In Zack Snyder’s 2009 film Watchmen<\/i>, based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Matthew Goode played Adrian Veidt, the world’s smartest man, someone who had honed his mind and body through sheer willpower and discipline to absolute perfection and operated, for a time, as the super-hero Ozymandias.<\/p>\n
I bring this up, in an article on Downton Abbey<\/i>, because Goode returned last night as Henry Talbot, a race car driver who Lady Mary Crawley met in last year’s Christmas special. Just as I thought of Richard E. Grant’s art historian last year as Withnail (from the cult classic film Withnail & I<\/i>), I will inevitably think of Goode as…<\/p>\n Ozymandias! #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n — Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 25, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And where Ozymandias goes, can Dr. Manhattan and his enormous glowing blue CGI thingamabob be far behind? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n It’s just as well that Ozymandias returned this week; last week, we saw the return of Bertie Pelham, Lady Edith’s potential suitor who was also introduced in the same Christmas special.<\/p>\n Last night’s episode was just sort of… there.<\/p>\n The major plot threads — the continuing drama of Daisy and Mr. Mason; while Mr. Carson was away on his honeymoon, Thomas was Downton Abbey’s acting butler; Mary reconnects with Ozymandias… err, I mean Henry Talbot; Tom Branson tries to figure out what he should do with his life; the trustee of a college for underprivileged women and his wife pay a visit to Downton, and his wife is none other than Gwen, a house maid way<\/i> back in season 1 who left because she wanted to be a secretary; Anna’s latest pregnancy reaches a critical stage, and she and Mary race to London in an effort to save it; Baxter’s criminal past return to haunt her as she’s asked to testify against a man suspected in her long-ago jewel theft; and the Dowager Countess finds her allies in the fight over the hospital are all abandoning her.<\/p>\n There isn’t much to discuss about a few of these.<\/p>\n Let’s start with Tom Branson. It’s great<\/i> to have Tom back; I like the character, and I like what Allan Leach does with him. That said, this episode sees him do pretty much nothing except talk about Sybil and how he doesn’t know what to do with his life, and it smacks of a contractual obligation. I want to see the series find something meaningful<\/i> to do with Tom before the end.<\/p>\n The visit of Gwen to Downton Abbey, over a decade after she left, had some moments. The fact that no one upstairs except Tom recognized her was a nice touch; it pointed out how the staff are really seen — or rather, not<\/i> seen — by those who employ and rely upon them. The scene where Thomas deliberately reveals who she is produces some interesting reactions.<\/p>\n Mary, you have a way of shooting daggers with your voice #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n — Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 25, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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