Downton Abbey’s fifth season premiere opened in 1924 with more social, cultural and political changes afoot.

Downton Abbey Recap

The premiere’s first scene featured Edith (Laura Carmichael) visiting her daughter Marigold at the Drewe household. While Tim Drewe (Andrew Scarborough) knows that the child is Edith’s with the missing Michael Gregson, his wife has no idea. While the era’s morays wouldn’t condone Edith having a child out of wedlock, Tim hopes that in time Edith might be able to adopt Marigold.

At Downton, Robert (Hugh Bonneville) expresses his concern about the Labour Party and what the rise of such a government could mean for his family and the aristocracy. There’s also the matter of the memorial commissioned to commemorate the local men who lost their lives in the war. Though Robert had apparently been approached to oversee the project, the acting committee ultimately decided to give Carson (Jim Carter) the honor. The slight against Robert discomforts Carson immensely.

Robert, eager to have Tony Gillingham (Tom Cullen) propose marriage to Mary (Michelle Dockery), wants him to join the family for dinner on his and Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) 34th wedding anniversary. Mary, meanwhile, has been talking to Anna (Joanne Froggatt) about how little sense it makes to wed someone without knowing them on a deeper level and becoming intimately acquainted. When she sees Tony, she tells him she loves him – but that she’d like some more time to determine whether or not they should marry. In reply, Tony suggests a week together spent as lovers. Mary agrees, though she asks Tony to keep the plan a secret.

Also in attendance at the 34th wedding anniversary party is Sarah Bunting (Daisy Lewis). She was invited to the celebration by Rose (Lily James), catching both Tom (Allen Leech) and Robert off-guard. Outspoken and confident, Sarah tells the dinner table that she supports the Labour party prime minister and criticizes the plans for a memorial. After dinner, Tom apologizes on behalf of Sarah and also for his own political talk at dinner. Robert fears that Tom might be returning to his more radical political views.

Jimmy (Ed Speleers), who had a thing with the widow of a former employer, like Mary and Edith, also tries to keep a romantic tryst quiet. Lady Anstruther, after calling for Jimmy, shows up at Downton claiming car trouble. Thomas (Rob James-Collier) keeps watch while Jimmy and Lady Antruther take to a bedroom. Their reunion is cut short, however, when Edith tosses an old book of Michael Gregson’s into the fireplace, causing a fire to spread. Thomas leaves his post to save Edith. Robert, who then goes to every room to get everyone else to safety, comes upon Jimmy and Lady Anstruther and fires the footman. Thomas would have been fired too for keeping Baxter’s stealing past a secret, but Cora found his bravery during the fire enough to redeem him.