Downton Abbey was a popular, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning period drama which aired from 2010 to 2015 for six seasons and now has a movie in theaters. The show followed the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants as they navigated the changes in their lives and society from 1912 through 1925.
Julian Fellowes serves as the show’s creator, writer, and producer and brilliantly balanced compelling characters and multiple storylines in a historic estate during a time of cultural change. The show was so well-crafted that the lowest-rated episodes according to IMDb are an 8.0! Here’s a look at the worst episodes of Downton Abbey according to IMDb.
Episode #3.2
Mary and Matthew have returned from their honeymoon to learn Matthew is the heir of Mr. Swire’s inheritance. Mary is thrilled as the money could save Downton from ruin, but, after Matthew expresses he intends to refuse it due to guilt, Mary and the Dowager plan an impressive dinner to persuade Mrs. Levinson to save the house with her fortune. Meanwhile, Edith and Sir Anthony get engaged, Mrs. Hughes has a health scare, and Thomas and O’Brien are at odds over new footman Alfred.
Just when the Lavinia Swire drama had passed, Matthew’s back to wrestling with his guilt over the situation. While perhaps understandable, it feels like a step backward storywise. Also, Edith’s relationship with Sir Anthony lacks intrigue and feels doomed from the start, and the character of Mrs. Levinson is exhausting.
Episode #2.3
Downton Abbey is converted into a convalescent hospital during the war with Thomas Barrow as manager. William proposes to Daisy, Anna learns Mr. Bates is working at a pub, Edith discovers a purpose, and the new valet struggles with shellshock. Knowing Mary is still in love with Matthew, Violet and Rosamund strive to bring Lavinia’s history with Carlisle to light but the find the truth disappointing.
Lord and Lady Grantham are kind employers, but the fact Lady Grantham constantly falls for O’Brien and Barrow’s tricks is difficult to believe. Lavinia and Carlisle’s connection could’ve been interesting, but the truth only reinforced what we already believed about the two characters. Lastly, Daisy’s relationship with William wavers between sweet and tragic to confusing and irritating. Her guilt is understandable and the audience sympathizes, but William deserves better. Overall, this episode sets storylines in motion but fails to accomplish much on its own.
Episode #6.2
In this episode, things get complicated when Mary wants to take George and Marigold to Yew Tree Farm to see the pigs she’s entering in the stock show. While visiting the farm, they see Mrs. Drewe who clearly hasn’t got over losing Marigold and later kidnaps her forcing Lord Grantham into a difficult position with Mr. Drewe. Downstairs, Carson is caught between the wishes of Lady Mary and Mrs. Hughes for the upcoming wedding day and Violet and Isobel continue to battle over the future of the hospital.
At one point, Lady Mary confesses she might’ve been insensitive taking Marigold to Yew Tree Farm. Lack of sensitivity seems to be the theme of this episode. Along with the Yew Tree Farm fiasco, Lady Mary and Carson lack sensitivity in regards to Mrs. Hughes wishes. Edith, while understandably terrified over losing Marigold, seems to have forgotten what Mr. Drewe had done for her and the position her father is in after the incident.
Episode #5.4
So many suitors, so little time. Violet visits Prince Kuragin and more of their past is revealed. Meanwhile, Lord Merton proposes to Isobel. Lady Mary travels to London to end her relationship with Gillingham, Shrimpy tells the family that he and his wife are divorcing, Miss Bunting dishes out insults at dinner and receives an impressive defense by Daisy, and the police are suspicious when Anna visits the site of Green’s death.
While this episode has brilliant moments, Lady Mary’s cold handling of her suitors betrays her growth as a character and isn’t enjoyable to watch. Sarah Bunting is a difficult watch as well. Yes, she helps Daisy and represents societal change, but her brazen attacks on Lord Grantham undercut her contributions and are unbelievable to boot. She and Tom also lack chemistry, and their relationship does little to advance his character.
Episode #3.4
Tom flees to Downton Abbey after taking his political views too far leaving a pregnant Sybil in Ireland. Lord Grantham is furious but arranges to keep from Tom from prison if he never returns to Ireland. Ethel decides to let her son live with his wealthy grandparents, Carson hires a new footman and kitchen maid, and Edith’s opinions on women’s suffrage are published.
Individually, Tom and Sybil are compelling characters, but their relationship was always problematic. It was often difficult to determine if Sybil was more interested in Tom or the different life he could provide. Ethel’s heartbreaking decision in this episode makes it a difficult rewatch, and new footman Jimmy was unlikeable from the get-go.
Episode #2.6
A severely burned Canadian soldier arrives at Downton Abbey claiming to be Patrick, Lord Grantham’s late heir. Carlisle buys a house near Downton, and Lady Mary tries to convince Carson to come run the house for her. Tom gives Lady Sybil an ultimatum, and Bates learns his wife is dead after returning from London.
The Patrick storyline should’ve made a bigger impact than it did. After all, the series began with Lord Grantham learning Patrick had died and then the aftermath which followed. Perhaps a bit more attention and concern from other members of the family would’ve made the supposed Patrick a bit more believable.
Episode #5.2
Unsure of her feelings for Gillingham, Mary agrees to a secret, scandalous trip with him and recruits a reluctant Anna for help. Meanwhile, Simon Bricker arrives at Downton for the sake of art but seems more interested in Cora. Rose tries to convince Lord Grantham to get a wireless as he butts heads with Carson over the location of the village’s war memorial. Sarah Bunting begins tutoring Daisy, Baxter reveals part of her past, and Edith becomes Marigold’s godmother.
Edith is understandably desperate to be around Marigold, but how it’s affecting Mrs. Drewe is equally difficult to watch. Mary seems to have lost her progress as a character in this lackluster love triangle storyline. Her rendezvous with Gillingham and reasons for doing so, along with the trouble it caused for a conflicted Anna, only prove that.
Episode #4.4
This season four episode is soaked with guilt, grief, and scandal. Anna hasn’t told Bates she was raped by Green, Tom is guilt-ridden over giving into Edna’s advances, Edith stays at Michael’s all night, and Gillingham proposes to Mary despite being betrothed to another. Whew!
Of all the troublemaking staff at Downton, Edna may be the worst. What exactly is her end goal with Tom? Her deviousness is apparent but her motives are never explained. Finally, it’s difficult seeing Bates so hurt and confused when Anna pushes him away; and it’s even more difficult to watch Anna struggle alone.
Episode #4.3
Opera singer Nellie Melba performs at Downton Abbey during the Crawley’s first party since the war. Lord Gillingham hits it off with Mary despite the fact he’s already engaged. Gillingham’s valet Mr. Green is equally charming downstairs, but Bates questions his friendliness towards Anna. During Nellie Melba’s performance, Green attacks and rapes Anna when everyone else is upstairs.
This scene may be the hardest to watch of the entire series. It’s only made worse knowing how much Anna and Bates have already suffered.
Episode #4.2
A letter from Matthew surfaces naming Mary as his heir, but Lord Grantham is hesitant to tell Mary until it’s checked out. In order to please Anna, Bates helps Molesley with his financial woes. Lady Rose convinces Anna to accompany her to a lower class dance where a fight breaks out, and Edna and Thomas join forces and stir up trouble.
Lord Grantham has long struggled with sharing the responsibilities of running Downton, but withholding Matthew’s letter and making things difficult for her at dinner are inexcusable.
