The Strong, Intelligent Ladies of Downton Abbey Return as Mary Takes a Seat at the Boys Table
American’s cried out “hallelujah!” on January 5 when season four of Downton Abbey returned to US airwaves. Though some might have pirated a sneak peak while the UK was watching, 10.2 million of us waited with abated breath for the winter premier.
The season opens six months after the untimely death of Matthew Crawley. An unfortunate end to the three years of will-they/wont-they drama with Lady Mary Crawley. They were finally married, finally pregnant, and finally headed for marital bliss. Then, actor, Dan Stevens chose not to re-sign his contract, leaving his on-screen partner in a terrible, widowed mess.
But – spoiler alert –30 to 45 minutes into the two hour opener Mary comes back from the dead, as sole heir of Matthew’s inheritance and co-owner (FINALLY) of Downton.
Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take too much coaxing to convince Mary that she should be included in building the future of the land she’s fought for since the show’s beginning. Always an activist, it’s no surprise that Tom offers his support. However witnessing Mr. Carson and Maggie Smith’s delightful Dowager Countess of Grantham both come around to the idea of a woman taking an active role in the family “business” was refreshing.
“I want a right to an opinion. That’s more than enough for me,” Mary states over the dinner table. This is where the tides start to change. In post- war 1920s, Downton is foretelling of the turning point for women. During these crucial years women became more than mothers. They were breadwinners and decision makers for their families.
Mary’s purple dress when she takes her seat amongst the men at the business table is the first hint of color in the opener. Mary’s (or the costume designer’s) decision to reintroduce color to the show and specifically Mary’s wardrobe is a clear step forward from not only the end of her mourning but also her new role as a landowner and a modern-day businesswoman.
Downton has toyed with the idea of a woman’s place in the world before. Early on in the series, Sybil Crawley, the youngest sister fought for women’s right to vote. And just last season the middle daughter, Edith was hired as a writer for a high-profile magazine out of London. Mary may in fact be the last daughter to make the jump out of the house, but her seat at the boys’ table looks to be the most controversial achievement yet.
It seems that season four will bring the biggest battles and changes to the show’s plot line. Mary will most likely go head-to-head with her loving, old-fashioned father, Robert. Throughout the show, Robert has shown serious ties to the nineteenth century ways of living, while his daughters, his two son-in-laws and even his mother have progressed into a new way of doing things.
Hopefully Mary will bring her father into the modern times, as well, in the coming season.
Photo: © Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE
Downton Abbey is currently airing Sundays on MASTERPIECE on PBS.