The 1942 Oscar winning movie "Mrs. Miniver" has a sweet moment when the imperious character played by Dame May Whitty must reach into her conscience to step aside and let somebody else have a moment in the spotlight. In her case, it was train master Henry Travers whose "Miniver Rose" was certainly much more lovely than what Dame May entered in the flower show. Now it's Dame Maggie's chance to show that underneath all that sardonic wit is as big of a heart as Isabel and Cora gently cajole her to step aside and give the best bloom prize at the flower show to Mr. Mosely's aging father. There's the hesitation, a double check of the prize announcement, and the triumphant smile that "Wow. I can do something nice!" when she reveals the not so true winner. Dame Maggie must have watched Dame May's reaction in "Mrs. Miniver" because she plays it off beautifully and it is truly a magnificent moment, one of the best of the series.
Lesley Nicol's Mrs. Pathmore gets to stand out in this episode where her temperament gets the better of her, yelling at Daisy heartlessly, blaming her for a mix-up, then trying to remain dignified as she tries to deal with the truth about her failing eyesight. Nicol and Sophie McShera (Daisy) are terrific in this episode with McShera's vulnerability being mixed with toughness as she stands up for herself, and eventually Nicol's change of heart to a girl she had just annihilated in front of everybody else. This shows an understanding between both characters who may not always be calm and collected with each other, and that sometimes the salt in a relationship can be just as sweet as sugar. Then there's Bates and Anna's dealing with the theft of a snuff box which either Thomas or O'Brien supposedly hid in his room. Their running off to find it when Bates suggests a search is hysterically funny, especially when Mrs. Hughes comes across a guilt ridden O'Brien standing amongst the mess of her room. It is also hinted that Edith intends to utilize Mary's secret of Paduk's death against her in some way, and as cruel as it is, who could blame Edith after the shabby way her sister has treated her? Definitely one of the best episodes of the series with too many highlights to mention.
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