Series 3 of Downton Abbey is almost upon us! If you need a refresher on the many dramatic twists and turns travelled by the Crawley clan and their loyal gang of downstairs denizens, well, you’re probably not alone.
Between the arrival of a new heir (and his occasionally intolerable mother), Matthew and Mary’s flirtation, Sybil’s brief foray into politics, the battle over Downton’s entail, Edith forever being everyone’s second choice, Mary’s poor choices in men generally (x2), Bates and Anna’s romance, O’Brien’s basic evilness, Thomas’ thievery, Mary’s scandalous reputation, Bates’ weird leg brace, World War I, the arrival of Lavinia Swire: Dating Roadblock, Matthew’s paralysis, the death of Bates’ wife (surprise!), Sybil’s elopement, Daisy and William’s five-minute marriage, Robert’s almost affair with a random housemaid, the Spanish flu, Bates’s trial, Lavinia’s death, Matthew’s second proposal to Mary and approximately 15,879 acidic remarks from the Dowager Countess, well. It’s a lot to keep up with. It’s no surprise if you’ve maybe forgotten a few of the (millions of) details.
Luckily, if you need a quick refresher of the Downton high points before the January 6 premiere – or possibly you’re one of the few people in America who has yet to be completely overcome by Downton mania and want to see what the fuss is about – watch this super fun recap which conveniently fits over sixteen hours of drama, wit and fabulous outfits into a nifty little five minute package.