‘Downton Abbey’ season 5, episode 3 preview: Is Michelle Dockery’s Mary in trouble?

So far, “Downton Abbey” season 5 has been a thrilling one to watch for the Mary character, and mostly because she is doing something so atypical of women in that time: Defying convention, and actually putting the impetus on trying to make herself happy over working to satisfy someone else.

With this in mind, Michelle Dockery’s character is embarking on her little trip with Anthony Gillingham (Tom Cullen), and has already requested the help of Anna (Joanne Froggatt) in an effort to get a contraceptive for herself. It is a very modern way of thinking, but given the period that they are in, she is very well aware of the fact that she will be frowned upon if caught. Due to this, secrecy is the key.

Based on the photo above, you would assume that Mary will in fact be very happy throughout the trip. Will this actually last? This is one of the primary threads this story will tug on. We are going to see the Mary character struggle to a certain extent when it comes to keeping a secret, and after almost being caught Sunday night, she is going to need the help of Violet (Maggie Smith) to get out of a precarious position. Ultimately, what to take away from this is a sense of delightful irony. While Violet may be one of the series’ oldest characters, she is still one who is greatly in touch with what is happening in the surrounding world. We also suspect that she wants Mary to ensure her happiness for the rest of her life.

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Photo: ITV