Downton Abbey series 5

Last updated

Downton Abbey
Series 5
No. of episodes8 + 1 Christmas special
Release
Original network ITV
Original release21 September (2014-09-21) 
9 November 2014 (2014-11-09)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 4
Next 
Series 6
List of episodes

The fifth series of the British historical drama television series Downton Abbey broadcast from 21 September 2014 to 9 November 2014, comprising a total of eight episodes and one Christmas Special episode broadcast on 25 December 2014. The series was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States, which supported the production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology.

Contents

Series overview

In 1924, a Russian exile, Prince Kuragin, wishes to renew his past affections for the Dowager Countess. The Countess instead locates his wife in Hong Kong and reunites the prince and his estranged wife. Scotland Yard and the local police investigate Mr Green's death. Violet learns that Marigold is Edith's daughter. Meanwhile, Mrs Drewe, not knowing Marigold's true parentage, resents Edith's constant visits. To increase his chances with Mary, Charles Blake plots to reunite Gillingham with his ex-fiancée, Mabel. After Edith inherits Michael Gregson's publishing company, she removes Marigold from the Drewes. Simon Bricker, an art expert interested in one of Downton's paintings, shows his true intentions toward Cora and is thrown out by Robert, causing a temporary rift between the couple.

Mrs Patmore's decision to invest her inheritance in property inspires Carson to do the same. He suggests that head housekeeper Mrs Hughes invest with him; she confesses she has no money due to supporting a mentally incapacitated sister. The Crawleys' cousin, Lady Rose, daughter of Lord and Lady Flintshire, becomes engaged to Atticus Aldridge, son of Lord and Lady Sinderby. Lord Sinderby strongly objects to Atticus marrying outside the Jewish faith. Lord Merton proposes to Isobel Crawley (Matthew's mother). She accepts, but later ends the engagement due to Lord Merton's sons' disparaging comments over her status as a commoner. Lady Flintshire employs underhanded schemes to derail Rose and Atticus's engagement, including announcing to everyone at the wedding that she and her husband are divorcing, intending to cause a scandal to stop Rose's marriage to Atticus; they are married anyway.

When Anna is arrested on suspicion of Mr Green's murder, Bates writes a false confession before fleeing to Ireland. Baxter and footman Molesley are able to prove that Bates was in York at the time of the murder. This new information allows Anna to be released. Cora eventually learns the truth about Marigold and wants her raised at Downton; Marigold is presented as Edith's ward, but Robert and Tom eventually discern the truth: only Mary is still unaware. When a war memorial is unveiled in the village, Robert arranges for a separate plaque to honour the cook Mrs Patmore's late nephew, who was shot for cowardice and excluded from his own village's memorial.

The Crawleys are invited to Brancaster Castle, which Lord and Lady Sinderby have rented for a shooting party. While there, Lady Rose, with help from the Crawleys, defuses a personal near-disaster for Lord Sinderby, earning his gratitude and securing his approval of Rose. A second footman, Andy, is hired on Barrow's recommendation. During the Downton Abbey Christmas celebration, Tom Branson announces he is moving to the U.S. to work for his cousin, taking daughter Sybil with him. Carson proposes marriage to Mrs Hughes and she accepts.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Upstairs

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [1]
351"Episode One" Catherine Morshead Julian Fellowes 21 September 2014 (2014-09-21)10.71
February 1924: Both Robert and Carson are upset by the appointment of a Labour government. The villagers want to build a war memorial, and they ask Carson to head the organising committee. Lady Edith has had no word from Michael Gregson for almost two years (he left for Germany in April 1922), and is upset at being unable to participate in the life of her daughter, Marigold. Lady Mary agrees to have a secret affair with Lord Gillingham. Tom Branson grows closer to school teacher Sarah Bunting. Lord Merton pursues Isobel, who is not interested. Rather than give in to Thomas' blackmail, Baxter reveals her past to Cora: she was convicted of stealing jewellery from a previous employer. When Thomas tries to expose Baxter, Cora tells him she already knows Baxter’s story and that his position at Downton is now precarious. Miss Bunting is invited to Robert and Cora's 34th wedding anniversary, but stirs up conflict with her left-wing comments. Thomas rescues Lady Edith from a fire in her bedroom, restoring him to Cora's good graces. Because of the fire, Robert discovers footman Jimmy in bed with Lady Anstruther. She leaves before morning; Robert instructs Carson to dismiss Jimmy, but with a good reference.
362"Episode Two"Catherine MorsheadJulian Fellowes28 September 2014 (2014-09-28)10.46
April 1924: Thomas reveals Miss Baxter's crime to Molesley; Baxter confirms everything. Charles Blake brings suave art historian Simon Bricker (Richard E. Grant) to view a painting by Piero della Francesca in the Downton collection. Bricker flirts with Cora, and Robert correctly labels him a bounder. Charles concedes that Mary now prefers Tony Gillingham. Mary asks Anna to procure a birth-control device for her tryst with Gillingham. Tenant farmer Mr Drewe, Marigold’s foster father, suggests that Edith becomes Marigold's patroness and godmother, allowing her to see her daughter more often. Violet and Isobel visit Lord Merton's country estate. Robert opposes getting a wireless, but rents one when King George V broadcasts a speech from the British Empire Exhibition. The local police sergeant arrives and tells Carson and Mrs Hughes there was a witness to Green's death and that inquiries must be made.
373"Episode Three"Catherine MorsheadJulian Fellowes5 October 2014 (2014-10-05)10.15
May 1924: Sergeant Willis reveals that a witness overheard Green telling someone he had been badly treated at Downton and that he disliked Bates. Mary and Gillingham spend an idyllic week driving around Cheshire, unrecognized, but Spratt, Violet's butler, spots them leaving a hotel in Liverpool and, clearly relishing the task, informs Violet. Violet instantly invents a cover story for the lovers. Later, she is greatly relieved when Mary tells her obliquely that she used birth control, and that Gillingham proposed before they became lovers: he wants to set the date. Violet still disapproves of her behaviour but feels that this sheds a different light on it as long as the engagement is announced immediately. Cora is in London, visiting Rosamund. She spends a pleasant day with Mr. Bricker, exploring museums and galleries and having dinner out on the spur of the moment. Meanwhile, Robert decides to go up to London and surprise her. He is angry to learn how she spent the day and contemptuous of the idea that Bricker could find Cora’s comments on art useful or interesting. Edith's constant visits to see Marigold are upsetting Mrs Drewe, and Mr Drewe asks Edith to stay away for a while.
384"Episode Four"Minkie SpiroJulian Fellowes12 October 2014 (2014-10-12)10.25
May 1924: Violet takes Isobel to visit the Russian aristocrats, now living in poverty. Tom and Mary push the housing development. Rose's father, Lord Flintshire (Shrimpie) announces that he and his wife are divorcing. Lord Merton proposes to Isobel. Miss Baxter witnesses Thomas self-medicating. Mary tells Lord Gillingham she will not marry him. Mr Bricker visits again, to Robert's disapproval. Miss Bunting goes too far in goading Robert with her left-wing views, and is ordered to leave the house. Sergeant Willis returns to Downton; whilst in London with Mary, Anna was observed by an undercover officer visiting Lord Gillingham's flat in Albany. This is explained as her delivering a letter to Gillingham from Mary. However, she then went to Piccadilly, where Green was killed, making the police suspicious.
395"Episode Five"Minkie SpiroJulian Fellowes19 October 2014 (2014-10-19)10.39
1924: Inspector Vyner of Scotland Yard interviews Mary and Anna about Mr Green. Mrs Patmore decides to buy a cottage with her inheritance money and rent it out. Mrs Drewe tells her husband to forbid further contact between Marigold and Edith. Violet gets the entire story from Rosamund; they advise Edith to take the child to France. Charles Blake invites Mary to lunch, along with Tony Gillingham's former fiancée, Mabel Lane Fox; Blake has a cunning plan to reunite Gillingham and Mabel, leaving him free to court Mary, but Mabel walks out. Thomas is looking increasingly ill. With Robert away, Mr Bricker visits again and sneaks uninvited to Cora's bedroom. Robert arrives back early and discovers them. Robert remains distant with Cora, believing she is also at fault.
406"Episode Six" Philip John Julian Fellowes26 October 2014 (2014-10-26)9.87
1924: Violet visits Prince Kuragin. Edith learns that Michael was killed by some of Hitler's associates during the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. She inherits his publishing company, removes Marigold from the Drewe's care, and goes to London. The police return and interview Miss Baxter. She admits to some suspicions about Bates and Green. Bates discovers Mary's contraceptive device hidden in Anna's drawer and accuses her of not wanting his child because she believes him a murderer. His unused train ticket would have proved he had never gone there, but Mary burned it, believing she was protecting him. Anna and Bates reconcile. Baxter takes Thomas to Dr Clarkson, and he admits he was attempting to "cure" his homosexuality. Cora and Robert reconcile. Carson asks Mrs Hughes if she would be interested in investing in a property with him. Robert's dog, Isis, appears to be unwell.
417"Episode Seven"Philip JohnJulian Fellowes2 November 2014 (2014-11-02)10.77
1924: Rose introduces her new friend Atticus Aldridge and his parents, Lord and Lady Sinderby, to the family. Isobel announces her engagement to Lord Merton. Mrs Drewe tells Cora Edith's secret, and Cora goes with Rosamund to see Edith in London. She suggests that Edith return home and pretend to adopt Marigold. Bates and Anna plan their future, and contemplate selling Bates's mother's house in London and buying a house or hotel nearby to let out. Tom has written to his cousin in Boston about moving to the United States. Lord Merton's two sons are rude and insolent to Isobel during dinner. Atticus proposes to Rose. Robert's beloved dog Isis is ill with cancer. He and Cora take her into their bed to comfort her in her final hours.
428"Episode Eight" Michael Engler Julian Fellowes9 November 2014 (2014-11-09)10.44
1924: Everyone is in London for Rose and Atticus's wedding. Inspector Vyner calls Anna to take part in an identity parade at Scotland Yard. Tom shares with his sisters-in-law that he plans to move to Boston and become a business partner with his cousin. Inspector Vyner turns up unexpectedly and arrests Anna on suspicion of Green's murder, as she was identified by the witness as having been on the pavement near Green just before his death. The war memorial is unveiled, and Robert unveils a separate stone he ordered which honours Mrs Patmore's late nephew. Robert comes to the realisation that Marigold is Edith's daughter by the late Michael Gregson.
Special
43"A Moorland Holiday"Minkie SpiroJulian Fellowes25 December 2014 (2014-12-25)7.99
September and December 1924. Lord and Lady Sinderby invite the Granthams to Brancaster Castle, which they have rented from Peter Hexham, 6th Marquess of Hexham, for grouse shooting. While there, Edith meets Brancaster's agent and Peter's distant cousin, Bertie Pelham (Harry Hadden-Paton). Mary meets Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), Lady Shackleton's nephew, an amateur race car driver. The Dowager Countess reunites Prince Kuragin and his estranged wife. Carson and Mrs Hughes search for a house as an investment together, but Mrs Hughes reveals she has no money and cannot retire as she must support her mentally disabled younger sister. Carson buys a property in both their names, then proposes marriage to Mrs Hughes, to which she accepts. Isobel declines Lord Merton's earlier marriage proposal, not wanting to come between him and his sons. Robert learns he has a stomach ulcer. He tells Edith that he knows about Marigold and agrees to continue the pretence that she is Edith's ward. To absolve Anna, Bates writes a letter confessing he killed Mr Green, then disappears - apparently to Ireland. Molesley and Baxter are able to prove that Bates was not in London when Green was killed. Anna is released on bail. The Downton household has its annual Christmas party. Tom and Sybbie prepare to leave for America. Bates returns and reunites with Anna. Violet confesses to Isobel that she and Prince Kuragin once attempted to run away together.

Related Research Articles

<i>Gosford Park</i> 2001 period film directed by Robert Altman

Gosford Park is a 2001 satirical black comedy mystery film directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Fellowes. It was influenced by Jean Renoir's French classic La Règle du jeu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penelope Wilton</span> English actress

Dame Penelope Alice Wilton is an English actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth McGovern</span> American actress (born 1961)

Elizabeth Lee McGovern is an American-British actress. She has received many awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and one Academy Award nomination.

A dowager is a widow or widower who holds a title or property – a "dower" – derived from her or his deceased spouse. As an adjective, dowager usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cook (domestic worker)</span>

A cook or private chef is a household staff member responsible for food preparation.

Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom.

Freezing is a BBC comedy series starring Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern about an otherwise successful couple in their forties who find themselves out of work.

<i>Downton Abbey</i> British television series (2010–2015)

Downton Abbey is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. It first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States on PBS, which supported its production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology, on 9 January 2011. The show ran for six series and fifty-two episodes, including five Christmas specials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cullen</span> British actor

Thomas Cullen is a Welsh actor and director. He had roles in the independent film Weekend (2011), as Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham in the television series Downton Abbey, and as Sir Landry in the historical drama series Knightfall. He also appeared in another historical drama playing the role of Thomas Seymour in Becoming Elizabeth.

<i>Downton Abbey</i> series 1 UK TV period drama series

The first series of Downton Abbey comprises seven episodes, was broadcast in the UK from 26 September 2010, and explored the lives of the Crawley family and their servants from the day after the sinking of the RMS Titanic in April 1912 to the outbreak of the First World War on 4 August 1914. The ties between blood relations in family are an important part of the series. The series looks keenly at issues relating to class and privilege in a variety of aspects, such as the compassionate treatment of homosexuality seen with depictions of the character of Thomas Barrow.

<i>Downton Abbey</i> series 2 Season of television series

The second series of the British historical drama television series Downton Abbey broadcast from 18 September 2011 to 6 November 2011, comprising a total of eight episodes and one Christmas Special episode broadcast on 25 December 2011. The series was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States, which supported the production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology. Series two explores the lives of the Crawley family and servants during and after the First World War.

The third series of the British historical drama television series Downton Abbey broadcast from 16 September 2012 to 4 November 2012, comprising a total of eight episodes and one Christmas Special episode broadcast on 25 December 2012. The series was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States, which supported the production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology.

The fourth series of the British historical drama television series Downton Abbey broadcast from 22 September 2013 to 10 November 2013, comprising a total of eight episodes and one Christmas Special episode broadcast on 25 December 2013. The series was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States, which supported the production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology.

The sixth series of the British historical drama television series Downton Abbey broadcast from 20 September 2015 to 8 November 2015, comprising a total of eight episodes and one Christmas Special episode broadcast on 25 December 2015. The series was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States, which supported the production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology.

Doctor Thorne is a 2016 three-part television drama series adaptation of the 1858 Anthony Trollope novel Doctor Thorne scripted by Julian Fellowes for ITV. Mary Thorne, penniless and with undisclosed parentage, grows up under the guardianship of her uncle Doctor Thorne. She spends much of her formative years in the company of the Gresham family at Greshamsbury Park estate. As they close on the world of adult cares and responsibilities, the past starts to impinge and the financial woes of the Gresham family threaten to tear relationships apart.

<i>Downton Abbey</i> (film) 2019 historical drama film

Downton Abbey is a 2019 historical drama film written by Julian Fellowes, series creator and writer of the television series of the same name, and directed by Michael Engler. The film was produced by Carnival Films and Perfect World Pictures and it continues the storyline from the series, with much of the original cast returning. The film, set in 1927, depicts a royal visit to the Crawley family's stately home in Yorkshire. As royal staff members descend on Downton, an assassin has also arrived and attempts to kill the monarch. The Crawleys and their servants are pitted against the royal entourage, including the queen's lady-in-waiting, who has fallen out with the Crawley family, especially the Dowager Countess, over an inheritance issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadie and the Hotheads</span> English European-Americana music group

Sadie and the Hotheads are a UK-based European Americana band formed in 2007 when American actress Elizabeth McGovern was encouraged by her guitar teacher, Steve Nelson of The Nelson Brothers, to write songs. Nelson then introduced McGovern to his brother Simon Nelson and together, they began to collaborate with other local musicians including Rowan Oliver from Goldfrapp on drums, Ron Knights on bass and Lizzie Deane on backing vocals.

<i>Downton Abbey: A New Era</i> 2022 historical drama sequel film by Simon Curtis

Downton Abbey: A New Era is a 2022 historical drama film and the sequel to the 2019 film Downton Abbey. The film was written by Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of the television series of the same name, and was directed by Simon Curtis.

References