in which everything is edith crawley, and everything hurts
Through the 19 episodes of Downton Abbey's existence, I felt I've come to understand Lady Edith Crawley. Not fully, of course, but enough to write this post.
I know the entire fandom is upset at the fact that poor Edith was jilted in tonight's episode. So am I, but perhaps not for the same reason as everyone else.
Poor Edith, that's what she will be referred to by everyone now, right?
In the beginning, she wasn't one of my favourites. In fact, she was at the bottom of my list because I thought she was so jealous and hateful, and every other negative thing anyone can think of. I hated the fact that she went to such lengths to spite her sister - the one whose shadow she always stood in the midst of, so much so that no one could see her. But with the war came a change in this young lady that I came to admire. She became independent, and occupied herself while everyone ran around with their heads cut off. She helped with the injured soldiers in the convalescent home, and received the (much deserved) credit, she learned how to drive, and hell, she kissed a farmer. She even teamed up with the sister she's openly jealous of, for the benefit of another! If that isn't growth, folks, I don't know what is.
But of course, there are still those feelings that women like her keep buried. If she doesn't think about it then it would not bother her. What's this you might ask? Well, it's loneliness, of course.
It sucks being the middle child. The youngest gets whatever she wants, the eldest tends to bear the brunt of everything, yet in the end she succeeds. But the one in the middle, no one really takes notice, do they? With her sisters married and happy, those feelings come back, and no doubt they leave a gaping hole. All she ever wanted was for someone to love her back. We've seen it in S1 when she first met Sir Anthony, even with Matthew. In S2, there was pseudo-Patrick. I never thought she wanted money, or position, though a little of that wouldn't hurt. All she wanted was love, but obviously that's too much to ask for. In S3, Sir Anthony appears again, and Edith holds tightly onto the vestiges of what this relationship could possibly bring, and for once in 8 whole years, she's happy. Of course, that's what the writer wanted us to believe anyway. I sat on the fence about this for a while, because I thought she deserved so much more than this. I thought it came to the point of desperation because here's a man who likes her back and possibly has everything she could ever want. But, he cannot gives her what she needs.
While at the moment, I feel relieved for Edith's future, I hate that it happened in this way. I'm tired of seeing her shit upon unnecessarily, and this time it was utterly humiliating. I never cried during any episode of Downton, but I sobbed hard in this one. Even if he wanted to break it off, why did you have to do it in front of her family? I don't think she would've wanted the piteous looks from the guests, especially her happily married sisters.
Damn it, Fellowes!
This episode gave me a whole heap of feelings. I sincerely hope that in the near future, one Evelyn Napier returns to Downton in a scenario that JF does properly so that my girl will benefit.
As for now, all my rage will go towards a 'Bring Back Evelyn Napier' Campaign someone mentioned on tumblr.