And now for the more substantive Downton Abbey post

[lunabee34]

I do find it a smidge unbelievable that everything works out so happily and that even the most awful get Scrooge makeovers, but who cares? I'll take joy over misery any day.

1. EDITH! EDITH! EDITH! She starts the episode saying she's a spinster, and spinsters live alone and ends the episode married to a man she loves and outranking the whole lot of them. I was worried about Bertie's mom, but she ended up being an ally, and now Edith can start a family with no secrets. I am so thrilled for her.

2. Mary is pregnant and married to a man that makes her better than herself, and she is instrumental in getting Bertie and Edith back together. She also really seemed sincere about continuing to treat Edith better. Good on her.

3. Our other reformer, Thomas, does seem truly and deeply changed. The man we saw in the last two hours of the show is one I could have spent the whole run loving. I'm so glad he gets to be butler of Downton.

4. What a bittersweet change for Carson, but he's off his nut if he thinks the family would throw him out. Over Mary's dead body.

5. Everyone cheered when Isabel and Violet marched into Lord Merton's house and rescued him. One of the things I have adored about this show is that the two oldest characters got the most interesting and vital love lives. I'm so glad she married him and doubly glad he's not dying. I thought they were going to reveal that his kids had been poisoning him!

6. Thank goodness Daisy finally seems to have her head on straight.

7. Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason are clearly our next romance.

8. So pleased to see Rose again! I love the way she set Robert straight and that he came to see value in Cora's work. Also glad Violet drops the vendetta.

9. Tom looks like he might grow sweet on Edith's editor.

10. Violet laughing at Sprat's column was worth the price of admission.

11. Bates baby! I was convinced we'd get twins, but a healthy baby boy is fine by me. :)