And Lady Edith Makes Three… Another Downton Abbey Wedding!

Here comes the bride! Lady Edith Crawley is walking down the aisle and tying the knot with Sir Anthony Strallan! Now Lady Violet need not concern herself with Edith being defeatist or middle class. Huzzah!

Downton Abbey: Laura Carmichael, Maggie Smith — Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Maggie Smith – Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

No longer will Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) have to beg her papa, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), to let the lovebirds see each other, as she and Sir Anthony (Robert Bathurst) will have their own wedded bliss in Season 3, Episode 2 of Downton Abbey.

Downton Abbey: Laura Carmichael and Hugh Bonneville — Laura Carmichael and Hugh Bonneville – Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

And a beautiful bride she is.

Downton Abbey: Laura Carmichael — Laura Carmichael – Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

But what of the Grantham’s fiscal cliff? Will Matthew (Dan Stevens) see things from Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) perspective and change his mind about accepting the fortune bequeathed to him by the late Mr. Swire? Or will she and Violet (Maggie Smith) come up with another scheme to save Downton, now that Martha Levinson (Shirley MacLaine) has said “no” to helping them?

There are many more questions waiting to be answered, including those concerning the fates of Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan). Will Anna (Joanne Froggatt) be able to locate the mysterious Mrs. Bartlett, and if so, will this friend of the late Vera Bates be able (and willing) to assist her in getting him freed from prison? Also, what news will Dr. Clarkson (David Robb) have regarding the lump in Mrs. Hughes’ breast, if any? And will Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) be able to keep Mrs. Hughes’ secret?

In less life-threatening matters, Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) must continue to deal with the effects of having a less-than-full complement of servants. How will he cope?

Downton Abbey: James-Collier, Phyllis Logan, Jim Carter, Siobhan Finneran, and Kevin Doyle — Joanne Froggatt, Rob James-Collier, Phyllis Logan, Jim Carter, Siobhan Finneran, and Kevin Doyle – Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

As for the new footman, Alfred Nugent (Matt Milne), will he get another snog from Martha’s maid before the Americans head for home across the pond? And will he get wise to the wicked and wily ways of valet Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier), or will his aunt, Miss O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran), keep up her grudge-bearing, revenge-exacting ways against Thomas in her quest to get Alfred promoted to valet?

Downton Abbey: Matt Milne, Joanne Froggatt, and Rob James-Collier — Matt Milne, Joanne Froggatt, and Rob James-Collier – Courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

We shall (hopefully) find all this out and more when Episode 2 of Downton Abbey: Season 3 airs this Sunday, 13 January, at 9PM Eastern on PBS. (Check your local listings.) And if you’re on Twitter, there’s the live Twitter event happening from 9-10PM. To tweet along, use hashtag #DowntonPBS.

Have a fab Downton-filled weekend!

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And Lady Edith Makes Three… Another Downton Abbey Wedding!