Both Edith’s and Mary’s romantic relationships get complicated as some tough truths are revealed. Get a sneak peek of tonight’s Downton Abbey, airing at 9:00pm ET|PT on PBS Masterpiece.
I’m sorry to be redundant, but I think it’s important to start this preview exactly like I started last week’s (Episode Seven)… what in the world is going on with Thomas Barrow? For like the 1,000th time this season, by the end of the last episode, Thomas was alone and isolated from the rest of the group. Throughout season 6, Thomas has been repeatedly demonized, and this time, even his Good Samaritan attempt to help Andy learn to read was rebuffed. Once again, he was the only person downstairs continuously goaded into finding new employment. Perhaps this is what karma looks like. After years of scheming and bad deeds, maybe Barrow is getting his just desserts (which I’ve certainly wished for over the last several seasons). However, I have a terrible feeling that Carson will walk into Barrow’s room one day to find him dead. *sigh*
As if that wasn’t disturbing enough, we saw the (maybe not so surprising) end to Mary and Henry Talbot’s romance. Personally, I thought the racetrack scene was well-done. I loved the action of it all… but then there was the accident and the gut-wrenching fear that Henry was dead. Sadly, it was Henry’s bestie who died, and it was horrible to watch that car burn. Henry was devastated, and it seemed that when he wanted to cling to Mary, she distanced herself. After losing Matthew in a car crash, Mary refused to put herself in perpetual agony by being with a professional race car driver. Interestingly, she also refused Henry’s attempts to give up that career. *double sigh*
BUT, there were some positive developments:
1. Bertie proposed to Edith (!!!), though she said she needed some time to think. I’m really hoping Edith will come clean about Marigold!
2. Branson might have a new lady friend, Edith’s new editor, Laura Edmunds. (Is anyone else maybe shipping Branson and Mary? No?)
3. Daisy and Mr. Molesley took their exams and we already learned that Mr. Molesley passed! Now he can officially be a teacher at the school 🙂
4. We finally got to see Mrs. Hughes get Mr. Carson back for all his micro-managing. How did he like having to run around the kitchen while Mrs. Hughes chided him? The entire thing was good for a chuckle, and hopefully Carson realized that Mrs. Hughes deserves his respect as a partner.
5. After losing the hospital debate, Lady Violet decided to take a vacation. However, before she left, she got Robert a gorgeous puppy (who he named Teo)!

What were your favorite moments from last week?
Tonight’s Episode Eight is the last one before the two-hour Christmas Special on Sunday, March 6… can you believe it? Here’s what we can expect (written by Julian Fellowes, directed by David Evans):
Two romances get complicated. Molesley and Spratt try out new jobs. Thomas takes a fateful step. Mrs. Patmore provokes a scandal. Isobel puts her foot down. (via PBS)
Romance blossoms but a betrayal of trust threatens the chance of lasting happiness. Thomas considers desperate measures. (via IMDB)
See what I mean about Thomas being “desperate” and taking a “fateful step”? I’m nervous! And what’s this about a scandal from Mrs. Patmore? I thought everything was going well with her new bed and breakfast… although there was that sketchy looking guy who was hanging around.
Well, the scandal can’t be *that* bad! In a sneak peek from the upcoming show, we see several folks are chuckling:
I wish we knew what happened, I want to laugh too!
Check out eight images from tonight’s episode and remember to tune into PBS Masterpiece at 9:00pm ET|PT to watch. Come live tweet with me too (@WeSoNerdy)!