit of him.

Martha: Another relationship is being forged; Dr. Clarkson shows his interest in Mrs. Crawley, however, he is rebuffed in a not so subtle way.

Jill: One more relationship that we see is Mrs. Patmore and the delivery man. Mrs. Patmore acts like a giddy school girl. The delivery man loves Mrs. Patmore's cooking and "he loves to be in love". Mrs. Hughes finally points out the issues with the delivery man to Mrs. Patmore.

Martha: Thomas follows the drunk Jimmy but ends up having to save Jimmy from some ruffians. Thomas protects him and gets beaten up himself.

Jill: We have the relationship between Shrimpy and his wife Susan. They obviously married for reasons other than love. Susan is quite unhappy and makes everyone else, especially her daughter Rose, unhappy.

Martha: In Scotland, the old ways or traditions are being maintained, i.e., the playing of  the bagpipes. Shrimpy confides that the castle will be lost and Robert appears to see the writing on the wall, change with the times or lose Downton. So empire provided a way to maintain a certain type of life for those aristocrats who were losing estates/

Jill: As Mrs. Hughes stated, "When the cats away, the mouse will play". All kinds of shenanigans were happening at Downton. Edna was very obviously flirting with Tom and wouldn't stand when Tom entered the servants hall. Jimmy gets bold and sits in the chair in the family's rooms; Alfred usually the good kid, decides to join him in the fun. It feels like the young Downstairs is taking a vacation themselves.

Martha: When Carson hears the baby, little Sybil cry, he goes in and picks her up. He seems to be more willing to show his softer side. When the master is out, he feels he can be a little more soft, not as rigid. But I suggest that he would only perform this act of gentleness for a baby belonging to the
Upstairs.

Jill: Mary has done her duty for Downton; she has produced a male heir. This birth is just in the nick of time, just before Matthew dies.

OUR PREDICTIONS FOR NEXT SEASON:

Now that Mary has done her duty and produced a male heir for Downton, she now has more power to do what she wants. She is now a titled widow which will give her more power. With that power, she will take a lover or lovers but will not be looked down upon. She will possibly not marry again and enjoy this new power.

Another romantic possibility is that Mary will connect with Tom and together they will bring up Mary's son and little Sybil. Interesting huh?

The new baby's name will be Robert Matthew.

Tom will have more responsibility for the estate with Matthew's death and Mrs. Crawley will be able to have more say.

Mrs. Crawley, however, might just marry Dr. Clarkson., which would also be an interesting twist of events.

Edith will still keep up the relationship with Michael; although they cannot marry, she will choose happiness over social mores of the time.

What would happen if Anna becomes pregnant?

Daisy will eventually go to work on the farm.

And, hopefully even Thomas will find true love!

Downton Abbey will become more streamlined and business savvy. But who will take over his role at Downton Abbey.