Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 1 Recap and Summary [Spoilers]

Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 1 Recap and Summary [Spoilers]
Zachary Stieber
1/5/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

Downton Abbey season 4 premiered with episode 1 on Sunday night: here’s a recap and summary [spoiler alert].

The first episode, two hours long, takes place six months after the car crash that killed Matthew Crawley.

Lady Mary “is a zombie” in the new season, the Washington Post reported. “Her mood is matched by the gloomy weather. Downton has never looked so depressing.”

Poor Lady Edith is close to marrying Michael, who plans to divorce his wife, who is in a mental institution. 

Lady Rose won’t be moving to Germany.

Lord Robert and Lady Cora Crawley, “ more than ever before, seem to have become part of Downton’s furniture,” the Post says in its review.

“They look like they can be moved from room to room in appealing fashion but without drawing any undue notice.”

Thomas Barrow is as wicked as ever, and gets rid of Nanny West whilel casting suspicion on Anna.

Molesley is out of work again after Crawley died. He also has debts. But Anna and Bates come up with a plan to make it seem like Bates owed money to Molesley a long time ago, and when the Dowager Countess supplies the money, Molesley can pay off his debts.

Also happening in episode 1: O'Brien sneaks off into the night, dumping the Crawleys for Lady Flintshire and a chance at adventure in India, reported WSJ.

And the major complication after Crawley’s death is: who is the rightful heir?

It isn’t discovered in this episode.