Season 6 Speculation WITH Spoilers (US)

[SusanSunflower]

oh, I took "end of an era" more about the Julian Fellowes and the Masterpiece Theater "Downton Era" we're all supposed to hold in our hearts and get misty over forever ... oh, and of course, purchase and rewatch the DVDs religiously every Fall or Winter months depending on where you originally experienced them ... etc. PBS will be pushing the "be the first to know" presales momentarily. 

[ZoloftBlob]

Psst if you have Amazon Prime you get Downton Abbey for free! :D

[AZChristian]

I've already pre-ordered mine.  :-)

[photo fox]

As for Mary marrying Tom, I get why the show might want to because none of Mary's other many many suitors have registered at all. What if Henry Talbot turns out to be just as much of a dud onscreen as Gillingham and Blake? I'm sure when Fellowes wrote those two he was imagining an exciting love triangle with shipper wars bitterly dividing the audience. 

 

But Tom and Mary is such an anticlimax and I say that as someone who likes both characters. They've never shown any romantic chemistry or interest at all, they both want totally different things, and for each of them, marrying the other would mean their life goals didn't work out.

Yep, this is where I am as well. I understand why people might want them to get together to wrap everything up with a nice bow, but I feel like it would negate five seasons of what we know of these two characters. Early seasons' Mary thought Matthew was too pedestrian for her. Early seasons' Tom was a socialist. I know time and life changes people, but I don't think they've changed that much. Mary is always going to put Downton first. ALWAYS. I don't see Tom letting himself play second fiddle to a house unless he has a soul transplant. And I like Tom too well to want to watch that.

Oddly enough, I can imagine a Tom/Edith relationship, even though I don't think the show will ever go there. Edith is more progressive politically, has been willing in the past to marry for pragmatic reasons, and has had a relationship with an average (i.e. not noble) guy. Tom is less likely to be swayed by practicality, but I can imagine him wanting to give Sybbie an loving, involved maternal figure. Say what you will about the Marigold debacle, but Edith exhibited a hands-on parenting style that seems much more in line with how Tom interacts with Sybbie than how Mary is with George.

But my real hope is that these three characters find happiness with someone besides each other.

[Andorra]

Urgh no, Edith and Tom is actually a nightmare of mine. THAT would be forced and completely out of character for Tom, because I can't see him falling for Edith and I could never see him marry for practicality.

Sybil was life embracing, self assured and positive and Edith is just the contrary. She's so negative and pessimistic and feels no self worth at all. It would be hell for Tom to be married to her. I think it would be a nice match for Edith, since I think he's a nice man and would be a nice husband. But I don't like Edith well enough to sacrifice poor Tom for her well-being.

About what you said about Tom/Mary: You're right, it would negate a lot of what we've seen through all the seasons, but for me that is one of the reasons, why I think it possible. In series 1 Mary wasn't ready to marry a "mere" solicitor. She wanted money, position and a title.

But what if her character growth is realizing that it all doesn't matter in the end? After the series of eligible suitors, all from her class and all with wealth and title, maybe the big "U turn for Mary" of which Michelle Dockery talked at the press launch will be that she puts love first.

It would be harder to explain for Tom, I admit that. But Tom has always put love before principle. Otherwise he wouldn't have fallen in love with Sybil in the first place.

It would be of course a very cheesy and soapy ending, but I don't put it past Fellows to write it. It would solve many practical questions (Mary has to marry a man who will stay with her at Downton and has to marry a man who doesn't necessarily needs his own heir, because at the end of series 6 Mary will be 36) and it would symbolize the "change" that has been the big main theme of the show. The house will survive, but it will only survive in a changed and modern way. Mary and Tom would symbolize that.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Andorra

[sunflower]

 

The house will survive, but it will only survive in a changed and modern way. Mary and Tom would symbolize that.

 

It is the most sensible, yet romantic ending at the same time. I wonder how deep in the season it will take for us to know if it's happening or not happening.  Or will it be a CS surprise, which feels too sudden?  Of course, the problem of not doing Tom/Mary is that it's the relationship that has been built up since even season 3.  It's the most organic of all of Mary's possible couplings.  

 

Now, we have Henry Talbot, who they probably desperately needed a known actor like Matthew Goode to bypass organic storytelling.  

 

 

a total lack of storyline for Tom and an insider who posted on another board: "I see there is no speculation about Tom's storyline on the internet. Maybe there should be."

 

Andorra, what board did you mean when an insider noted the lack of talk about Tom's story and that there should be?  

Edited September 7, 2015 by sunflower

[Andorra]

The Digititalspy forum. There's a user who seems to be working as a journalist or something.She always sees the episodes in advance, goes to the press launch and in past seasons she seemed to have some knowledge of what was going to happen in the show. She had heard rumors of Sybil's and Matthew's death in advance for example.

She doesn't give much away, but hints at some things occasionally and her sentence: "There's no speculation about Tom Branson's storyline anywhere on the internet. Maybe there should be." a bit suspicious. It could be nothing though.

It is the most sensible, yet romantic ending at the same time. I wonder how deep in the season it will take for us to know if it's happening or not happening. Or will it be a CS surprise, which feels too sudden?

I'm sure if it is going to happen, we should know very early in the season when Tom comes back. There had to be some building up to a relationship beyond friendship. So IMO it could be jealousy on Tom's side or a lack of understanding that Mary misses in Henry and finds in Tom etc.

Maybe Henry's love for car racing will play a part, too. I'm sure there's conflict in that considering that Mary lost Matthew in a car accident.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Andorra

[Avaleigh]

I really do have my fingers crossed for Tom and Mary. To me it feels very natural and right.

Tom and Edith would be massively disappointing on every level.

[Ladyrain]

I would love to see Mary and Tom get together. Admittedly I am a romantic, and the thought of DA coming to an end is unthinkable, but if it must, I'd like to see as may loose ends tied up as possible.  ~~~  The pairing is not so illogical perhaps.  Mary has come a long way since season 1:  She found true love with Matthew, a 'mere' solicitor, which most likely surprised and enlightnened her; all of the men of nobility or vast wealth with whom she was involved bored or disappointed her.  So after the deaths of Sybil and Matthew - and the horrors of the war - she has realized the fragility of life and, maybe, the pointlessness of England's social caste system, and may want to live a life of love and true happiness instead of societal rules.  ~~~   Tom's views have softened also.  Through his love of Sybil (and the entire Crawley family) he's come to see that not everyone of nobility and money is 'high and mighty' and may even share some of his values, such as looking out for the welfare of all the people in the village, for example.   ~~~   Mary and Tom have been working together (along with Robert) on the estate, bringing them more and more into each other's orbits and Tom's stay in America may have made their hearts grow stronger.  The war and all the contigent social changes have changed everyone and caused them to re-evaluate their long-held beliefs.  So if Downton must end, I'd like to see Mary and Tom as its caretakers....together.

[sunflower]

 

Mary and Tom have been working together (along with Robert) on the estate, bringing them more and more into each other's orbits and Tom's stay in America may have made their hearts grow stronger.

 

That's why I'll look at Mary's reaction to Tom's return with a microscope in tow.  As I'm sure many of us will.   

[photo fox]

Sorry if I gave the impression that I want Tom/Edith to happen. As I said, my strong preference would be for all of them to find happiness with others. I just meant that if Tom must end the series with a Crawley sister, I would find it easier to believe if it was Edith.

But I don't see why Tom must end the series with a Crawley. I love Tom. He has quietly become my favorite character. I want him to find someone amazing, but more than that, someone who thinks that he's amazing. Someone who thinks, "what have I done to deserve this man?" and who shows Tom that he's loved.

Could Mary be that someone? I suppose they can take the plot any direction they choose. But after writing Mary a certain way for five seasons, I don't think they can change her character enough in the last few episodes to truly believe she feels that way for Tom. Yes, Mary has shown character growth, but two things that have never wavered are her single-minded obsession with Downton and the idea that she must marry well. She did wed Matthew, but he was the heir at that point, so not so middle class after all.

Anyway, my speculation is that many of you are right, and Tom/Mary is in the cards. It's the predictable ending, because they are the male and female "leads" of the younger set, and it would tie everything together. But they'd have to do some really fancy footwork to get me to believe it, let alone be happy about it.

[sunflower]

 

Anyway, my speculation is that many of you are right, and Tom/Mary is in the cards. 

 

 

I don't know, it's what I want, but photo fox, I believe the 2 hurdles you mention are right on.  That's why Tom's entrance into the story and Mary's reaction is key here.  If they're to be, I think Mary would be in denial about her feelings and Tom would be aware of his, but push them down because he'd be afraid to lose his entire family.  I never get what I want with these TV endgame couples or whatever.  I was completely unspoiled for Sybil's death and was afraid for Tom's story after that.  I really don't want him coming back to stand in the back or with some American newbie in tow.  

 

But, if I let a Tom/Mary ending go, I know I can enjoy the ensemble as I have always loved the show as a whole.  I'm been re-watching and simply loving Seasons 4 and 5, except, of course, for boring Bates murder plots.  I feel that is one aspect where JF is tone-deaf.  They're okay characters, but not beloved, at least for me.  

Edited September 7, 2015 by sunflower

[Andorra]

I really don't want him coming back to stand in the back or with some American newbie in tow.

That's what I'm afraid of. I really, really hated the Atticus/Rose storyline last season, because it was so rushed and they went from meeting to marrying in 3 episodes. I would even more hate it, if something like this was in the books for Tom! Or if he brings back a new wife, that we've never seen before and about who we know nothing.

I like Matthew Goode and I thought Henry and Mary had good chemistry in the CS, but the fact remains that we only met him once and now we're supposed to be happy about a complete unknown marrying Mary in the end? I don't like it.

So that might be a reason why I'm rooting for Tom/Mary. Every other possibility seems so out of the blue and rushed and it would ruin the slow character building that we watched over so many years. If they're going for other love interests, I'll be mad that they didn't start the storylines much earlier and gave us time to like them.

[HoodlumSheep]

i'll probably only be happy with the ending if Mary ends up with Tom, Evelyn, or stays awesomely independent (more awesome horse-riding please! I know I saw some in the trailer).

I know Evelyn Napier is unlikely; we haven't seen him too much, people probably find him boring, and he seems to have been "friend-zoned" by Mary. Sadly, I can't let go of there being the slightest of possibilities that he'll come back and they'll get together. I don't know if 6-8 episodes would be enough to turn things around in his favor though. He seems to really love Mary in his own quiet way.

It puts him in kind of the same boat as Henry with the limited screen time.

Tom or staying independent seems the most organic choice for Mary.

I liked Rose/Atticus. Young Love. It was hasty, but sometimes things like that just happen. I hope we see them again.

Watching the trailer, the shot where you see Mary turn around in that crowd (obviously seeing someone..but who???) reminds me of the expression she made when Evelyn surprisingly showed up in whatever episode of season 4 that was. 4? 5? somewhere around there.

I just can't quit Evelyn Napier. He deserves more love!!!!

I just have this feeling that I'm going to be disappointed in the finale somehow. :(

[ElizaD]

I'd rather have Mary and Tom end the series as a well-adjusted widow and widower (so that it's possible to imagine them finding new partners later, even though their onscreen love interests haven't had the spark of Matthew or Sybil) than as a couple. That's because I love being able to ship Tom and the surviving Crawley sisters platonically. There are plenty of romances on TV, but I've really been happy with how seasons 4-5 showed Tom as someone Mary and Edith could love as a friend and a brother-in-law. To me, that feels special.

[Andorra]

Watching the trailer, the shot where you see Mary turn around in that crowd (obviously seeing someone..but who???)

That's definitely Tom she is seeing in that sequence, I'm 100% sure of it. I think the man in the cool sportscar is also Tom. I first thought it was Talbot, but I froze the picture and it definitely looks like Tom. Way too broad-shouldered for Henry Talbot and not tall enough!

I think Tom will be back at the end of episode 3 or 4 for the Hughes/Carson wedding (the scene where Mary turns around is obviously at the wedding reception). I hope for 3 of course!

[Avaleigh]

I should know better than to get my hopes up but I honestly think it might happen. 

 

I feel like there's evidence to point to a steady build up over the past two seasons. JF wasn't sure what he wanted Tom to be exactly so Tom's career path seemed like it had the potential to go in several directions. Once he got the position of state manager to me it felt like a very deliberate choice to keep Mary and Tom having scenes together. I feel like they have a lot more in common than they did and even their differences are happily accepted by the other. Mary is on a totally different side when it comes to Tom's political leanings but she still encourages him to stay true to himself even if that means going to listen to politicians that she'd never want to vote for. She's become one of his defenders and they seemed to spend more time talking to each other than any other members of the family. I think Tom likes the way Mary is with Sybbie and of course he hasn't forgotten Sybil's loving opinion of Mary. I think Tom certainly "gets" Mary more than Tony or Charles ever did as far as having an understanding of her character and not just the obvious surface stuff.

 

The main thing I admit to not seeing evidence of is any sign of sexual jealousy. Each seems to be fine with seeing the other find happiness they just haven't found the right people yet. Mary disliked Sarah Bunting but it was because Sarah was a rude and thoughtless cow, not because of anything like sexual jealousy. She also didn't like the thought of Sarah taking Tom away from her them.

 

I think seven episodes is enough to establish a romance between Mary and Tom if that's the route JF ends up taking. With Henry Talbot I have my doubts that nine episodes is enough but I don't think it's impossible.

 

Put me down as somebody who would like an Atticus/Rose update even if it's only for one or two episodes.   

[Andorra]

I think seven episodes is enough to establish a romance between Mary and Tom if that's the route JF ends up taking. With Henry Talbot I have my doubts that nine episodes is enough but I don't think it's impossible.

Matthew Goode won't be in 9 episodes. He's not in episode 1 and it a rumor says he will be in 6 episodes only. I can't imagine that being enough!

[shipperx]

I really do have my fingers crossed for Tom and Mary. To me it feels very natural and right.

Tom and Edith would be massively disappointing on every level.

You could almost reverse this statement for me (except I don't think that Tom/Edith is the best option for either of them. Acceptable but not optimal)

I just don't see Mary/Tom as a fit. I just don't and therefore don't root for it. I'll accept it if it comes to pass but I'll find it a bit of a downer.

Not that I'm rooting for an Edith/Tom ending either. I'd prefer them each finding happiness elsewhere, but I do want them to find happiness. Mary also, though she isn't my favorite character. I just can't picture mary and Tom making each other happy (or even comfortable) long term

The truth is I prefer a Mary/Tom/Edith sibling-like triumvirate.

Edited September 9, 2015 by shipperx

[abbyzenn]

I don't want to see a Mary/Tom pairing.  I don't think it true to the characters even tho both have evolved.  I'd rather see Tom meet someone - he doesn't have to marry her but gives us the impression that is where it's heading and Mary happy being alone and owning the estate which is what she's wanted from the first episode.

I don't like Edith so I don't care what happens to her.

[sunflower]

Well, if this is to believed, no Tom/Mary pairing.  

http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s183/downton-abbey/news/a667618/downton-abbeys-michelle-dockery-you-can-quash-the-tom-and-mary-rumors.html#~pnQowdh4mpXW29

 

I really hate when actors pull crap like this because they're not supposed to spoil us.  Right?  Let us have our hopes at least until the UK airings.  

Edited September 10, 2015 by sunflower

[Andorra]

We'll see. It is possible Henry Talbot is indeed the one and the car racing will be the only obstacle for them.

The article is definitely wrong though when it says Tom will only be in the CS. He will be back by episode 4. If we're lucky even 3, because he definitely filmed from Mid March.

In the telegraph is a "who is who in series 6". Of course Tom doesn't even get a mention, but about Mary they say that a "potential romance across the class" makes her happy. I think they mean Talbot of course, so he doesn't seem to have a title and be middleclass? So maybe that's enough crossclass for Mary (speaking of character growth for her) even though I find it a bit ridiculous.

[Andorra]

So the newest spoilers say Henry Talbot is neither rich nor upper class. Mary is okay with that though, but has a problem with his racing.

It looks like part of my prediction (Mary's character growth will be in the fact that she chooses a man out of love and not out of practical reasons) might come true, but not quite as expected.

So my prediction now is: Mary/Talbot, Edith/Bertie and Tom will just stay around in the end without anything to do, still be the bloody agent to that bloody house, having forgotten all his ideals and values and his storyline will be the one upstairs completely without point and closure.

Depressing. Should I really bother watching? It costs me 2,99€ per episode. Is getting depressed really worth paying for?

[Avaleigh]

Well Andorra, you gave me hope about the house and for Mary and Tom so I say give it a try and hope for the best. I don't think Tom is going to be brought back for no reason. I'm reasonably convinced that most everyone is going to get a happy ending. JF is definitely aware that people want Tom to find love again so I don't think he'll be left out. If Edith is getting love then Tom definitely is.;p

[HoodlumSheep]

Well, if Mary x Tom is dead then I'll go back to hoping Evelyn returns. Except that wouldn't be cross-class. So basically, my third option is the only one left, which is that she stays happily independent. If they wanted me to root for Mary and Talbot, they should have introduced him sooner.

Looks like I won't be looking forward to the last episode very much.

[Eolivet]

One article says that Mary is blackmailed by a maid who saw her at the Liverpool Hotel (with Tony). So, Henry is too middle class for her, but then she winds up with a scandal that she debates having to share with him or not? I could see Fellowes thinking of that as oddly full circle-ish.

 

If the only obstacle to her and Henry is car racing, I will throw things. She had no reaction when he said his passion was for cars (in fact, she gazed longingly after him). I'm going to call serious plot contrivance if it's suddenly the issue (an issue maybe, but hopefully not the main one).

[Avaleigh]

Yeah, I can see it being an issue but not the main one. I can see how they couldn't delve into all of that in that brief scene but 

 

God Almighty, just how many people happened to be staying at that hotel in Liverpool who would recognize Mary? She's already been caught two or three times. Even Tom knew that she went to hook up with Tony. 

[Andorra]

I think Tom has a little bit more life experience than the other people in the family. He guessed that Marigold is Edith's child, too. He hasn't grown up as sheltered as the girls.

IMO if Mary will end up with Talbot it will be this way: She doesn't like his car racing, but she is so charmed, she decides she she will try to overlook it. Then Talbot will have an accident and Mary will break up with him.

And then in the CS I bet he'll come back, tell her that he gave up racing and they'll sink in each other's arms.

For Tom I just hope, hope, hope, that they'll give him someone lovely and interesting. There's a character named "Laura Edmons" listed for 4 episodes. She's played by Antonia Bernrath http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1553405/

Maybe she's the one? Just not another horrible Bunting type, please. And not someone boring either.

[Avaleigh]

Antonia Bernrath is certainly pretty enough to satisfy the people who claim that Mary isn't pretty enough to be with Tom. Of all the criticisms that I see that go against the idea of Tom/Mary this has to be one of the most tiresome. Each of the Crawley sisters are pretty in their own way in my opinion. 

 

No way are we getting another Sarah Bunting given how horribly that character was received. Even people who shared her political views were put off by how rude and annoying the character was. Their goodbye scene still makes me roll my eyes. It was like they had some great romance that was mostly in her head and then Tom had to go and humor her. 

[Andorra]

There are people who think Mary is not pretty enough to be with Tom?? LOL, that's ridiculous, Mary is beautiful!

I bet there are also people who think Tom is not pretty enough to be with Mary.

Well, looks like they will get their way anyway.

[caligirl50]

"That's definitely Tom she is seeing in that sequence, I'm 100% sure of it. I think the man in the cool sportscar is also Tom. I first thought it was Talbot, but I froze the picture and it definitely looks like Tom. Way too broad-shouldered for Henry Talbot and not tall enough!"

 

Matthew Goode is like 6'2".  Allen Leech is 5'11" or something....

Both Tom and Mary had true loves...I think it would be odd for both of them, and the audience, for these two to get together. 

Edited September 11, 2015 by caligirl50

[Andorra]

Isn't Fellows predictable? I'm always so amazed...

We know

they filmed a car crash scene in Episode 7 at the car race.

So history repeating itself? I can't believe it, but it is Fellows we're talking about and don't forget Anna and Bates both got into prison accused of murder!

I still think "Brary" would have been nice, but if it's not going to happen I won't lose sleep over it.

[ZoloftBlob]

You know if

 that car crash means that Mary ends up with another dead guy

 then I will just laugh and laugh and also really, I will start insisting we take Fellowes off the list of super awesome writers....

[caligirl50]

Tony Gillingham is also at the car race....

[ZoloftBlob]

Well, Tony did sleep with Mary, so he's due to die. Perhaps a fiery death for all of Mary's suiters?

Edited September 11, 2015 by ZoloftBlob

[Andorra]

Tony Gillingham is also at the car race....

That's nothing but a rumor. There was a picture of a man in the Daily Mail and they said "Oh look, Tony Gillingham is at the car race, too!" but it was so obviously NOT Tony Gillingham and the actor actually pointed it out on twitter, too.

I think neither Tom Cullen nor Julian Ovenden will appear in the series. They both were super busy all the time. Of course they could fit in a few filming days, but it doesn't look that they did. Tom Cullen was on TV this morning and was asked how the show will end and I got the impression he could barely stop himself from saying that he isn't in the series at all.

[romantic idiot]

My only problem with a Tom/Mary ending is that Tom would then end up with Mary and I'm not sure what he did to deserve that. 

 

Matthew Goode won't be in 9 episodes. He's not in episode 1 and it a rumor says he will be in 6 episodes only. I can't imagine that being enough!

It's Matthew Goode. If anyone can make us, well, me, believe it, he could. 

[caligirl50]

Well, okay!!!  Thank you!!! I saw the picture and it didn't look like Tom Cullen at all (unless he has been living at the gym since leaving the show).  The guy was way hunky....I was surprised when the caption said it was Lord Gillingham.

[SusanSunflower]

I have extreme doubts that Fellowes can write Talbott "deeply" and well enough in a handful of episodes that we will be devastated by Mary's loss if he has an "accident" ... I think Goode would be near-perfect casting if the show were going to continue ... but I'm not sure anyone is good enough for Mary in Fellowes' eyes. 

[ZoloftBlob]

I'm sorry, but I am already dancing with glee over the possible car wreck of Henry Talbot. Not that I mind the idea of his hooking up with Mary but that tragedy will strike yet again in the form of a car wreck!

 

I assume the Christmas special will end with Mary bedding Kemal Pamuk's younger brother and killing him, too :D

[Tetraneutron]

I have extreme doubts that Fellowes can write Talbott "deeply" and well enough in a handful of episodes that we will be devastated by Mary's loss if he has an "accident" ... I think Goode would be near-perfect casting if the show were going to continue ... but I'm not sure anyone is good enough for Mary in Fellowes' eyes. 

That's the good thing about it being the last season. The audience doesn't need to love him because he's the "happily ever after" and not a part of the show. He just has to generate enough good feeling that the audience sees Mary marrying him as a happy ending for her. So it's good he won't be in all the episodes, I think. Just enough so we learn what he's about (fabulously wealthy and titled but not a snob about it would be my guess), and then Mary gets her happy ending and everything's in a neat little bow. 

 

And I remember when the Christmas Special aired last year, everyone on here was predicting, given the ham handed way they introduced he likes fast cars, that it would be a source of conflict for the two of them. It's so obvious and cliched that of course it's what JF will write. And THAT'S the problem. People only care about a love story when there's some conflict to be overcome. That's why people were so invested in Mary/Matthew. And why no one cared about Mary/Anyone else, because the "conflict" was so manufactured and somehow low-stakes at the same time. And Henry liking fast cars is exactly that sort of non-flict. 

 

So that's why, I hope they keep Henry to a minimum. If we don't see much of him, we can't dislike him. 

[SusanSunflower]

I've always imagined that Mary ends up as the wife in Godford Park ... and I've rather enjoyed the idea of Talbott marrying Mary for her money and estate and then going into a rather rapid personal decline, drink, women, decauchery maybe (Good is so fresh-faced, it would be fun to make him dissolute ... (he could also play Bertie Wooster next time around), and I'd love to see Mary as Wallis Simpson or maybe some sort of Mitford.  Perhaps better yet, he and Mary, bored to death, become the next incarnation of Harriet Vine and Lord Peter Wimsey ... that would be brilliant. 

 

I've learned not to spend too much time imagining what Fellowes might have done with this splendid cast and location ... next time. 

Edited September 13, 2015 by SusanSunflower

[Andorra]

Just enough so we learn what he's about (fabulously wealthy and titled but not a snob about it would be my guess),

Michelle Dockery has said that

Henry's "lack of wealth" is an issue, as is his "different class". But the biggest issue is the car racing.

So we were not that far off when we predicted Mary and Tom. The reasons of conflict the same, just the man is another.

[sunflower]

Well, that just annoys me more because it's like they know someone like Tom is a good idea, but not Tom himself.  Hell, they're even in similar businesses, cars!  Wow, it's like they're aware MD and AL have chemistry, but are too afraid to actually do Mary/Tom because of...reasons.  I like Matthew Goode, but who cares about this newbie?  I wonder if that's why press interviews w/MD have her going on and on about how Mary's ending isn't about romance, but being happy with herself?  Blech.

 

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/09/downton-abbey-last-season-lady-mary-edith

[Andorra]

I'm annoyed about it, too. It looks like they think the storyarc would make sense, but didn't want to go there. I think it's a bit sad, because we know Tom and Mary for a very long time. IMO it would have been a nice change to see love blossom out of deep friendship instead of the instant chemistry approach we have seen between all other couples on this show.

Maybe the Lady doth protest too much? But no, I don't hope for it any more. It will be Matthew Goode, I'm pretty sure of it.

[sunflower]

 

Maybe the Lady doth protest too much? But no, I don't hope for it any more. It will be Matthew Goode, I'm pretty sure of it.

 

Yeah, I'm guessing you're right, but I hate being disappointed before the season even starts.  I don't know why actors do that.  I had this experience with another show, let's call it Mad Men.  

 

Don't tell your audience to "quash"  a rumor about a possible coupling that you've heard enough about/been asked about enough to knowingly "quash" it.  That's giving away spoilers before the season even starts in the U.K.  I thought that was frowned upon.  Is it just because they find the possibility so outlandish that it doesn't seem a spoiler to "quash" it or they want to prepare some Brarys for disappointment? or they don't care or they're lying?  I feel it's a combo of outlandish and not caring.  Sigh.  

 

However, one of the producers, Liz Trubridge, said something vague about couples audience want not happening.  I can't find it, but will look for it.  

 

Found it: "Executive producer Liz Trubridge said: “Although I think a lot of the audience wants certain characters to pair up … that isn’t the way it is going to be."

 

https://uk.celebrity.yahoo.com/post/128736493209/final-downton-abbey-series-will-bring-resolution

Edited September 13, 2015 by sunflower

[Avaleigh]

I like knowing because then I won't get my hopes up. 

 

Oh well. 

[Andorra]

I must admit, I could really warm to the thought that Henry Talbot is going to die in a car accident.

I mean it's Julian Fellows right? We have Mary blackmailed twice, we had both Bates' in prison for murder, we had one parent of each child dying...

Is it possible? It would be so funny! What an outrage it would create, LOL!

[ZoloftBlob]

Is it possible? It would be so funny! What an outrage it would create, LOL!

 

I know! :D

 

Come sit beside me on this historically restored train to hell :)

 

We'll laugh and laugh as Mary's new beau dies in the hideous car wreck! :D

[Eolivet]

Liz Trubridge's comments make me wonder if Mary and Henry's relationship will close on an ambiguous note, similar to Mary and Matthew (it could be argued) at the end of season 1. That way, those who want to can imagine they got together and those who don't can imagine she either ran off with Tom or joined a dance troupe and left George in the care of a nanny. Or that she still rends her garments over Matthew's picture every night. Choose your own ending!

 

I'm still thinking offscreen marriage and a new American wife for Tom, but I suppose we'll see. It wouldn't be Downton Abbey if Fellowes didn't introduce at least one love interest that everybody hated at least once a season.