List of Downton Abbey episodes

April 1912. The way of life at Downton Abbey has been the same for generations. Living at Downton Abbey are Robert (the Earl of Grantham), his American-born wife Cora, their daughters, and their domestic staff. Only an heir to Lord Grantham's fortune would guarantee that all remains as it was. An entail on the estate means that only a male heir can inherit the title, land, and fortune. Robert and Cora have three daughters: Mary, Edith, and Sybil. To solve the inheritance problem, Lady Mary was engaged to Patrick, the heir presumptive to the earldom. However, he died aboard the RMS Titanic. Unsure of the future of Downton, they discover that a distant third cousin (Matthew Crowley) is next in line to inherit the estate unless the entail is broken.

Meanwhile, Lord Grantham hires his former batman John Bates as his valet. Though the housemaid takes a liking to him, the vindictive footman Thomas undermines him and eventually convinces Lord Grantham that Bates cannot do the job. Bates is extremely upset at the possibility of being sacked.

A young Duke of Crowborough visits Downton. The family believes he could be a good match for Mary. He acts interested in Mary until he learns that he would not inherit the family fortune. It is also revealed that the Duke had a romantic relationship with Thomas. Thomas tries to get a job from the Duke.

September 1912. Matthew Crawley is a 27-year-old solicitor and the new heir to the Grantham earldom. He and his mother Isobel experience culture clash with the Crawley family due to class differences. It is suggested that Matthew could marry one of the three daughters, but he laughs at the prospect. Meanwhile, Mr Carson is being blackmailed by an old music-hall performing partner, Charles Grigg.

Matthew's mother Isobel begins works at the local hospital. She clashes with Violet (Lord Grantham's mother, the Dowager Countess) because her modern training as a nurse conflicts with Violet's older, more traditional training. When a patient suffers from dropsy, Isobel and Violet conflict over how to deal with it. The doctor eventually sides with Isobel and uses modern methods, which are successful. Lord Grantham makes Isobel chair of the hospital board.

March 1913. Cora is pleased when Lady Mary informs her that Evelyn Napier, son of a peer and possible suitor, will be visiting. However, he arrives with a dashing Turkish diplomat, Mr Kemal Pamuk, who is in London for the Albanian independence negotiations, and Mary is smitten. Thomas is also attracted to him, but Mr Pamuk is not amused. However, he promises not to inform anyone about Thomas's indiscretion, provided he will do something in return. Edith tries to interest Matthew by offering to show him the local churches, but to her disappointment, he is more interested in the buildings than he is in her. Bates purchases a prosthetic device to correct his limp, but the device causes him extreme pain and injury, until Mrs Hughes discovers it and insists he dispose of it.

May 1913. A travelling fair arrives in the neighbouring village. Anna becomes sick and stays in bed for a day, visited by Mr Bates who brings her up a tray with a flower. Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper, is reunited with a former suitor, who proposes to her again; She discusses her choices in life with Mr Carson and eventually turns down the proposal after serious consideration but seems satisfied with her decision. Thomas asks Daisy to accompany him to the fair simply to annoy William, who is fond of her. Although Mr Bates physically threatens Thomas, he is unabashed and leaves with a smirk.

May 1914. Lady Sybil's interest in politics and women's rights is kindled by the upcoming by-election, and it is the cause of major disagreement between her and Lord Grantham. Meanwhile, presumably as a result of Lady Edith's letter, rumours about Lady Mary and the "handsome Turk" intensify, reaching the ears of Carson and the Dowager Countess herself. Violet confronts Cora, who is forced to tell her the truth, leaving Violet almost as shocked by her behaviour as Mary's. Edith finds an admirer in Sir Anthony Strallan, after he is impressed by her thoughtfulness and genuine interest in him. Miss O'Brien and Thomas continue to plot against Bates, trying to frame him for the theft of a wine bottle, which Thomas stole as witnessed by Bates. Thomas persuades Daisy to testify against Bates, but her conscience leads her to retract her statement. However, Bates surprises Carson, Mrs Hughes and Anna by revealing that he was once a drunkard and has been in prison for theft; Carson is unwilling to let him go, realising that there is more to his story.

July–August 1914. Tensions abound following the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The family returns from London after Sybil's debutante ball but Mary stays with her aunt and has yet to give Matthew an answer. To everyone's great surprise, Cora discovers that she is pregnant after eighteen years and Mary's aunt, Lady Rosamund Painswick, advises Mary to reconsider marrying Matthew, since his situation would change completely if the baby is a boy. Mary learns from Evelyn Napier that it was Edith, not he, who originated the rumours about her and Pamuk. Through a letter to O'Brien, Carson has discovered the details of Bates's crime: while he was a soldier, he stole the regimental silver. However, Carson, Lord Grantham, and Anna realise that Bates is keeping something back. After Mrs Patmore's condition worsens, Lord Grantham sends her to London to have cataract surgery.^[5][6] Anna goes with her and discovers from Bates's mother that he took the blame for the theft on behalf of his wife, as he believed that he had ruined her life, although his mother does not agree. While convalescing, Mrs Patmore is temporarily replaced by Mrs Crawley's cook, Mrs Bird, whose cooking she fears will be preferred to her own. Mrs Patmore accordingly asks Daisy to spoil the family's meals, but her actions are discovered. Mrs Bird sympathises with Daisy's loyalty, and upon Mrs Patmore's recovery and return, Mrs Bird manages to win her over.

Matthew is angered by Mary's hesitancy following Cora's pregnancy, declaring that her decision should purely depend on whether she loves him or not. Anticipating the war, Thomas finds a non-combatant role in the Army Medical Corps with the help of Dr Clarkson. When Molesley finds Thomas trying to steal from Carson's wallet, Lord Grantham tells Carson to wait until after the upcoming charity garden party to act on it. Thomas opportunely hands in his resignation and Mary confronts Edith about revealing her scandalous secret, implying that she will exact revenge. Learning that Sir Anthony Strallan intends to propose at the garden party, Mary manipulates him into thinking Edith finds him old and boring, so he leaves suddenly without explanation. O'Brien is angry when she mistakenly believes that Cora is going to replace her and takes advantage of an opportunity to punish the Countess by leaving soap below her bath. She regrets it immediately but is unable to warn Cora, who slips, falls, and miscarries. There is further heartache when they find out the baby was a boy. O'Brien is extremely upset but the callous Thomas ridicules the staff for their sympathy for the family, and William for mourning his mother so deeply, leading to a fight between the two.

November 1916. Matthew, now an Army officer, is fighting at the Battle of the Somme. He speaks of returning to Downton during his leave, which is coming soon. However, he tells the family that he is now engaged to Miss Lavinia Swire. When Lady Mary finds out, she attempts to hide her dismay and tells the other ladies that a Sir Richard Carlisle, a newspaper mogul known more for expediency than ethics, is coming to visit. However, when alone with Anna, she breaks down at the news of Matthew's engagement. Meanwhile the servants are preparing for a benefit concert to help fund the local hospital.

With Bates in London attending his mother's funeral, and Thomas serving in the Army Medical Corps, the servants are hard pressed to keep Downton running. A new housemaid, Ethel, has arrived, but constantly talks about improving herself and getting out of service, implicitly demeaning the staff. Most ignore her, but O'Brien dislikes her and repeatedly pulls mean-spirited pranks on her. Bates tells Anna that he may finally get a divorce and asks her to marry him. However, these plans are short-lived when Vera Bates arrives at Downton and threatens to expose Anna's part in Lady Mary's indiscretion with Pamuk unless Bates leaves with her immediately. He is forced to do so out of loyalty to the family, and Lord Grantham is furious at him for leaving with no notice or reason. However, Mrs Hughes has overheard Bates and Vera's conversation and informs Mr Carson of Vera's plot. Carson tells Lord Grantham this, and he immediately regrets his reaction to Bates' departure. Meanwhile, Sybil, eager to contribute to the war effort, leaves to begin training as a nurse. At her departure, Branson reveals his feelings for her.

April 1917: With many of the male staff away at war, Carson puts a lot of pressure on himself with the extra duties necessary to run the house to his exacting standard. He is forced to accept female staff serving in the dining room, something with which he is appalled. Lord Grantham hires Lang, newly discharged from the army, as his valet to replace Bates. O'Brien quickly notices manifestations of his shell shock, and is kind and helpful to him, complimenting his fine repair work on a suit. William is happy after receiving an important letter. Mrs Patmore receives devastating news about her soldier nephew; she had only known that he had died, but Lord Grantham finds out that he had been shot for cowardice.

Thomas returns from the war after being discharged from active duty due to his hand injury, which he purposely allowed to occur, and begins working with Lady Sybil in the local hospital. Thomas is attracted to a young lieutenant suffering from gas blindness who is overwhelmed and psychologically in extremely precarious condition. Over time Lady Sybil's and Thomas's kindness helps to pull him slightly back towards hope. Unfortunately, when he is physically stable, in spite of all their protests, the doctor orders the lieutenant's departure to complete his recovery elsewhere; every bed is needed at the hospital for the critically ill. That night he commits suicide. This event leads to the consideration of using Downton as a convalescent home. Molesley takes an interest in Anna, but she makes it clear that her heart will forever belong to Bates. Matthew learns he will be temporarily transferred back to England for a recruitment drive; the family is happy, but he is uncomfortable with the idea that he is safe while others are fighting. Carson advises Mary that she should tell Matthew she loves him before it is too late. Meanwhile, Lavinia (Matthew's new fiancée who is staying with Mrs Crawley) is reunited with an unwelcome face from her past.

July 1917. The village hospital is not large enough to accommodate the large influx of wounded soldiers coming back from the front, so Downton is turned into a convalescent home. O'Brien is shocked that Isobel Crawley seems to be giving most of the orders while Cora is relegated to the background and suggests that Thomas might be able to aid her from his position at the hospital.

Mid-1918: Lord Grantham receives some shocking news from the front; both Matthew and William have been wounded in France. Unfortunately, William has sustained serious damage to his lungs and will not recover, prompting him to ask Daisy to marry him before he dies. Meanwhile, Matthew has suffered a serious spinal-cord injury and is paralysed from the waist down. He is told that he will never walk again or father children. Lavinia insists that this changes nothing and that she only wants to care for him. However, Matthew tells her to forget him and sends her away, while Mary attempts to nurse him back to health. A new maid, Jane, is hired by Carson and Mrs Hughes, despite her being a war widow with a child. Mrs Hughes has also been secretly helping Ethel and her baby as Ethel's lover, Major Bryant, has ignored her pleas.

November 1918: A Canadian officer, badly disfigured by burns, asks to be brought to Downton, claiming a relation to the family. Lord Grantham agrees, assuming he is some distant relation sharing common ancestry, but he stuns everyone by declaring that he is Patrick Crawley, the supposedly deceased heir. His story is that he survived the Titanic disaster but suffered from amnesia so he was unable to identify himself and lived as a Canadian until a wartime experience restored his memory. Most at Downton vehemently deny that possibility even though he recounts many details that only Patrick is likely to have known. However, Edith believes him, growing attached to him as he claims that he was always in love with her, rather than Mary. But, Lord Grantham's investigation casts doubt on the Canadian officer's claim, revealing that Patrick Crawley had a friend who emigrated to Canada. This leads to the burned soldier's sudden departure; he leaves behind a note for Edith that is deliberately ambiguous as to his identity.

1919: As the residents try to return to normal life following the armistice, Matthew begins to be able to feel his legs. One day, seeing Lavinia drop a heavy tray, he suddenly gets up from his chair. Major Clarkson admits that he knew of this possibility from another physician but was sceptical about it and did not want to raise false hopes. Matthew announces that he and Lavinia intend to be married soon. Violet informs him that Mary is still in love with him, but Matthew feels obliged to marry Lavinia since she was prepared to sacrifice her life for him. Meanwhile, Richard Carlisle distresses Anna by asking her to spy on Mary and his behaviour leads Carson to reject his offer of employment.

April 1919: As preparations are under way for Matthew and Lavinia's wedding, Lady Sybil's expressed wish to marry Branson shocks and horrifies her parents. Lord Grantham is strongly opposed to the idea but his threats of social disgrace and disinheritance do not dissuade Sybil. Grantham attempts to bribe Branson, but Branson's intentions are sincere, and he refuses. Lady Grantham, Carson, and Lavinia are taken ill by the Spanish flu. Thomas' black market venture was a spectacular failure, leaving him penniless and without a job, but Carson's illness gives him a chance to become useful in the house. Matthew finds himself alone with Mary and tells her what Violet said to him. Both acknowledge that they cannot marry, as it would be terribly cruel to Lavinia. However, they kiss just as Lavinia is coming down the stairs. When her illness delays the wedding, Lavinia tells Matthew that she heard and saw everything. She feels they should end their engagement but Matthew refuses. Fearing that Lavinia's illness might bring together Matthew and Mary, Richard Carlisle comes to Downton Abbey.

December 1919 and January 1920. The household is bustling with all the Christmas preparations. Mr Bates is convicted of the murder of his ex-wife Vera despite testimony from Lord Grantham. Towards the end of the episode his death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Also the relationship between Matthew and Lady Mary takes another twist.

She jilts her fiancé, Sir Richard Carlisle, despite his threatening to reveal her dark secret regarding the late Kemal Pamuk through his media connections and newspapers.

March 1920. Cora's mother, Martha Levinson, sweeps into Downton for Matthew and Mary's wedding, aggravating the Dowager Countess (among others) with her critical and "revolutionary" American way of seeing things. Lord Grantham learns that his massive investment of Cora's fortune in the Grand Trunk Railway has failed, leaving the estate near bankruptcy. Salvation is possible, as Matthew is entitled to inherit a large amount of money from Lavinia's father, but his scruples will not let him keep the money, feeling it a betrayal to Lavinia and her father since he believes her father died thinking he loved Lavinia; whereas Lavinia knew of his love for Mary just before she died.

September 1921. The Crawley family heads north, to Duneagle Castle in Scotland, the ancestral home of the MacClare family, to visit Lady Rose and her warring parents, Susan and Hugh ("Shrimpy"). Bates, Anna, Molesley, and O'Brien also make the trip. Gregson, the man who hired Lady Edith on at the newspaper, tells her that he is going to be in Scotland as well. After Edith informs her family of this Mary and Matthew disagree about Gregson's motives. Gregson later declares his feelings for Edith and hopes to find an ally in Matthew. Shrimpy tells Lord Grantham that he will have to sell his estate because he did not modernise it like Downton and now the money is all gone. Tom remains at Downton with one-year-old Sybil. The staff looks forward to the approaching country fair, and Carson struggles to keep them concentrating on work.

February 1922. Six months on, a distraught Lady Mary mourns Matthew, and feels little motherly love for baby George, now six months old. Lord Grantham and Branson dispute the management of the estate and struggle to pay death duties. Miss O'Brien suddenly leaves to serve Lady Flintshire, on her way to India. Needing a maid in a hurry, Cora hires former maid Edna, who has trained as a lady's maid, on the strength of the reference which Tom persuaded Mrs Hughes to give her; Carson and Mrs Hughes see trouble ahead, and warn Tom to keep his distance.

Miss West, the nanny of George and Sybbie, Mary's son and Tom's daughter, respectively, acts insolently with Thomas, and the underbutler lets Cora know of her tendency to leave them to their own devices. When she overhears Miss West insulting Sybbie by calling her a "chauffeur's daughter" and a "wicked little cross-breed", Cora fires her on the spot. Cora later praises Thomas for bringing the issue to her attention.

Summer 1923: The Granthams move to their London residence for Rose's debutante ball and presentation at court, bringing most servants. They are joined by Cora's brother, Harold, and mother, Martha, from the United States. Lord Gillingham and Mr Blake attend, both still courting Mary, and mutually antagonistic. Tom and Thomas initially remain at Downton. Tom unexpectedly meets with Sarah Bunting, who asks for a tour of Downton Abbey. When they go to the upstairs gallery, Thomas sees them and later in London tells Lord Grantham about the incident, slyly insinuating Tom took Sarah to a bedroom. Tom later tells Lord Grantham the truth.

February 1924: Both Robert and Carson are upset by the election of a Labour government (22 January 1924). The villagers want to build a war memorial, and ask Carson to head the committee; he accepts, on condition they make Robert the patron. Lady Edith still has not heard from Gregson. She is upset at being unable to participate in the life of her daughter Marigold, who is being raised by a tenant farmer's family. Tom Branson has become closer to school-teacher Sarah Bunting, which displeases Robert, who feels she is beneath Tom and disagrees with her extreme liberal political views. Daisy, wanting to better herself, buys mathematics books, to Carson's disapproval. Jimmy is being pestered by a previous employer, the exuberant Lady Anstruther, who once took a shine to him. Lord Merton pursues Isobel, who is uninterested. Violet organises tea with Lord Merton and Isobel, but when she realises Isobel marrying Lord Merton would mean a shift in their social status, she also invites the widowed Lady Shackleton and Dr Clarkson in an attempt to separate Lord Merton and Isobel. During luncheon she rebukes her pompous butler, Spratt, for refusing to serve coffee to Dr Clarkson.

April 1924: The staff clean up after the fire in Edith's bedroom. Jimmy departs Downton, leaving Molesley as the only footman. Thomas reveals Miss Baxter's crime to Molesley; the two friends talk, and Baxter confirms everything, but withholds the reason for her theft. She had not told Cora the reason either, leaving Cora undecided about Baxter's future at Downton. Suave art historian Simon Bricker (Richard E. Grant) arrives to view a painting. He flirts with Cora, and Robert considers him a bounder. Bricker is accompanied by Charles Blake, who concedes that Mary prefers Tony Gillingham. There is disagreement over whether the war memorial should be a simple cross on the village green, proposed by Robert, or a remembrance garden on the cricket field, which is Carson's choice; after an encounter with a local war widow and her son, Carson concedes that a cross in the village is more appropriate. Mary asks an embarrassed Anna to buy her a birth control device from the town chemist, then goes to Liverpool with Gillingham. Farmer Mr Drewe suggests Edith become Marigold's patroness, allowing her to visit her daughter more often. However, Mrs Drewe, unaware of Marigold's parentage, resents Edith's interference.

May 1924: Sergeant Willis reveals that a witness overheard Green talking to someone on the pavement just before the road accident. Green had also told his fellow servants that he had been badly treated at Downton and had taken a dislike to Bates. Willis interviews Bates, and seems satisfied with his answers, though Anna is still worried. Violet's butler Spratt spots Mary and Gillingham leaving the hotel in Liverpool; he informs Violet, who quickly contrives an explanation that they were attending a farming conference. She later tells Mary she disapproves of her behaviour, but Mary stands up to her. Miss Baxter tells Cora that an abusive and manipulatative male servant forced her to steal jewellery from her former employer; Cora allows her to stay at Downton.

May 1924: Violet takes Isobel to visit the Russian aristocrats, now living in poverty, and later confesses that she and the prince did have a romantic interlude, nearly running away together. Tom and Mary push the housing development, but Robert rejects it as too big, and wants a smaller project. Rose's father, Lord Flintshire (Shrimpy) visits to announce that he and his wife are divorcing. Edith asks if he can discover what happened to Michael Gregson, who apparently got involved with Nazi thugs. Lord Merton tells Isobel he truly loves her and proposes; taken aback, she says she needs time to consider.

1924: Inspector Vyner of Scotland Yard interviews Mary and Anna about Mr Green, and appears suspicious of their answers. He presses Mary about Anna's reaction to the news of Green's death, and warns Anna not to "go away". Mrs Patmore inherits some money and decides to buy a cottage to rent out. Lady Rosamund visits, and goes to the farm with Edith to see Marigold. Fed up, Mrs Drewe, tells her husband to forbid further contact with Edith. Violet gets the entire story from Rosamund; they advise Edith to take the child to France. Sarah Bunting gets a new job, and moves away; Tom remains at Downton. Bates is concerned over the matter concerning his wife and the police. He reassures her that nothing bad will ever again happen to her and vows to keep her safe.

1924: A distraught Edith learns that Michael's body was found; he was killed during Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch (8–9 November 1923). She inherits his publishing company, and she takes the drastic action of removing her daughter from the Drewes (revealing her true relationship with Marigold to the objecting Mrs Drewe) and leaving Downton for London. In response to an anonymous letter, the police visit again regarding Mr Green's death. They interview Miss Baxter suspiciously and threaten her reticence with being returned to prison. She admits her suspicions about Bates and Green but cannot swear to anything else. Bates accidentally discovers Mary's contraceptive and book which Anna has hidden among her own things. He misunderstands and later accuses Anna of not wanting to bear his child because she believes he is a murderer. He explains that he had known about Green since he returned to Downton, but claims he did not murder him. He had purchased a ticket from York to London, but did not go because he realised if he killed Green and was hanged for the crime, Anna would suffer more trauma; he instead spent the day in York. The unused train ticket would have provided enough vital evidence that he had never travelled, but Mary burned it, believing she was protecting him. Anna is relieved to hear the truth, and she and Bates reconcile.

1924: Rose introduces her new friend Atticus Aldridge, whom she met buying cakes for the Russians, and his parents, Lord and Lady Sinderby, to the family. Isobel announces she is to marry Lord Merton; later Violet tells Mary she was never jealous that Isobel will socially outrank her, but is sad at losing a companion. Rosamund and Violet prepare to tell Edith's secret to Cora, but Mrs Drewe beats them to it. Cora is upset that they withheld news of her granddaughter from her, and goes with Rosamund to find Edith in London. She suggests that Edith return home and pretend to adopt Marigold because Mrs Drewe cannot cope with so many children. Edith reluctantly agrees, as do the family. Tony Gillingham insists to Charles Blake that Mary still really wants him; Charles arranges for him and Mary to kiss in public, in front of Tony and Mabel, to end Gillingham's pursuit. Tony at last accepts he is out of the running; Charles is going abroad for some months, so is also out. Baxter overhears Mrs Hughes asking Mary about the train ticket, and informs Bates she and can swear that it was unused. Bates is hostile to her for talking to the police – even though she tries to explain that she was in an adverse position with the police herself.

1924: Everyone is in London for Rose and Atticus's wedding, but the atmosphere is awkward; Rose's mother, Lady Flintshire, disapproves because Atticus is Jewish, while Atticus's father does not approve of his son marrying outside the faith. Lady Flintshire is especially antagonistic and unpleasant to everyone, including her husband, whom she is divorcing. She attempts to sabotage the wedding with staged photographs of Atticus with a prostitute, whose advances he actually refused. On the wedding day, Lady Flintshire informs Atticus's father of her divorce, but Atticus's mother intervenes, warning her husband to stay silent. Inspector Vyner calls Anna to take part in an identity parade at Scotland Yard, and it is at first unclear whether she has been picked out by a witness.

September and December 1924. Lord and Lady Sinderby invite the Granthams to the country estate they have hired for driven grouse shooting; their snobbish butler Stowell (Alun Armstrong) resents serving Tom and ignores him. He is also rude to the other servants, who conspire to take revenge. When an irate Lord Sinderby insults Stowell and then Thomas at the dinner table, Thomas learns a dangerous secret from a tipsy Stowell and arranges for his lordship's mistress and illegitimate child to arrive. Rose defuses the situation, earning her father-in-law's gratitude and respect. The Dowager Countess reunites Prince Kuragin and his estranged wife; she also negotiates the continuing sparring between Spratt and Denker. Carson and Mrs Hughes search for a bed and breakfast to run together, but Mrs Hughes reveals she has no money and cannot retire: she must pay for her mentally disabled younger sister Becky's care. Carson reveals he has bought a property in both their names. He then proposes marriage to Mrs Hughes, and she accepts. Isobel declines Lord Merton's earlier marriage proposal, not wanting to come between him and his sons.

April 1925. Big changes are afoot. Robert anticipates having to cut costs and reduce staff, worrying Carson. Mrs Hughes, nervous she will be embarrassed when performing her wifely duties after marrying Carson, asks Mrs Patmore to sound him out; after much embarrassment, Carson says he expects them to have a full marriage, which reassures Mrs Hughes. The local hospital is threatened with a take-over by the larger County Hospital; the board is split, with Violet objecting, and Isobel approving in the name of efficiency. Rita Bevan, a former chambermaid at the hotel where Mary and Lord Gillingham stayed, attempts to blackmail Mary by exposing their tryst. Mary refuses to pay, but Rita confronts Robert, who buys her off with £50 instead of the £1,000 she demanded, and gets her signed confession to prevent future blackmail. He admires Mary's pluck, and approves of her succeeding Tom as the estate's Agent.

April 1925. The conflict between Violet and Isobel over the hospital continues to escalate, with Cora siding with Isobel. Mary chides Robert for offering Carson the servants' hall for his and Mrs Hughes' wedding reception, and offers the upstairs instead; Mrs Hughes insists on a separate venue which better represents who they are, which leads to friction between the couple. Thomas interviews for another job, believing everyone wants him gone. Edith argues vehemently with Mr Skinner, the magazine's publisher, whom she believes dislikes all her ideas because she is a woman. Mary takes Anna to a Harley Street doctor, who proposes minor surgery during her next pregnancy to prevent another miscarriage.

May 1925. Mrs Patmore tells Cora that Mrs Hughes is unhappy with having her wedding breakfast in Downton's hall. Cora forces a meeting with the family so that Mrs Hughes can explain. Cora supports her, so Carson relents. Violet tries to get Robert to support her view on the hospital merger; things get nasty at a Board meeting, and an annoyed Isobel is rude to Dr Clarkson. Edith and her editor continue to argue; she dismisses him after she can no longer tolerate his insults. Fortunately, she meets an old acquaintance, Bertie Pelham, who suggests he help her and her staff finish the issue which is due the next morning. Anna is pregnant, so Mary plans to take her to the doctor in three months' time. Thomas is interviewed by an eccentric widower, Sir Michael Reresby (Ronald Pickup) for a position in decrepit Dryden Park, but he declines the offer.

May 1925. Lady Shackleton visits, with her nephew, Henry Talbot, who races cars and is an acquaintance of Mary's. Lady Violet wants Lady Shackleton's support in the dispute over the hospital and explains that she opposes the merger because she resents the government's increasing control over regional institutions rather than the locals being in charge. This helps mollify Isobel. Lady Rosamund also arrives, and Downton is visited by Mr and Mrs Harding in connection with a women's college of which Lady Rosamund is a trustee. Anna recognizes and greets Mrs Harding as Gwen, the former Downton housemaid who left service to better herself in a new career. Thomas attempts to embarrass Gwen by mentioning in front of the family that she is a former servant. When Gwen explains that it was the late Lady Sybil who had encouraged and helped her find a job as a secretary, the family is pleased and touched by her story. Robert later chastises Thomas for his behavior. Sergeant Willis asks Baxter to testify against the man with whom she was involved when she stole from a previous employer. She is reluctant but finally agrees after Molesley encourages her. Daisy is upset that Mr Mason is unlikely to get Yew Tree Farm, and she prepares to angrily confront Cora, believing Cora was deceitful; the staff en masse warn her she is about to commit a terrible offense which will result in Daisy losing her job. However, Cora has already persuaded Robert and Mary to lease Mason the farm, which Daisy fortunately learns from Robert as she is about to confront Cora.

May 1925. Mrs Patmore, Daisy, and Andy help Mr Mason move into the farm; Daisy is upset when she realises that Mr Mason and Mrs Patmore are becoming friendly. Andy offers to learn about farming, and Mason hands him several books to begin his farming education. Thomas, whom he has been avoiding, keenly notices Andy's frustration with the books, and Andy confesses that he is illiterate. He accepts Thomas's offer to teach him in secret. Edith hires Laura Edmunds as her editor, and Edith also becomes romantic with Bertie Pelham. Molesley accompanies Baxter to the trial, but she is not called upon to testify as Coyle accepts a plea. Carson, used to perfect meals and service in the servants' hall, makes innocent but continual complaints about Mrs Hughes' cooking, annoying her — especially when he dares to ask Mrs Patmore to help his wife with her cooking skills. Passing each other walking in the village, Denker rudely confronts Dr Clarkson about opposing Lady Violet regarding the hospital. He sends a note of complaint to Violet, who quickly fires her, but Denker blackmails Spratt (regarding his assisting a criminal nephew) into supporting her, and Denker is allowed to remain.

Early June 1925. Carson continues to criticize Mrs Hughes' housekeeping practices at the cottage not being 'up to standard' (as in, the standards of the Abbey), to her increasing annoyance. He even complains about how she makes the bed, and suggests she get some cooking pointers from Mrs Patmore. The Board of the Downton Cottage Hospital decides to approve its merger with the Royal Yorkshire Hospital and invites Cora to be their new president, replacing Lady Violet to avoid similar situations in the future. Daisy continues to sabotage the growing relationship between Mrs Patmore and Mr Mason, but is too blatant, and both realise what she is doing. Mary takes Tom to London, where they meet Henry, who invites them to a motor-car race at the Brooklands circuit. Henry tells Mary he is falling in love with her.

July 1925. Isobel is puzzled to receive an invitation to the wedding for Lord Merton's son, Larry and Amelia Cruikshank. Larry had once insulted Isobel by calling her a middle-class gold digger when she was briefly engaged to Lord Merton, subsequently resulting in Isobel ending their engagement. A suspicious Violet confronts Amelia and accuses her of wanting Isobel to marry Lord Merton only to care for him in his old age. The family watch Henry Talbot drive in a motor car race, but his friend, Charlie, is killed in a crash during the race. Later, after dinner, Mary receives a telephone call from Henry, who implores her to give him an answer regarding his romantic intentions; she says he is not the right man for her.

August 1925. When his cousin dies, Bertie becomes a Marquess; Robert is delighted, as this makes him a more suitable match for Edith. However, she hesitates to tell him that Marigold is her daughter. When Mary spitefully reveals it, Bertie walks out, saying he cannot trust Edith. Edith goes to London, where she and her editor are startled to discover that the magazine's agony aunt, believed to be a female, is in fact Spratt, Lady Violet's butler. When it is revealed that the first couple to stay at Mrs Patmore's B&B were adulterers, she finds bookings are being cancelled. To show support – and ignoring Carson's objection to the family getting involved – Rosamund, Cora, and Robert go there for tea, taking a newspaper photographer to record their visit. Molesley begins teaching at the school. He encourages his students to always keep learning, whatever their future. Thomas attempts suicide by slashing his wrists, but is saved by Andy, Baxter, and Mrs Hughes.

September 1925 to New Year's Day 1926: Carson fumbles serving dinner when his hand begins to shake, and reveals to his wife that he suffers from a hereditary disease his family called 'the palsy' (now known as Parkinson's disease). Thomas secures a job with an elderly couple with a staff of only three, but he hates it. Edith offers to expand Spratt's magazine column to a whole page; Denker discovers Spratt's secret, and tries to get him dismissed by revealing it to the Dowager Countess, but she turns the tables by reading and enjoying the column, and keeps him on.

The Headmaster offers Molesley a teaching position, plus a cottage, so he leaves service; upon parting, he and Baxter finally express their romantic affection for one another. Lord Merton tells Isobel he suffers from pernicious anaemia, but still wants to marry her. Sensing his impending death, and her own loss of control, his cruel daughter-in-law, Amelia, prevents Isobel from seeing him. An indignant Violet intervenes, and she and Isobel rescue him, and Isobel agrees to marry him. Andy wants Daisy as his girlfriend; she is uninterested, but gradually grows to like him when he spends time helping at her father-in-law's farm, and eventually decides to live at the farm.

Robert watches Cora preside over a hospital meeting and tells her how proud he is of her efforts; they reaffirm their love for each other. Mary arranges for Edith to meet Bertie, who proposes, and she accepts. Together they defy his moralistic mother and reveal the truth about Marigold, winning over Mrs Pelham. Henry and Tom go into business together selling cars. Dr Clarkson diagnoses Lord Merton as having only a mild form of anaemia.