Have you all been enjoying Season 5?  Here at the Penovich house we think the show may have jumped the shark.  Or hopped over the hedgerow.  Or broke the cricket bat.  The plotlines have been a bit far-fetched and perhaps a little silly and slapstick.

Nonetheless, I am still tuning in for the great costumes, jewelry and interiors.  And the melodrama.

How cute is little Marigold!
Credit: Nick Bragg/ITV/Carnival Film & Television

Some things have stayed the same.  Poor Edith’s plight, for example.  In last Sunday’s episode she grabs up her child and prepares to set out as a single mother in 1930s London, facing great peril to her reputation and way of life (not to mention putting the family’s reputation at risk.)  Yet, all anyone can talk about is MARY’s NEW HAIRCUT.

Edith almost burns down the Abbey, and instead of saying she’s grateful her sister is alive; Mary gets a dig in that Edith must have tried to do it on purpose.

Credit: Nick Bragg/ITV/Carnival Film & Television

Meanwhile boys (plural) pursue Mary, Mary gets boys (plural), has sex with boy (singular), dumps boy, pursues other boy.

They look good in hunting clothes, though.
Credit: Nick Bragg/ITV/Carnival Film & Television.

And Tom has a ragged relationship with the god-awful Miss Bunting whose shrill and judgmental attitudes toward the aristocracy doesn’t prevent  Rose (dim, dim Rose) from inviting her to insult the Earl at every private dinner party and family celebration.

Bye, bye Miss Bunting. Good riddance!
Credit: Nick Bragg/ITV/Carnival Film & Television

Things are getting frisky with older members of the Crawley family.  The Dowager has an old flame back in her life.  Isobel Crawley gets a very endearing proposal of marriage.  And Cora practically gets accosted by the smarmy, infatuated art critic.

Crikey!  What will happen next?

Tune in February 17, 9 pm ET for the next episode.  Hopefully we’ll have more Mrs. Patmore scenes.

“Sympathy butters no parsnips.” Mrs. Patmore
Nick Bragg/ITV/Carnival Film & Television