Very unrealistic I think. Don't believe Lady Mary would have gone downstairs and wept on Carson's shoulder. Of course Carson would have known his place and certainly wouldn't have the temerity to go to her room and speak with her as he did. Still....enjoyable.
I think it was quite understandable as she treats Carson as a surrogate or second father figure when she find her own father unapproachable and treating her mistakingly by wrapping her up in cotton wool.
Yes she has confided in Carson in the past,and he does not seem to judge maybe in the same way as her father might,also she can trust him to keep a confidence.
The new maid is the one who became preggers out of wedlock by (I think) a close friend of the Crawleys. She later resorted to prostitution to sustain herself and her son, eventually giving him to the care of his paternal grandparents. Isobel Crawley took her on as a cook/housekeeper but suffered for it socially because of the girl's former 'profession'.
The new maid is not the one who became pregnant and gave up her baby to her in-laws. She is the one who made a play for Branson when he was newly widowed.
I love it .
The new ladies maid is Edna ,the one who was flaunting herself at Tom Branson.
Ethel was the one who became pregnant and went to work for Mrs Crawley,who rescued her from prostitution.She gave her baby up to the grandparents of the father ,Major Bryant .
It'll be on ITV Player methyl not BBC.