** spoilers ahead **

After a long period of anticipation (British shows and their year-long waits…), the fourth season of Downton Abbey finally premiered last Sunday, opening with a two hour episode that picked up six months after the events of season three’s finale. The whole slew of characters made their return with the obvious exception of Matthew and the surprising exception of the scheming O’Brien. The main action of the episode centers around the readjustments made at Downton after Matthew’s death–Mary and Lady Crawley’s grieving processes, the handling of the estate and its finances now that the owner of half of Downton is gone, and the trickle down effects on the servants, especially Matthew’s hand servant Molesley who is now out of a job.

Of course we get more of a glimpse into Edith’s clandestine romance with a married man–which given her luck and the circumstances (he’s married to a supposedly mentally unstable woman) is not likely to end well, at least I don’t think so. Personally I am rooting for Edith though, and think she is actually one of the more interesting and spunky characters on the show at the moment, as well as the one most attuned to the changing moment around her. I’m hoping something works out for her in her life. She can’t be the unlucky and ignored one forever…right?

Meanwhile, things seem to have returned to familiar dynamics downstairs, with Thomas already having found a replacement of sorts for O’Brien in his schemes–the new maid just hired. Coincidentally she isn’t really new, as she is the same maid from last season who was throwing herself at Tom right after the death of Sybil! The scandal of it all. But if she doesn’t make trouble in that department, she will in others. The show pretty clearly gave us hints that something’s up with her, and it ain’t something nice.

A minor character last season that is coming to the fore now is the young cousin Rose who is staying at Downton. Young and reckless, she’s already snooping about seeking modern thrills and seems to have attracted an admirer suited to her in all ways except class. Not sure if he’ll stick around, but I think Rose will be an interesting foray into the young, urban and increasingly modern facets of British culture and society in the 1920s. What was the interwar period like in England? What did the youth culture value, and what new forms of leisure became available to them? Are we talking a US-like “Jazz Age” interest in, well, jazz, along with reveling and partying, laxer morals, and showy fashion statements?

Indeed, the thing that makes this show so interesting is the history. A near history major myself, I’m a sucker for period pieces. I particularly love the emphasis on the rapid and dramatic changes that Britain undergoes in this relatively short period of time, from the disintegrating class system and systems of tradition, to the introduction of new technology and ways of interacting, and more ominously, to the introduction to industrialized mass warfare. While the history itself is fascinating in its own right, it is especially interesting to see depictions of specific people within these events–how they react, and how they personally navigate through these crazy tumultuous years.

One of the main treats of a new year for the past few years has been a new season of this irresistibly absorbing show. The wait to my American need for instant gratification is nearly too much, but has so far been proven worth it. It will be exciting to see how the folk of Downtown deal with the coming changes, as well of course with their own interpersonal dramas and scandals.

…but lastly, from a shipping and completely gratuitous perspective, can we please get Thomas a legitimate love interest this season? Thanks.