Ep 6. Season 3, Episode 6

The episode opens with Lady Edith strolling around London in search of a newspaper editor whom she had met long ago. Meanwhile, Anna Bates discovers a ticket for the York theatre in her husband's coat pocket and decides to ask Lady Mary to purchase it for her so she can surprise Bates with it. Lady Mary agrees to buy the ticket, realizing how much Bates means to Anna and all that he has done for them.

Back at Downton Abbey, Tom Branson tells Lady Sybil about his decision to go to America to be with his daughter and start a new life. Lady Sybil is crestfallen, but Tom explains that he sees a bright future for his daughter away from the political divide that still permeates Irish society.

Lady Edith finds the newspaper editor and offers to write a column for him. The editor is dismissive of her efforts, citing her lack of experience in writing. However, Lady Edith is undeterred and promises to write something that will surprise him.

In time, Lady Edith writes an article about women's driving and the need for a driving school for upper-class British women who want to be independent and self-reliant. Her article is published and sparks an immediate reaction from readers across the country. Amidst the uproar, Lady Edith's article is attacked, and she is targeted by abusive letters.

At Downton Abbey, the Crawleys attend a concert in York where they bump into Isobel Crawley and the Dowager Countess. There is an uncomfortable exchange between the two women, but they manage to put their differences aside in the end. Isobel tells Lady Grantham that she is looking for new purpose in life now that Matthew is gone, and Lady Grantham advises her to find something that makes her happy and pursue it.

Lady Edith, undaunted by the criticisms she has received, decides to take up the challenge of learning how to drive. She asks Tom to give her some lessons, and he reluctantly agrees. After several harrowing learning experiences, Lady Edith gains some proficiency, and Tom notes how happy she seems behind the wheel.

Back at the Crawley estate, the relationship between Jimmy and Thomas comes to a boil when Jimmy discovers that Thomas tried to kiss him while he was sleeping. Jimmy, clearly angry, confronts Thomas, and both men end up in a physical altercation. Later on, Jimmy tells Mr. Carson what happened, and Thomas is reprimanded for his actions.

As the episode comes to a close, Tom announces his plans to leave for America and start anew with his daughter. Lady Sybil is heartbroken, but she knows that Tom has made the right decision. Lady Edith, having survived the public backlash against her article, continues to build her writing career and finds some happiness in the process. And the staff of Downton Abbey continue to deal with their own problems, including the ongoing tensions between Jimmy and Thomas.

Overall, this episode of Downton Abbey is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, with meaningful character development that drives the plot forward. Fans of the show will be delighted to see how Lady Edith's storylines unfold, and there are plenty of memorable moments that make this episode truly special.