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This is a Slate Plus spoiler special podcast about season 5, episode two of Downton Abbey. I'm June Thomas and I'm here with Seth Stevenson. Hello, Blinky.

Hello, June. I specifically said, call me Shrimpie, but I'll accept Blinky, hoppy. Okay, excellent. Seth, I felt that episode two was a little bit of a snoozer.

Yeah, I agree. I feel like we're just sort of moving the pieces along a bit in order to progress towards some sort of big, dramatic moment that I feel certain is coming.

I do too.

Perhaps in the Christmas episode.

Yes. So what did we have happen or move along in this episode?

We had a little bit further development in the War Memorial question.

Sides were taken.

Yes.

On one side we had the people who felt that the War Memorial should be a quiet pastoral retreat

from the bustle of the town where one could be with

one's thoughts and remember one's loved ones.

Others felt that by putting the memorial in the center of the town, that people would be more

likely to walk by it in their daily to and fro, and, you know, it would be more convenient.

And I feel like we've reached a decision where Carson has been won over by the sad tale of

Mrs. Elsketh, who talked about her son walking by the cemetery, and it was conveniently

on his way, and he could say hello to his departed father.

So we're going to have the warm room in the town.

I confess, I could see it both ways.

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