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Agree with Ravenya003 on all points. Really disappointing writing. Maybe some of this could have happened earlier in the series but I don't think it works as a finale.

Poor Henry Talbot. So tall and lean. He never stood a chance.

We've never seen Tom and Mary dance together, right? Imagine Mary sulking in the corner at Edith's grand wedding to a marquess. Tom crosses the dance floor... "Maybe there won't be marriage. Maybe there won't be sex. But by God, there'll be dancing." I could be satisfied with that ending.

All kinds of shipping is going to happen no matter what a writer does. But it's also true that many writers simply don't have the skill to convey their intention properly to the audience. Or worse, they engage in fan service. I can think of so many examples of ship-spawning relationships that the writers swear aren't meant to be perceived as romantic and yet consistently rely on romantic tropes to show closeness. I'd love to think Fellowes' writing is subtle enough to merit the speculation being offered to justify his narrative choices but like Eolivet, I think we're headed towards a predictable ending.

TOM THEORIES 1. Eager to begin his future as matchmaker/wedding planner, Tom is desperate for Henry and Mary to tie the knot. The most illustrious match of his career hangs in the balance, and if the wedding doesn’t happen soon the flower arrangements that he purchased with his own allowance may start to wither… 2. There’s only one obstacle in Tom’s master plan to usurp Mary’s position as Queen of Downton - Mary herself. Not satisfied being a mere joint agent, Tom has plotted to marry his sister-in-law off to someone entirely unsuitable in order to distract her from her work. But with Mary showing few signs of interest in her new suitor, Tom may have to resort to desperate measures… 3. Ever since his beloved wife Sybil died, Tom has been yearning for a new love. He has found that love in Henry Talbot, but a long distance romance has it’s difficulties. Luckily, there may be a way for Henry to live at Downton. Tom’s sister-in-law Mary seems to have fallen for the charming Talbot and it’s up to Tom to convince her she’s ready to commit…

"Convinced Mary's grandmother, Lady Violet, will be able to change her mind about Henry, Tom begs her to return from her trip to France." Time to take a seat, Tom.

There were some stand-out scenes in this episode and I mostly enjoyed it. Matthew Goode did a great job. I'm starting to like Talbot as a character. I just don't know if he has any chemistry with Mary. Maybe it's the actors? It's so strange, watching them together is like watching a crossover from two different shows. Like they don't belong in the same story. But I see what they're trying to do with Henry and Goode pulled it off. Michelle did a great job too. It just didn't click somehow. And I get what they're trying to do with Tom but they've overplayed it and it's annoying. He's already picked out Mary's dress and now that she's broken off with Henry he's going to have to cancel the flowers he ordered. I can understand him trying to get her to open up to a new relationship but he's way over the top about Henry. How does he know Henry's "the right man"? I liked the editor though. Maybe Mary can date her? Violet, Molesley, Isis 2.0 all highlights. I can't help but feel for Thomas as we see him becoming more and more isolated. I was surprised Edith didn't accept Bertie right away.

Mary could be a bridesmaid for Isobel, as her daughter-in-law. I think we can expect that wedding.

My guess is that either it isn't her wedding dress (maybe she's a maid of honour? for Isobel? or Edith if they reconcile? It could explain the boutonnière) OR it is her wedding dress and the wedding doesn't happen (she leaves Talbot at the altar? Talbot leaves her at the altar? Tom objects because he loves Mary? Tom objects because he loves Henry?) Or she marries Tom (which is so unlikely. If it happens I wouldn't expect it until the CS) Or she marries Evelyn Napier. Or Charles Blake comes back from Poland. What is going on. Please let it be Edith.

There are some questionable story choices happening on this show but to end episode 8 with Mary married to a man she is not ready to marry and Edith not married to a man she is...Nope. Nope. Nope. It needs to be Edith. And then Isobel and Lord Merton if that's in the cards. And then Mary in the CS. I don't care who Mary marries, but please not before Edith.

Despite everything I just really feel that it will be Edith's wedding in episode 8, not Mary's.

This is it exactly. Tom and Mary could call each other ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ forevermore. But they aren’t siblings. It is a convenient excuse to use Tom as Mary’s platonic pseudo-husband. Mary invites Tom on all of her dates? That’s completely normal sibling behaviour! Tom gives up all of his long-yearned-for personal endeavours in order to go on Mary’s dates? No one will suspect a thing! They’re siblings! Either being with Mary is the most important thing to Tom (after his daughter) or he’s nothing more than an accessory Fellowes is attaching to Mary to humanize her.

From the interview it seems Tom is more than a bystander in whatever drama happens with the cars next episode.

Oh, I'm so sure it will be Edith getting married in episode 8. Even if Henry and Mary decide to start a relationship, I would be surprised if we saw a wedding. Mary isn't in love with him (at least not yet). I'm holding on to my beautiful Brary dreams for one more episode. I'm happy to enjoy the end of the series from the deck of this crackship :P

Right? "I don't recognize my own dear sister Mary. Could this be love?" Can't this show respect that I have my Brary goggles on? Don't they know I'm going to take lines like that the wrong way? I don't like the sales job Tom is doing for Henry. On top of Henry mentioning racers' wives and getting involved and falling in love Mary now has Tom on the sidelines pushing her towards a relationship. I don't know why he's playing cupid so aggressively. It's really awkward, especially since he seems to be completely ignoring Mary's obvious problems with the relationship.