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In the final episode of the first series, Downton Abbey faces many changes as the First World War looms. Cora's pregnancy, Mary and Matthew's engagement, Thomas and O'Brien's schemes, and Sybil and Gwen's ambitions are all affected by the events of July 1914.
Main Cast and Crew:
•  Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
•  Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
•  Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
•  Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley
•  Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley
•  Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley
•  Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
•  Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley
•  Jim Carter as Charles Carson
•  Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes
•  Brendan Coyle as John Bates
•  Joanne Froggatt as Anna Smith
•  Rob James-Collier as Thomas Barrow
•  Siobhan Finneran as Sarah O'Brien
•  Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore
•  Sophie McShera as Daisy Robinson
•  Rose Leslie as Gwen Dawson
•  Brian Percival as Director
•  Julian Fellowes as Writer
Significant Events:
•  Mary learns that it was Edith who revealed her scandal with Kemal Pamuk to the Turkish ambassador, and retaliates by sabotaging Edith's engagement with Sir Anthony Strallan.
•  Robert is reluctant to fire Bates, even after O'Brien and Thomas produce a letter accusing him of stealing from a previous employer. Anna discovers that Bates took the blame for his ex-wife Vera, and Robert is pleased to hear the truth.
•  Thomas, frustrated by his failure to get rid of Bates, and sensing war on the way, joins the Army Medical Corps.
•  Sybil helps Gwen get a job as a secretary in London.
•  Cora announces that she is pregnant, which puts Mary and Matthew's engagement in doubt, since the baby could be a male heir. However, O'Brien causes Cora to miscarry by leaving a bar of soap on the floor, out of spite for mistakenly believing she is being dismissed.
•  William punches Thomas for making insensitive remarks about Cora's loss.
•  Matthew decides to end his engagement with Mary, feeling that it was only based on pragmatism and that she would have changed her mind if a son had been born.
•  The episode ends with the announcement that Britain has declared war on Germany.

In this week's episode of Downton Abbey, Sybil's interest in politics lands her in trouble, Bates makes a shocking revelation about the wine thief, Edith finds a new suitor, Carson worries about Mary's reputation, and Sybil is injured in a political disturbance.
Main Cast
Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley
Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley
Brendan Coyle as John Bates
Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates
Jim Carter as Mr. Carson
Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes
Rob James-Collier as Thomas Barrow
Crew
Creator: Julian Fellowes
Director: Brian Percival
Writer: Julian Fellowes
Original Air Date: October 31, 2010
Sybil's Political Activism
Sybil has been increasingly interested in politics lately, and she attends a rally with Branson. However, her father, Lord Grantham, is furious when he finds out and forbids her from attending any more political events.
The Wine Thief
The mystery of the wine thief has been plaguing Downton Abbey for weeks, and it finally comes to a head in this episode. Bates is accused of being the thief: he knows who the wine thief is, but he refuses to tell anyone else. He then hands in his notice, saying that he can no longer work at Downton Abbey with the thief still there.
Edith's New Suitor
Edith seems to have found an unexpected admirer in Sir Anthony Strallan. Sir Anthony is a wealthy landowner who is interested in courting Edith. Edith agrees to go on a date with him.
Mary's Reputation
Carson receives a letter informing him of the rumours that are circulating about Mary. The letter says that Mary is being talked about in town for her relationship with Mr Pamuk. Carson is worried that the rumours will damage Mary's reputation.
Sybil's Injury
Sybil goes to the counting of the votes for the local election. When things get rowdy, she is knocked unconscious. Branson is blamed for her injuries, but Matthew comes to his defence.
Matthew Proposes to Mary
The episode ends with Sybil recovering from her injuries and Matthew proposing to Mary. But will she accept?

In this week's episode of Downton Abbey, the Crawley family and the servants prepare for the annual flower show. But even as they enjoy the festivities, they are also dealing with some serious challenges.
Isobel is upset to learn that Countess Violet has won the Grantham Cup for Best Bloom for the past 10 years, even though Molesley's father grows the best roses. Violet denies any wrongdoing, but Isobel is not convinced. Isobel is a kind and compassionate woman, and she believes that Molesley's father deserves to win the award. She is determined to find out the truth, and she sets out to investigate.
Daisy is still shaken by the events of the previous episode, when she witnessed the death of Mr. Pamuk in Lady Mary's room. O'Brien and Thomas continue to scheme against her, and they try to get her to tell Lady Edith about Mr. Pamuk's death. Daisy is scared and confused, and she doesn't know who to trust. She is afraid that if she tells anyone what she knows, she will be blamed for Mr. Pamuk's death.
Bates is framed for stealing a snuff box by O'Brien and Thomas. Anna and Bates are able to clear Bates' name, but the incident leaves them shaken. Bates is a good man, and he is innocent of the crime. But O'Brien and Thomas are determined to ruin his life. They will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Lady Mary is still dealing with the fallout from Mr. Pamuk's death. She is worried that her reputation has been ruined, and she is reluctant to marry Matthew Crawley. Lady Mary is a strong and independent woman, but she has been through a lot in the past few weeks. She is not sure if she is ready to move on with her life.
Sir Anthony Strallan arrives at Downton Abbey as a potential suitor for Lady Mary. He is everything that Matthew is not: old, stuffy, and not very attractive. Lady Mary is not interested in him, but her mother, Lady Cora, is determined to see her married. Lady Cora is a loving and supportive mother, but she can be a bit overbearing at times. She wants what is best for her daughter, but she needs to learn to let her go.
The episode ends with the flower show. Isobel is overjoyed when Molesley's father wins the Grantham Cup. Lady Mary is also happy, as she realizes that she does not need to marry Sir Anthony Strallan to be happy. She can be happy on her own terms.

Episode Title: "The Visit"
Air Date: October 17, 2010
Written by: Julian Fellowes
Directed by: Brian Kelly
Synopsis:
The fair arrives in the village, and Mrs. Hughes finds herself the center of speculation when she meets a former suitor who makes her question her position at Downton. Also, Violet and Isobel are in conflict over a medical ailment affecting Molesley. Elsewhere, Carson fears there is a thief at Downton.
Cast 
 

Hugh Bonneville
...
Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham

Jessica Brown Findlay
...
Lady Sybil Crawley

Laura Carmichael
...
Lady Edith Crawley

Jim Carter
...
Charles Carson

Brendan Coyle
...
John Bates

Michelle Dockery
...
Lady Mary Crawley

Siobhan Finneran
...
Sarah O'Brien

Joanne Froggatt
...
Anna Smith

Thomas Howes
...
William Mason

Robert James-Collier
...
Thomas Barrow (as Rob James-Collier)

Rose Leslie
...
Gwen Dawson

Phyllis Logan
...
Mrs. Hughes

Elizabeth McGovern
...
Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham

Sophie McShera
...
Daisy Robinson

Lesley Nicol
...
Mrs. Patmore

Maggie Smith
...
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Dan Stevens
...
Matthew Crawley

Penelope Wilton
...
Isobel Crawley

Kevin Doyle
...
Joseph Molesley

Bill Fellows
...
Joe Burns

Elizabeth Hill
...
Nurse

Allen Leech
...
Tom Branson

Martin Reeve
...
Clerk

David Robb
...
Dr. Clarkson

Welcome to the Downton Abbey Podcast, where we recap and discuss every episode of the hit period drama. Today we're talking about Series 1 Episode 3, which aired on October 10, 2010 on ITV and January 16, 2011 on PBS.
•  This episode is also known as "The One With Pamuk", because it features one of the most shocking and scandalous events in Downton Abbey history: the death of a Turkish diplomat in Lady Mary's bed.
•  The episode begins with the arrival of Evelyn Napier, a handsome and wealthy suitor for Mary, who brings along his friend Kemal Pamuk, a dashing and charming Turkish attaché. Mary is instantly smitten with Pamuk, who flirts with her at every opportunity, while ignoring the jealous Napier.
•  Meanwhile, downstairs, Gwen, one of the maids, reveals her ambition to become a secretary and has bought a typewriter to practice her skills. She receives a letter from a potential employer, but hides it from the rest of the staff. Sybil, the youngest and most progressive Crawley sister, discovers Gwen's secret and offers to help her with her application and reference.
•  At night, Pamuk sneaks into Mary's bedroom and seduces her. She initially resists, but then gives in to his advances. However, in the middle of their passionate encounter, he suffers a fatal heart attack and dies in her bed. Mary is horrified and calls for her mother Cora, who enlists the help of Anna, the head housemaid, to move the body back to Pamuk's room. They manage to do so without being noticed by most of the household, except for Daisy, the kitchen maid, who sees them carrying the corpse.
•  The next day, Pamuk's death is announced as a natural cause and his body is taken away. Mary is traumatised by the experience and fears that her reputation will be ruined if the truth ever comes out. Cora and Anna assure her that they will keep her secret, but they are also worried about the consequences. Daisy is confused and frightened by what she saw, but keeps quiet for now.
•  The episode also features several subplots involving other characters: Bates tries to cure his limp with a painful device that Mrs. Hughes helps him remove; Edith spends a pleasant day with Matthew, who is still oblivious to her feelings for him; and O'Brien schemes to expose Gwen's secretarial aspirations and sabotage her chances.
What did you think of this episode? Did you like Pamuk as a character? Do you sympathise with Mary or blame her for her actions? How do you think this scandal will affect her future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on social media. And don't forget to tune in next time for Series 1 Episode 4. Thanks for listening!

Matthew Crawley and his mother, Isobel, arrive at Downton Abbey to begin their new lives as the new heir and chatelaine of the estate. Matthew is immediately overwhelmed by the size and grandeur of the house, and he struggles to adjust to his new role. He also finds himself at odds with the other members of the family, who are still coming to terms with the fact that he is now their heir.
Isobel, meanwhile, is determined to make her mark on Downton Abbey. She is a strong-willed woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, and she quickly clashes with the Dowager Countess, Violet. The two women have very different ideas about how Downton should be run, and they soon find themselves at odds.

Downton Abbey is a British historical drama television series created by Julian Fellowes. It is set in the early 20th century and follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants at Downton Abbey, a large country house in Yorkshire. The series premiered on ITV on September 26, 2010, and ran for six seasons, concluding on August 25, 2015.


Downton Abbey was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two BAFTA Awards. The series was also a ratings success, becoming the most-watched British television series of the 21st century.