Much of the plot of Downton Abbey has had neither rhyme nor reason over the past five series. But the one thing Downton is good at is picking up where it left off. So where were we up to last time? And what is likely to happen next? More importantly, bearing in mind that this is the last series and there are an awful lot of loose ends, what are the questions we most want answered before Mrs Patmore pipes her last meringue?
Where did we leave them?
In the last instalment of series five (the Christmas episode) it was 1924, and the ridiculous business with the Russians was dragging on, with Cousin Violet admitting that she had known love with the Slavic Silver Fox. Everyone had found out about Edith’s tiresome Impostor Child. But she doesn’t know that her father knows. Then there was a lot of silliness about Rose not being Jewish, I seem to remember, and not getting on with her new in-laws. Although it all worked out because her father-in-law turned out to be a massive philanderer and Rose covered that up and endeared herself to him.
In more stirring news, the repercussions of the murder of the valet Green (Mini-Den from EastEnders) were still being felt, although we still do not know who killed him. It could have been Anna. Or it could have been Bates. Or it could have been neither of them. Is Anna still in prison? I’m pretty sure she is. Although I might have nodded off over the sherry for that bit. Crucially – and here was the news we’d all been waiting for – Mr Carson finally proposed to Mrs Hughes: “Well, that’s the point. I do want to be stuck with you ...” Oh, also Branson left. Yes, he left. And Molesley and Baxter showed signs of a burgeoning romance. Phew. And, oh, yes, Cousin Violet’s servants, Denker and Spratt, had an argument about some broth.
What will happen next?
It’s 1925. That much we know. There have been murmurs of “at least three weddings and a funeral” for this series, as well as a promised return to the Mr Pamuk storyline of series one. I’m sure we all recall the Turkish diplomat who expired in Lady Mary’s arms after over-exerting himself and whose corpse had to be spirited out of the house in the dead of night. It’s a scandal-waiting-to-happen that has been hanging over Lady Mary all this time and occasionally rears its head. Personally, my greatest hope is that Mr Pamuk has a twin.
Plotlines that need concluding
Anna and Bates and the Green murder needs to be resolved, obviously. The status of Edith and Marigold, the Impostor Child, needs to be defined. (And where is the Editor? Dead in Germany? I don’t know if we can be sure.) Lady Mary needs to find love. As does Cousin Isobel. The Earl of Grantham needs to reach a position of financial security – or give up the estate. Thomas needs to find (illicit gay) love and/or a higher position in the house. I predict a double wedding for Carson and Mrs Hughes, and Mrs Patmore and A New Suitor. If Cousin Violet dies, I’m taking to the streets.
Is Isis the labrador actually physically dead?
There was some confusion over the death of Isis, the Earl of Grantham’s labrador. One minute she was looking a bit peaky. The next they were choosing a headstone. It was all a bit fishy. Or doggy. Or something. Either way, she disappeared rather too abruptly and it would have been nice to have been told why. Although why change the habit of a lifetime?
Whatever happened to Melty-Faced Patrick?
He was the cousin who was supposed to have gone down in the Titanic, turned up to make a potential claim on the estate and/or marriage proposal (it was unclear), and liked doing funny self-identifying things with his finger (I’m not making this up). This was the gesture that caused Edith to realise he was supposedly The Real Patrick. But we never did find out whether he was The Real Patrick or just a Melty Face. Bring him back! We miss him!
What was the connection between Miss O’Brien and Thomas?
One of the best dynamics in the show and never explained. I’ve always believed that she was his real mother (without him knowing) and that Thomas is the secret illegitimate son of the Earl of Grantham and has a potential claim on the estate. Isn’t this the best idea ever? It also suggests the motivation behind O’Brien making Cora slip on the soap so that she didn’t have another baby. (Remember that?) I’m pretty sure I wrote about it here three years ago. So if Uncle Julian has been reading this blog, then I look forward to this unfolding over this series. It’s OK, you can have it for free. I won’t take commission. Not in this lifetime anyway.
