Ep 8. Season 4, Episode 8

In Downton Abbey season 4 episode 8, tension among the residents of Downton continues to escalate as they deal with various conflicts. Lady Mary is still torn between the two men in her life, unsure of which one she truly loves. Meanwhile, Lady Edith continues to struggle with keeping her secret child a secret, and Mrs. Hughes is faced with a difficult decision as she tries to help a former employee.

The episode opens with Lady Mary receiving a surprise visitor at Downton. As she tries to decide whether or not to let him in, she also grapples with her conflicting feelings towards both Lord Gillingham and Charles Blake. Her dilemma only grows more complicated when both men unexpectedly arrive at Downton on the same evening.

Meanwhile, Lady Edith continues to be plagued by her secret child. She meets with her editor at the magazine she works for, hoping to find some advice on how to handle the situation. The meeting ends up being more difficult than she anticipated, as her editor questions her about the child's father and suggests that she should tell him about the baby.

Downstairs, Mrs. Hughes is approached by a former employee who has fallen on hard times. The woman asks for Mrs. Hughes' help in finding a new position, but Mrs. Hughes is torn between her loyalty to the woman and her duty to her current employer, Lady Grantham.

As the night progresses, tensions continue to rise among the residents of Downton. Lord Grantham and Tom Branson argue over the direction of the estate, while Isobel Crawley and the Dowager Countess clash over the future of the local hospital.

The episode comes to a dramatic conclusion as several of these conflicts come to a head. Lady Mary is forced to make a decision about her future, Lady Edith receives some surprising news, and Mrs. Hughes must face the consequences of her actions.

Overall, Downton Abbey season 4 episode 8 is a tense and emotional installment that showcases the complex relationships between the characters. As the series moves towards its finale, the stakes are higher than ever before, and fans will be on the edge of their seats to see what happens next.