‘Downton Abbey’ Season 6, Episode 3 Recap: Hughes And Carson Wed; Branson Returns

Downton Abbey returned Sunday night with the nuptials of Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) and Carson (Jim Carter)– as well as the long-awaited homecoming of a beloved family member.

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 6, Episode 3 Recap

Ahead of the actual wedding, Hughes and Carson continue to squabble about where the ceremony and reception will be held. The butler still wants to keep everyone on the Downton grounds, while the head housekeeper is adamant that the festivities take place off of the estate on which they make their living. When Carson lays down the law, stating that they’ll be married in the main hall, it seems like Hughes won’t be getting the wedding of her dreams after all.

Coming to Hughes’ wedding dreams’ rescue is Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol).  She lets Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) know that Carson is more or less imposing his will on his wife-to-be, who couldn’t be less enthused by the idea of marrying in Downton. At a meeting arranged by the two women with Carson and Hughes, Cora insists that Hughes be more declarative about what she wants – and that Carson actually listen to her. In the end, Carson gives the OK for the reception to be held at a schoolhouse.

Though Mary (Michelle Dockery) knocks her mother for getting involved in the help’s affairs, she’s still Anna’s (Joanne Froggatt) number one confidant when it comes to her and Bates’ troubles conceiving. Anna tells Mary that she thinks it’s possible she’s become pregnant.

As for Edith (Laura Carmichael), she has traveled into London to deal with her aggravated editor, Mr. Skinner (Paul Putner). Upon arriving at the magazine office, Edith realizes that the editor in her employ isn’t doing a very good job. The next issue, which needs to be at the printer in a matter of hours, is still missing copy. She decides to fire Skinner on the spot and finish the issue up on her own. Wrapped up in her work, she nearly forgets that she’d made plans earlier in the day to grab a drink with Bertie Pelham (Harry Hadden-Paton), the agent from Brancaster Castle. When she finally meets up with him, he readily accepts her apology and sets about making her coffee and sandwiches.

At the close of the episode, Hughes and and Carson finally tie the knot at the local church and celebrate their new marriage with a reception at the schoolhouse. In the midst of the reception, there’s even more reason to celebrate, as Branson (Allen Leech) has returned to England from Boston with little Sybbie in tow.