I've Been Dreaming of Downton: Season Three

With the upcoming third movie coming in September my Downton Abbey rewatch is back in full swing! Season Three can only be described as a roller coaster ride of emotions. Relief, laughter, tears, suspense, shock, more tears, a little more laughter, excitement and then the most shocking of endings. 

• I certainly wasn't surprised with the pomp and circumstance and Mary and Matthew's wedding. The world for Lady Mary...

• Edith's relationship with Sir Anthony always seemed a little off. I think Edith loved him, but it was more out of desperation of not wanting to be the maiden aunt.

• I was proudly a part of the 'Free Bates' movement

• Shirley Maclaine was good as Martha Levinson (Cora's mother), but I felt like the whole role itself was overrated just because it's Shirley Maclaine whose playing her.

• It was interesting how much better Mary was in season two when she faced losing Matthew and learned humility and self-sacrifice. However, now that she has what she wants (Matthew and Downton), she's back to her typical arrogant nature.

• I felt that Cora seemed so relieved at the fact that they may be losing Downton. She's spent over 25 years dealing with its drama and she was ready for it to be done.

• Mary's true colors somewhat showed when she put Matthew on the spot regarding Swire's money. She didn't care about Matthew's moral dilemma; only that her position as the future Lady of Downton was in danger going as far to say that he wasn't on 'their side.'

•  Then after bullying Matthew into taking the money (which makes him the joint owner of the estate) she doesn't listen to his plans for improvement, defers to her father on every single issue and demands that Matthew do the same without complaint. Mary was never on Matthew's side.

• I'm not saying that Mary didn't genuinely love Matthew, but her own ambitions tended to cloud her better nature.

• While Ethal Parks made mistakes, she loved her child, and my heart really broke for her and what she had to go through.

• For a character that supposed to be in one season, Tom Branson's story brought so much awareness to the animosity between the Irish and English.

• In a lot of ways, I agreed with Tom, but his political ideologies did grow wearisome.

• Thomas...well will always be Thomas, but it was good to actually see him get his comeuppance near the end.

• While Thomas and Sybil did work together during the war, I hardly think that Thomas knew her better than anyone else in the house.

• Rose might have been a trial in the beginning, but you really couldn't blame her. She was spoiled, sheltered and just wanted some freedom.

• Seeing Matthew immediately get into the older brother role for Edith and Rose was so sweet!

• That trashy little maid going after Tom. Good riddance to her