Downton Abbey, Part One (The Servants)

Downton Abbey is so broad and epic in scope that I just couldn't squeeze a review of all of the characters and plot lines found in Part One into one blog post. (There are worse problems I could have, I know. LOL!) My first review of Part One focused on the Crawleys, the wealthy family who calls Downton Abbey their home, and the succession crisis they face when the heir is lost when the Titanic sinks. As a refresher, here is the portion of the Part One summary that focuses on the plot points specific to the servants who keep Downton running:

As the drama unfolds among the aristocrats of Downton Abbey, changes are happening amidst the servants as well. John Bates has arrived as a new valet for Robert, but he has a pronounced limp, potentially making him unfit to perform his duties. Also, Bates seems to have some previous link to Robert, and a murky past. And, someone else in the servant's quarters is darkly entangled with the fortunes of the family he serves.



Bates

Thus far my favorite "downstairs" character is John Bates, played by the wonderful, marvelous actor Brendan Coyle. Coyle really excels at playing middle class characters (for lack of a better term) who are hard-working, good men, full of heart and nobility. One of Coyle's most famous roles is probably as mill worker Nicholas Higgins in North and South (Oh those scenes with Richard Armitage! I loved their unlikely friendship!). He's also appeared in Lark Rise to Candleford and the Masterpiece Mystery series Jericho (sadly playing a villain in the latter!). Bates is going to be a fascinating character. He suffered a debilitating injury in the Boer War, and thanks to the Earl's willingness to take him on as a valet he is fiercely loyal and heart-breakingly long-suffering. Because of his preferential status with the Earl, despite the fact that his war wound limits some of the duties he can perform, Bates's presence causes instant division below stairs. 


Anna

Bates has one ally in the form of Anna, the head housemaid played by Joanne Froggatt. Longtime blog readers may remember my rants against Froggatt when she appeared in the final season of Robin Hood, but I'm happy to report that so far I love Froggatt's character in Downton Abbey. Not only does Anna have the good sense to develop feelings for Bates, but Froggatt portrays her character with a real warmth and appealing vulnerability. I hope, I do so hope that whatever secrets lie hidden in Bates's past don't prevent a romance with Anna from developing below stairs, because Coyle and Froggatt have the makings of an adorable on-screen couple.


Mr. Carson



Mrs. Hughes

It would be easy to assume that Downton Abbey's servants would care little for the social machinations of the aristocrats they serve. But during this time period, servants often felt a fierce loyalty towards the families they served - often for their entire adult lives - and there was as much competition for primacy of place among the servants as among their upper-class counterparts. This quality is perhaps best embodied by Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), the butler, and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan), the housekeeper. Carson has been in service at Downton since his youth, longs for the way things were prior to the entailment issue, and he places a high emphasis on order and tradition. The Crawleys, though they would never recognize it, are his family, a sacrifice he has determined is worth an price to his personal life. Carter should be quite familiar to Masterpiece fans - he played Captain Brown in both series of Cranford. Mrs. Hughes embodies everything I'd imagine a housekeeper of the period to be - she's highly competent, moral, and seems fair. She and Carson share a fascinating exchange when she essentially asks him if he believes a life in service is "worth it." Though she would most likely never admit to possessing doubts, it's a telling moment that hints at the resolve and sacrifice necessary to rise through the ranks in service at a great estate like Downton.

Daisy

O'Brien

Among the serving members of Downton's household, there's bound to be "troublemakers" - servants who are either bitter and dissatisfied with their lot, power-hungry, or outright mean. Chief among the latter is Lady Cora's maid O'Brien, played by Siobhan Finneran. O'Brien is, I suppose, the equivalent of an Edwardian "career woman." She sacrified all to rise through the ranks and achieve the coveted post of ladies' maid to a countess. She'll flatter her mistresses as needed in order to get her way, and drop poisonous barbs disguised as concerns into the ears of any and all who will listen. There were moments in Part One when I thought Finneran was quite chilling her performance was so convincing. O'Brien is fast becoming one of those filmic villains you love to hate. *wink*

Thomas

Gwen

Her main ally is Thomas, the first footman played by Rob James-Collier. Thomas's chief faults appear to be pride and self-importance, and he's bitterly resentful of losing the valet position to Bates, a lame war veteran. Thomas and O'Briens schemes to cast Bates as an incompetent had my blood boiling at various points throughout Part One, proving the world below stairs is every bit as cutthroat and intrigue-filled as the world above. Thomas's naked ambition masks the fact that he is a closet homosexual, who had a brief fling with a duke. Whether this fling involved genuine emotional attachment on his part or was a calculated power grab is not specified, but the crushing emotion Thomas exhibits in the scene when the duke rejects him hints at the forces that have molded Thomas into the cold, hard servant he is today. Personally I could've done without "the scene" between the duke and Thomas, and I do hope the series doesn't get more explicit than what was shown in Part One. I do think Thomas's character and the secrets he keeps may perhaps turn into one of Downton Abbey's strongest examples of the price of secrecy and lies - of course only time will tell if I'm correct. :)



Mrs. Patmore



William

The balance of Downton's staff is peopled with other characters who, while they may not have the main plot lines in Part One, are every bit as colorful and fascinating as their fellow servants. Mrs. Patmore, the cook, is played by Lesley Nichol. She is an absolute delight - outgoing and high strung, the woman appears to be a veritable whirlwind of activity. Nichol's face wasn't familiar to me, but when I looked her up on the IMDB I was delighted to discover that she played Mrs. Beaver in the old 1988 production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that I grew up watching on TV. The brunt of Mrs. Patmore's *ahem* stress is directed towards Daisy the scullery maid, played by Sophie McShera. Poor Daisy is well-meaning but quite the scatterbrain, a humorous but sympathetic character. I feel so bad for her because she's naively developing a crush on Thomas, and after the scene with the duke it's abundantly clear that crush is gong to go nowhere. So far she's completely blind to the fact that William, the second footman, has a crush on her. William is a bit of a goofball, but he seems like a sweet guy - he just seems a little too willing to be a doormat for the likes of Thomas. William is played by actor Thomas Howes, and this is poised to be a breakout role for him. I'm anxious to see where his character goes throughout this series. Finally, Gwen the housemaid, played by Rose Leslie is introduced. Her character gets relatively little screentime in Part One, but it's clear she's ambitious and has secrets that I look forward to discovering in the subsequent installments of Downton.

Once again I have to stress that the editing and writing for this series is brilliantly done (bravo, Julian Fellowes!). The way script and scenes cut back and forth between the Crawleys and their servants is seamlessly, resulting in a fast-paced, thoroughly engaging viewing experience. It drives home like no other movie I can think of at the moment the intricate balance and connection between wealthy families and the servants who make their lifestyle possible. The entailment issue that throws the Crawley family into turmoil does not exist in some sort of aristocratic vacuum. Anything that impacts the Crawleys matters deeply, to some degree or another, to each member of their household - and the servants are not shy about taking sides or forming their own alliances. The result is riveting television. I cannot WAIT for Part Two this weekend!

• Click to read Amber's thoughts on Downton Abbey.
• Click to read Renee's thoughts on Downton Abbey.
• Read Laurel Ann's review of Part One of Downton Abbey at Austenprose.
• Read my review Downton Abbey, Part One (The Crawleys).