RECAP: 'Downton Abbey' Deals With Sybil's Death

Downton Abbey continued to deal with family and estate dramas in the aftermath of Sybil’s untimely death in Sunday’s episode.

Sybil’s surviving husband, Tom (Allen Leech), has announced that he will not only be taking Sybil’s infant child (also named Sybil) from Downton with him, but he will also be raising her Catholic – a point on which Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) had given her blessing. Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) recoils at the idea of a Catholic Crawley, but is forced by his daughter’s dying wish to let it be. Robert, still plagued by the death of his young daughter, bristles and harasses at every turn – trying to turn a lunch party of women against Ethel (Amy Nuttall) and Isobel (Penelope Wilton).

Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) has no patience for her husband’s behavior, as she sees him as an accessory to their daughter’s death – believing he chose the doctor based on his appearance and social standing rather than his medical qualifications. She refuses to allow him entry into their marriage bed, and turns each of his patriarchal admonitions against him, including a not so subtle dig that his values are behind the times.

Meanwhile, Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) is eager to revolutionize the way in which the estate functions. He believes that changes must be made in order for it to maintain its current stature. Sharing his plans with Tom, he comes to realize that the newly widowered man has experience on a farm that just might make him a good partner regarding the estate.

Down in the kitchen, flirtation is the main order of business with even Mrs. Patmore not being able to resist getting involved. When Jimmy (Ed Speleers) presents the modern music of the American foxtrot to his servant companions, Jimmy notes Alfred’s (Matt Milne) preference for Ivy (Cara Theobold) and takes Daisy’s (Sophie McShera) hand for the dance number after Thomas (Rob James-Collier) misguidedly touches his neck as he played the piano. Jimmy ends up getting caught dancing in what is supposed to be a time of mourning, and consequently gets demoted to second footman.

Cora and Robert are given some piece of mind regarding the death of Sybil when the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) has Dr. Clarkson (David Robb) tell them that no matter what the final call was regarding her treatment, she likely would have died in either case. This leads to the couple’s reconciliation and Robert’s first tears shed for Sybil’s passing. Also in the realm of good news, Bates (Brendan Coyle) is released from prison after someone makes a statement on his behalf and the prosecutor admits to having convicted the wrong man for murder.

Downton Abbey airs on PBS on Sundays at 9 P.M. EST.

Check out a scene from the episode below:

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 3: A Scene from Episode 5 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.