Doctor Thorne, Episode 3 review: a happy ending and a surprising twist - but it's not the 'new Downton'

It was all's well that ends well for the people of Greshamsbury
Happy endings: Doctor Thorne came to a positive conclusion, but left too many plots under-served
ITV
Edwina Langley21 March 2016

And so it was the grand finale of Anthony Trollope's Doctor Thorne, as adapted for the small screen by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes.

Did it turn out as we thought it would? Of course! (With a few little surprises along the way.)

And so, to reiterate for the final time: no, we haven't read the book, which means this critique is based soley on what we saw on ITV.

Here goes...

The Central Romance

Harry Richardson plays Frank Gresham and Mary Thorne, by Stefani Martini
ITV

It all ended well, as we knew it would; Mary Thorne and Frank Gresham got engaged last week, so we had an inkling they might – just might – marry this week. But not without a little [period] drama along the way.

And yes there was that, but we were robbed of a large part of it.

Let us explain...

When Countess De Courcy (played brilliantly by Phoebe Nicolls) and Lady Gresham (likewise, by Rebecca Front) paid Mary Thorne (Stefani Martini) a visit and told her not to marry leading man, Frank Gresham (Harry Richardson), we had imagined there would be a tearful, heartfelt subsequent scene between the lovers... You know, the one where Mary tells Frank: "No, we mustn't marry – I am too lowly, I banish you from the house!". One where we, the audience, are left feeling panicked and sick that things might not turn out as we expected.

But we were denied this showdown. What we got instead was Mary relaying to her uncle doctor (played supremely by Tom Hollander) that she had called off her engagement and Frank was a bit upset about it. Here was a chance for us to see some real drama, and all we got instead was a verbal update? Oh dear, oh dear.

As we suspected though, Mary did end up an heiress herself – as a result of the untimely death of the bad-come-good Sir Louis Scatcherd – and was 'allowed' to marry her childhood sweetheart.

They finally embraced in the Thorne drawing room (more like a cellar in there with all that darkness) and got married some days later, enjoying a jolly old dance at the wedding breakfast. The end.

The OTHER Romance

This romance was a surprising turn-up for the books...
ITV

Far more exciting, however, was the budding romance between Dr Thorne and the American 'elder' (though in real life, a youthful 33) oil heiress Martha Dunstable, played superbly by Alison Brie.

This came totally out of the blue in the closing scene, and we wish it had been developed further.

Best TV dramas 2016

1/29

"I prefer a proper resolution, Miss Dunstable, yes. I hope you won't hold that against me," Dr Thorne said of her unresolved quest for a husband.

"On the contrary, Dr Thorne. Quite on the contrary," she replied.

Why isn't there a final-final episode next week when this romance finds it's 'proper resolution'? It was the most exciting part of the series. Huff.

The misunderstood baddie

Edward Franklin in the role of Sir Louis Scatcherd
ITV

Sir Louis Scatcherd, played by Edward Franklin, upped his game this week. Yes it was rather unnecessary for him to be drinking in EVERY SINGLE SCENE (he's an alcoholic, we got it) but we asked last week for there to be a hint of a back story, and this week we got it – in the form of this sentence:

"I do not think that being the son of the great Sir Roger Scatcherd was the easiest start on earth," Dr Thorne.

It was entertaining to see him wind-up the snobbish Lady Gresham – we all enjoy a disruptive dinner guest – and following his tragic accident, we were allowed to see his more human side: "Please tell Miss Thorne, I hope I didn't offend her..."

We wish more had been made of this. Had we known all along he had a burning passion for Mary, this could have been a great scene – a tear-jerker! We acknowledge Dr Thorne tried to convince us earlier he was in love with the woman, but all we got from his side was a series of lustful looks.

In short, we didn't believe Dr Thorne. If we'd had more of a sense of a romantic struggle within, this could have been a cracking moment.

Other bits and bobs...

Cressida Bonas plays Patience Oriel
ITV

Much was made about Cressida Bonas' role in the series, but we sadly can't say very much about the young Patience Oriel for she only had about three lines. Bonas did look lovely in it though, as indeed did all the ladies (excellent wardrobe and we liked the running theme of flowers throughout).

Janine Duvitski made the best of her part as Lady Scatcherd. She was a little too gleeful, we thought, when Dr Thorne told her Mary was to inherit the house she inhabited and that the young girl was in fact her niece. "I'm in so much pain now, a little more won't make much difference," she tried to convince us, with a face suggesting none of this. Hmmm.

The Lady Gresham 'shriek' when she realised Mary was to inherit Boxhall Hill and also Greshambury Park was amusing – in a rather 'panto' sort of way – but again we were denied a visual on her reaction, and had to make do with just the noise and a chortle from Lord Gresham. Robbed again, dear Julian, robbed!

The verdict

It was all's well that ends well for the Greshams
ITV

In all... was it the 'new' Downton Abbey? No.

But it was a nice, well-rounded story, with some good, solid performances. Would we rush out to buy the box set? Unlikely. But we enjoyed that it lightened up our last few Sundays nonetheless.

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