Nothing Gets By The Dowager Countess | Downton Abbey

Rosamund hatches a plan to help Edith to hide her pregnancy. However, it's impossible to hide any secret from Violet Crawley. Will she give Edith moral support?
From season 4 episode 8: Rosamund comes up with a plan to help Edith, but Violet, Edith's grandmother, sees right through it; Isobel is the object of someone's attention, while Mary asks Gillingham for a very big favor.
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[@sezza271]

"You'll be quite enough in her debt as it is. Take anymore, and she'll start exacting annual tribute." - Love it!🤣👏

[@Shane-dy8lq]

That was my favorite line from the scene 😂

[@AloutkaKazawa]

A grandmother I wish I had.

[@sheilaburns8977]

I literally just laughed out loud. 😂😂😂 The Dowager is always too much. .... PEACE to ALL.

[@samanthasmith61]

but Aunt Rosamund has no child, all her wealth would be given to Edith or Mary or their offspring anyway. it would be interesting who she would gave it too, since Edith is now rich af, Mary also. who will get her amazing town house... my guess is Edith's first born

[@princevesperal]

@@samanthasmith61 It's not entirely clear who owns what. British common law property can get rather complex, especially in the upper class. We don't know if Rosamund owns the house outright, or if perhaps she is merely the beneficiary of a trust. It could be that the house belongs to the Crowley estate, and that she has the rights to it for life, after which it reverts back to the estate. The dowager countess' house itself is, I believe, part of the estate: Violet does not own it, but she may be legally entitled to it by the terms of the fee tail. It's called the "dowager house", so it's possible that it's been set up to accommodate all the widows of the successive earls.

[@silentsaturn7604]

I love how supportive & protective Rosamund is of Edith. She knows what it's like to be the overlooked child and I think she sees a lot of herself in Edith. I always enjoyed Rosamund when she was around, which was very sparsely unfortunately.

[@samanthasmith61]

i know right, she hasn't found her love.... and i don't get why she isn't more often at Downton, the more the merrier

[@elizabitty213]

Agreed she is an amazing actress and her character is so much like Edith’s, I love the parallels and I love that Edith has an ally in the family

[@TallyDrake]

What bothers me about this storyline is that Rosamund and Granny immediately knew something was up, but no one else was interested enough in Edith to care to question it much.

[@graded5328]

She is a middle child and she us natural at it.

[@Stand663]

Her mother didn’t know at the time.

[@TallyDrake]

@@Stand663 No one knew Edith was pregnant at the time. That's the point. Rosamund and Violet could tell something was up, but Cora and Mary were clueless.

[@georgeprchal3924]

"If she wishes to be understood by a foreigner, she shouts."

[@gerardcollins80]

"That's not fair."

[@vladimirlustblood9694]

Nothing really changes except we now use more hand gestures to back up the shouting

[@DeanMoxley87]

That’s the 🇬🇧 way Talk louder & point 😂

[@pwp8737]

perhaps the most English of adages I have ever heard LOL

[@harmenbreedeveld8026]

Savage, I love it.

[@Horus175]

"Rosamund has no interest in French. If she wishes to be understood by a foreigner, she shouts." Damn.

[@Sunny105121]

In the 1976 movie "Murder by Death", Maggie Smith plays a character named Nora Charles. There is a scene where she shouts at another character. Even though she knows that this other character is totally deaf, she shouts even louder. Maggie Smith is a riot in that film.

[@lemorab1]

I thought Violet said, "If she wishes to be understood by a foreigner, she shops." That makes more sense to me.

[@evanbg7]

"I see I'll have to take the slow path" I love her!

[@adriangilbert5364]

Good hot shade 😂😂😂

[@harmenbreedeveld8026]

It is pretty horrific that she has to give up to child to live up to expectations. But there is also much love and understanding in this family. Rosamund sacrifices months of her life to help Edith. The Dowager is understanding and supportive, and even thinks of financing the trip so that Edith does not become too indebted to Rosamund. Within the confines of early 20th-century upper-class England, this is a loving, good family.

[@theoutlook55]

Agreed. So modern really, in how we love each other.

[@adhirajsingh8920]

@@theoutlook55Even modern families don't love each other as much

[@reginaphalange9316]

Having a child out of wedlock is still considered a terrible thing in some communities.

[@janejane6754]

Her Aunt is really supportive. Even if it wasn't what Edith truly wanted she was willing to pay for the trip as well.

[@dorothysurry1368]

@Bardenbella120 she didn’t help, she was a manipulative bully, I really didn’t like her.

[@10293]

@@dorothysurry1368 She was helping in a way that was appropriate for the time period

[@dorothysurry1368]

@@10293 She did not have the right to do anything, she is Edith’s aunt, as Cora said in a different episode why did no one tell her,

[@iZaeVideos]

There’s been some speculation that Rosamund was Edith’s birth mother - which would explain so much.

[@janejane6754]

@@iZaeVideos that would be such a twist

[@linaje3459]

The dowager’s side eye looks in this series should be preserved as examples of “ultimate shade.”

[@lavillablanca]

During the filming of Downton Abbey Dame Maggie Smith developed an eye condition which affected her vision.

[@shaunyg4156]

@@lavillablanca she was diagnosed with graves' disease in 1988 I believe

[@janetmecham1059]

😅

[@Gallus-gallus]

Family Guy did a funny cutaway about that.

[@artsed08]

"Not... France?" "Oh, you know what the French are like."

[@wfcoaker1398]

And Switzerland is so clean. Lol

[@lower_than_furries9727]

The Dowager and Lady Olenna should meet. I insist.

[@kcbh24]

Oh, yeah. Great match!

[@gerardcollins80]

Yess! Yeeesss! *YAASSSS*

[@growingstrong1009]

Can u imagine !!?

[@AITrademarket]

“Evil under the sun” (1982)

[@kayceedaniels3575]

RIP Lady Olenna.

[@omarchandler4983]

“Switzerland has everything to offer. Except perhaps conversation.” “And one can learn to live without that.”

[@katharinabeck1892]

hahaha so true

[@maryhlad7501]

So true, Lady Grantham.

[@MFYouTube683]

Swiss lad here, I confirm this is as true today as it was made up to be for this series. There are exceptions.

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

@@MFKZbin683 Hmm, what does that mean though? Do the Swiss people not converse as much with each other as the British?? I was always confused by this statement. I originally assumed it meant that, being English speakers, they wouldn't have as many conversations as they might like with people who didn't have English as a first language, or in some cases at all. But perhaps it meant something else?

[@MFYouTube683]

@@duckduckgoismuchbetter no, of course not. But I did GCSEs and A-Levels at an English school. The debate culture is a great and immensely valuable institution of British society. It starts as an extracurricular at school and it’s practiced at every level of education and science, politics and culture up to the PMQs at the Commons. We don‘t have this or anything remotely comparable, which is why political debate in this country or the lack thereof, rather, is an embarrassment, to say the least. Our politicians try. Some people in the sphere of political influence try to change this. Notable example: Markus Somm, historian, journalist and Editor in Chief of the Nebelspalter. Debate is fantastic to explore issues and form your own opinion. This debate culture has an effect on societies and how they converse. It encourages people to research, to read and to think. It cultivates (mostly polite) wit and a more diverse use of broad vocabulary and language. Most Swiss people are quite simple minded, even after completing tertiary education. There is no knowledge about art, no interest in the classics, no appreciation for theatre and quite frankly a lack of general knowledge and interest in the rest of the world in the majority population.

[@Diamondfist1]

The garden used for Violet is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen.

[@gutsfinky]

Yes!

[@peterpoutypuss]

I love Grand Ma Ma!! She is tough but also very loving. Downton Abbey is my favourite show of all time.

[@clairecadoux471]

Absolute hats off to the writer Julian Fellowes, when HE goes, we will lose his writing. Downton does not exist if he does not. I'd love to meet him, but know I would be dumb struck in his company.

[@ToutCQJM]

It’s Granny, Grandmama is Cora’s mother.

[@maryannlockwood7806]

The dowager is a treasure!😌

[@RobertCousland]

Absolutely.

[@mscott3918]

Dowagers generally are.

[@JavierArveloCruzSantana]

The sound is great in this series; one can always hear the women's jewelry. Once it's heard, it cannot be unheard.

[@blackpearl3349]

The clock in the background, the birds, the insects, everything its so real

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

I like the sounds of their heels on wood or carpet. Or the sound of the skirts brushing. Or the tea being poured in cups

[@heathermetz6576]

3:23 “I see I have to take the slow path!”

[@MarkT1700]

Literally me at work every day dealing with idiots.

[@deldee]

The dowager, Rosamund and Edith look like they are related. That’s some good casting.

[@kcbh24]

They look nothing alike other than being white and slim.

[@ladymcgonagall]

ROSAMUND AND VIOLET LOOK SO ALIKE THAT I THOUGHT SAMANTHA BOND WAS REALLY MAGGIE SMITH'S DAUGHTER

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

@@ladymcgonagall you’re shouting like Rosamund with foreigners as if shouting makes them accept your point

[@ladymcgonagall]

@@KoiYakultGreenTea rosamund is an icon periodt

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

@@ladymcgonagall use more words

[@chrissebastian1894]

The dowager is World Heritage ❤️

[@Maaarrina]

Chris Sebastian can’t be more accurately put!

[@cassidyfaith16]

Violet is amazing. Maggie Smith is a legend.

[@jamessparkman6604]

I’ll say she’s a legend she starred in the Harry Potter series as well as this

[@winwarddale2779]

The Dowager Countess is THE BEST. I absolutely love her.

[@gerardcollins80]

"Take any more, and she'll start exacting annual tribute! " XD Also talk about a half baked excuse.

[@slcRN1971]

It’s interesting that her own mother didn’t pick up on this.

[@ZorawarSohi]

@@slcRN1971perhaps she would have in regular circumstances.... But she was rather preoccupied by the bazaar

[@knoxschyuler5716]

@@slcRN1971 parental love can be blinding

[@harringt100]

A half-baked excuse? You mean for going to Switzerland?

[@gerardcollins80]

@@harringt100 No. That their story for going away wasn't well thought out. Going to Switzerland for several months so they could learn French..... Even Cora was like "really?"

[@lizjo7213]

I really loved Rosamund, wish she had more screen time....

[@bogdancristea9270]

Nothing gets by her, but in this case she makes the worst possible decision by hiding this information from Cora, who would have found a better solution. She might have sent Edith to America, where Martha would have made sure she and the baby were OK and would not have allowed Edith to give away her child to a stranger just for the sake of pretending she was still a "respectable" young lady.

[@carlozabbia1157]

The world will be a much sadder and emptier place when Dame Maggie Smith is no longer a part of it.

[@2legit64]

I don't even want to think about that!

[@michaelreilly3513]

How disrespectful of you Carlo. Eulogies are to be written after a passing, Maggie is alive and WELL.

[@maxwelljohnson5028]

Carlo Zabbia agree

[@dorisbarkler8570]

Knock on wood! Our goddess is still full of vinegar and British charm 🧐

[@alking7655]

@@michaelreilly3513, She reprised her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Incidentally, Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare. If that doesn't describe inner strength and vigour and being resilient through tough times, I don't know what does. Yes, we must all face the same conclusion, but she has pep in herself yet.

[@GoldenRose116]

I love Rosamund and Violet so much, they where so sweet towards Edith. I wished they supported her in keeping the baby but they did what they thought was right. It always felt like Edith was closer to her aunt then to her mother.

[@MsXfactorfan1]

Golden Rose She was. Rosamund was the only one that ever paid any real attention to her. Season 1 Cora and Robert we so dismissive to her.

[@vilwarin5635]

I felt that Rosamund had a similar experience in her past. She was so empathic and knew what to do and how to do it. But I´m glad that at least she wanted to help

[@GoldenRose116]

@@MsXfactorfan1 not just in season 1. It was only until Robert found out about Marigold realised how much he failed her, and grew extreemly proud of her. But atleast he changed Cora was still making snide comments about Edith even in season 6..

[@latinguy67]

@@GoldenRose116 Edith is a big fat loser. Always whining, self absorbed.

[@foxnala]

loveloses At first, I didn’t like Edith, but she has developed great.

[@Maddie9185]

I loved the Dowager she was a great character.

[@williamterrill4384]

Violet Crawley has got to be my favorite character

[@christopherstreet2214]

We need a prequel about violets life ... with her narrating ... please omg please

[@marloncervantes2512]

A masterpiece of dialogue

[@bubbaclark4355]

Dame Maggie Smith. Is wonderful. Love her witty remarks

[@ayakotami3318]

🤣 Nothing gets by her. She's so smart and keen eyed. One of my favorite scenes and characters. Actress too because she was also in one of my favorite movie series: Harry Potter. But geez this woman is smart as heck. Nothing gets by her.

[@almostfm]

Also, that was a common way of dealing with an out-of-wedlock baby if you had the means to go away. I had a great aunt who decided one day to up and move to Denver from California. She came back about a year later, and nobody really talked about it, which, like Violet, tells me about all I need to know.

[@ValeriePallaoro]

I know we're all talking about charactes and actors and story arcs, but *d*mn* that blue dress on Edith is stunning. Lovely colour, lovely fall, lovely detail on the overdress. Honestly, it's to die for.

[@mm-yt8sf]

cora has such a positive view of her world :-)

[@OceanHedgehog]

The Dowager Countess helped to bury two of Mary's scandals and helped reconcile Sybil with Robert. Was there ever a question that she'd help Edith?

[@fuxiangliu5361]

the aunt really loves Edith.

[@mcaskey358]

I don't think they actually fooled Cora. She definitely knows somethings up, but is either consciously or subconsciously choosing to let it go.

[@rocketmom60]

There were a couple of time it sounded like Rosamund didn't have a lot of money, but she lived in Belgrave Square which was a very high end location in London. It seems that her husband died leaving her a very rich widow.

[@mssrus]

My husband, who is a good deal older than I, told me that he wanted to make lots of money, so that he could leave me a rich widow after he passes. I asked, 'What's her name? Does she play Bridge?' He looked at me funny...

[@HjCrawford]

@@mssrus 😂😂

[@flyboy152]

I don't remember that at any time they portrayed her as not wealthy. She would have had some money from her father, and her husband was rich, leaving her a very wealthy widow. Remember the guy that wanted to marry her for her money, but she caught him banging her maid?

[@shiversss1]

Many English Titles =asset rich, cash poor.

[@joec9693]

Rosamund does have money, as a Lord deep in debt did try to marry her early on in the show, however most of her money is probably tied up in a way so she can't spend it all at once. She probably gets some type of monthly allowance from Robert along with whatever her husband left her. Cora's mother mentioned that her father also tied up their money so she can't give a large amount of it away to the Crawley's all she could do is increase Cora's dress allowance, she had an income but could not touch the capital as she put it (so can't sell off major assets for large amounts of cash). Women back then would not be entrusted with the entire fortune in one shot even if widowed.

[@kimberlylewis2185]

I miss this show so much!!!

[@pie.x]

We've been robbed with an interaction between Rosamund and Marigold! I know Rosamund would've love her great-niece!

[@marrileemiles3974]

Best line ever: "What is a week end?"

[@jennayu3093]

Her aunt protected her. Touching

[@safespacebear]

"I see I will have to take the slow path" haha. Gosh if Violet said that to me I think my legs would turn to jello

[@paul-annmclennan7936]

I love the Dowager, I cried when I watched Downton Abbey a New Era, I will miss her dearly. Even in her death she was such a treat.

[@gracebailey5989]

Whelp. Time to binge Downton Abbey again

[@LucyLovettLestrange]

You can't fool the dowager!

[@MJSpiritual]

The old battle ax is still plenty sharp.

[@linaung5394]

if she wishes to be understood by a foreigner, She____Shoutss, LoL, perfect mother and daughter bond !

[@hannahahle]

My love for Maggie Smith knows no bounds! Never fails to make me laugh 😂

[@positivegradient]

Lady Rosamund is among the most beautiful women on the show

[@emmamillar4747]

she’s so stunning

[@cynthiaann7232]

Favorite show of ALL time !❤ This is where I'm at for the 3rd time of watching!😌

[@BlackGirlSerenity]

Grandmama knows everything

[@laurieharnach8785]

Edith always looks like she’s about to cry

[@kcbh24]

She's a wimp.

[@bluephoenix5587]

It's called acting. She is sad and confused about this whole situation.

[@nyongtory4e]

@@kcbh24 Sure. She started a romance with a man she loved, who she was going to marry, who got her pregnant but soon died leaving her with a bastard child. Sth that would ruin her completely. So she has no other option that to hide all of this from her family, bear the child in secret and give her up to some other family. Keep calling her a wimp.

[@dolphiannam]

@@kcbh24 not true as we know now

[@sdearing6375]

She was treated miserably by her family and the time that she lived in she would've been ruined- of course she's sad and about to cry

[@yinancheng9499]

Love her so much!!!!!

[@MotRekrab1347]

I'm not sure why, but the scene change at 2:49 just reminds me of something out of the Godfather!

[@nanouklezaf4273]

"Can you really afford..." considering how she lives in London, she can afford 4 months in Switzerland lol

[@judylittle5285]

Marvelous script...marvelous acting.

[@artboxfashion4042]

Sometimes I think Cora is not the brightest bulb in the box.

[@koenkeep]

Her stupid grin usually gives it away

[@adrianobulla7875]

Wonderful female characters. This is what REALLY makes the UK great, art, inquiry and the exploration of the complexity of the Human Being... Maybe some time again soon...

[@wildshadowstar]

Love the Dowager Countess and always felt sorry for Edith.

[@elinanderzon2922]

She was very bad at showing it

[@twc3546]

Edith and Rosamund were both the forgotten child in their childhood.

[@LucyLovettLestrange]

I like Downton Abbey to the point that I've had to replace seasons 1, 2, 3, DVDs of Downton Abbey because they became so scratched and worn from use! ( they would freeze in the middle of being played)

[@loreelee8268]

The dowager rocks

[@andresfernandes5906]

Switzerland has everything to offer. Except, perhaps, conversation. Love that woman😀

[@davidhutchinson5233]

That's very interesting. But that's NOT why I asked you here.

[@gerardcollins80]

Oh...

[@linaje3459]

I ADORE her side eye 🤣

[@theoutlook55]

Such style in her dialog. Maggie Smith forever!

[@JohanHerrenberg]

The dowager rules! Dowager: Pray, 'rules' what?

[@LilliLamour]

Grand Ma Maa reminds me of my Nana, tough, sassy, and no nonsense.

[@johnlayno7303]

Has anybody noticed the Hermes statue at the back of the Dowager Countess' back? It appears and disappears

[@btyc]

Very good lol.

[@MotRekrab1347]

Maybe he's just busy? Messenger of the Gods, after all, perhaps he just uses Violet's house as a pit-stop?

[@wfcoaker1398]

Not till I read this post. Lol

[@RobGrognerd]

Dearly love every character in this show, but none more than the Dowager Countess.

[@johannespasla]

"Take any more, she'll start exacting annual tribute" 😂😂😂

[@paigerosner8574]

God, so depressing that a mother would have to give away her child because of how it looks to others. So glad I live now, not then.

[@susanfudge1737]

You mean because society didn't accept illegitimate children?

[@paigerosner8574]

@@susanfudge1737 yes. Like, the fact that Edith and her family just assumed it wasn’t even a possibility. So bleak. She clearly wanted her daughter and didn’t allow herself to keep her by any means necessary.

[@KimKinzer]

People forget that illegitimate children could appear on England's Bastardy records. Some US states used to rubber stamp illegitimate on birth certificates. Hence the subterfuge antics. in most cases, illegitimate children were often denied inheritance.

[@xadam2dudex]

Rosamund was right ... Edith had a bad idea about the baby

[@christopherthompson1567]

There’s a mistake in here. The statue behind Maggie smith is there in the beginning. Then when they do a close up on her it’s gone. Then they zoom out and it’s there again.

[@squireob]

Cora at 2:24: Something is going on... but...

[@Vacartu]

I really like the story this far. Only poor Edith would get pregnant and then lose the father before marriage.

[@MoniqueSinha]

She’s just the best

[@siddekarif8449]

Rosamund isn’t interested in French and if she want to be understood by foreigner she shout! That’s the line made me fall in love even more

[@randyking3057]

I love Edith.

[@apl175]

"...What IS a weekend?"

[@DeanMoxley87]

Now I understand why the Dowager understood. As we later learn in series 4 Prince Caragon.

[@darikai219]

The Dowagers Byakugan is strong and can see through any bullshit

[@stalinsmum6475]

4:00 Isn’t it kind of odd that aristocratic english house has a statue of Mercury (Hermes) in the drawing room? He is protector of merchants and symbol of bourgeoisie.

[@kpax2066]

Honestly, its scenes like this that make me think Rosamund is secretly Edith's mother.

[@Decopainterandtea]

I used to think so too.

[@lizaluk]

Dresses are extraordinary

[@chiamave]

I think the last line is unfair towards Rosamund... she's simply worried for Edith, the niece she's clearly closest, and she would never ask for something in return.

[@MsJubjubbird]

I don't think she means it. I think her underlying intention is that as her grandmother she has a greater responsibility than her aunt, who has already done a lot

[@mm-yt8sf]

when edith started to say "can you afford (to spend months reading novels...)" i thought she was going ask if her aunt could afford the trip, but i guess it just shows how i'm not upper class 🙂i suppose it'd also be considered rude in their circles to mention money too..

[@ccirish4519]

Beautiful in every way

[@anncosten7022]

Highclere castle is not only in downton abbey, but also jeeves and wooster.

[@mcaskey358]

I don't know if there's an actress who can do it, but it would be interesting to see a series based on the younger Violet Crawley (mainly because I want more of her) and I like to think she was as equally sassy in her youth.

[@Laura-qb3nd]

Carey Mulligan

[@ChaoticNarrative]

Although she is without question a Staunch Traditionalist; they always seem to underestimate Violet's ability to be open minded.

[@ldcraig2006]

I have loved Dame Maggie Smith since I first saw her in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."

[@msinvincible2000]

I loved Rosamund: she was the only person in the family who cared about Edith. Even her parents and grandmother seemed to forget they had a middle daughter. Sybill loved Edith, but Sybill loved everyone, even servants, so Edith was not special to her.

[@alisonbarlow7836]

Well the dowager countess certainly wasn't born yesterday.

[@elisecooper1942]

I wonder why Rosamund is not in any of the Downton Abbey photos? She's one of the main family characters.

[@fortheloveofcats2462]

In an aristocratic family with an older son, the daughter was usually forgotten.

[@stevensheath8992]

I always wondered why they never showed Rosamond’s children. She was originally meant to have a son and daughter.

[@LucyLovettLestrange]

They thought it would be more interesting for her to live more through her nieces

[@madabbafan]

Lady Violet - don't think you can do something that I won't get to know about. I have eyes and ears EVERYWHERE.

[@sneakymia1]

Love Edith and her aunt scenes together, I wish it had been exposed that Edith was rosamund child, which she gave to her brother to have better upbringing

[@blue2tang]

What would Rosamund be taking a break from, exactly?

[@aragornthebrave]

Her exhausting social schedule.

[@throwawayjma4294]

Abuse and humiliation at the hands of the Dowager Countess.

[@kcbh24]

Exactly. Rosamund was such a harsh, unnecessarily sharp person.

[@jehannethompson1432]

Throwaway Jma bhahahaha

[@creativewriter3887]

@@throwawayjma4294 Well, she did say that Switzerland had very good hospitals... maybe a good burn unit after her dealings with the Dowager Countess! lol

[@7ajhubbell]

Thank you.

[@blurdreamer]

3:22 I see I have to take the slow path (aka I'm gonna grill ur ass real quick)... lol my favourite