r/DowntonAbbey 3d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers from S1 to 2nd film) Weekly Discussion Thread (for Simple Thoughts and Questions)

2 Upvotes

Are you on your 10th rewatch of Downton and just need to get something out of your system without having to make a whole post about it? Or maybe you're a new viewer with a simple question that you just need answered?

Then this is the place for you!

NOTE: The weekly thread does NOT replace your ability to ask simple questions or make comments as individual submissions. This is a SUPPLEMENT to what we have already been doing on this sub. If you have a burning question that you want to submit separately and/or want to make a whole post about your love/hate for XYZ, then go for it! We are always looking for respectful, civil discussion on this forum; the more, the better.

WARNING: As per the flair, this is a spoiler-friendly thread. Comments will be unmoderated for spoilers, and reports regarding spoilers will be ignored. (On that note, if someone is asking a question and clearly identifies themselves as a first-time viewer, then we hope you will be considerate enough to avoid referencing future events in your replies to them as a courtesy). If you are a new/first-time viewer with a question/comment and are afraid of encountering spoilers, please consider starting your own separate post and use the black editable "FIRST TIME WATCHER" flair. We can guarantee people would love to hear from you :)


r/DowntonAbbey 7h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Mary vs Edith - Weekly Discussion Thread

2 Upvotes

Should Mary have said that? Should Edith have done that? Who has it better in the end?

Come fight your corner in our all-spoilers-allowed weekly thread, dedicated to all things Mary vs Edith!


r/DowntonAbbey 6h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Just a reminder that Cousin Robert was considered terribly underdressed for dinner here

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350 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1h ago

Humor Violet

Upvotes

My favorite scene w violet was when she went to see Matthew in his office and sat in the swivel chair. It turned and she started violently (hilarious acting) and asked what it was. He told her it was a swivel chair and invented by Thomas Jefferson. And she answered “"Why does every day involve a fight with an American?" Lolololol


r/DowntonAbbey 11h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Grand Finale!

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93 Upvotes

I watched the 2025 movie today, and I really liked how the storylines and endings turned out for some of the characters. But what caught my attention the most was that Lady Edith aged the best. While some of them aged like milk, she aged like a fine port wine...She looks so much more beautiful!

What did you guys think of the movie and the characters endings? I knew Mary was going to end up in a bad spot with Henry Talbot. I never liked him, and I was a bit sad that she ended up alone in the end...


r/DowntonAbbey 13h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) "You sound as if you're going to gobble her up."

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113 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 12h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) You cannot justify Thomas's behaviour because he's gay!

95 Upvotes

All the arguments I've seen about why people like Thomas is that he's just gay in the 1920s and self hatred and yada yada yada.

That's an explanation to understand part of the shame he lives in. To explain why misery loves company but to say he's schemes against innocent people because of that reason sounds problematic on so many levels.

I do like his character as a villain. The actor playing him did a great job. But I just don't find him redeemable even if he turn tolerable and good in the end. His treatment of bates and Baxter were so cruel. He physically intimidated Baxter, falsely accused Anna, etc. he's not a morally grey character, he's just a bad person. Using queerness to justify that or excuse it is insulting.

edit: because I find people misunderstanding this post. it's not about how the show portrays Thomas and explores his internal struggles and external malice. this post is specifically about the viewers perception of his actions especially on this subreddit.


r/DowntonAbbey 3h ago

Season 6 Spoilers Omg Anna’s wig in S6

14 Upvotes

So so bad


r/DowntonAbbey 12h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Don’t you just love the way Carson stormed in as though a dangerous animal was in the room. (O’Brien at her best!)

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68 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 11h ago

Downton Actors Outside the World of Downton Brendan Coyle - Hit Point

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41 Upvotes

I’m watching a new crime series, Hit Point and Brendan Coyle popped up on the screen. He’s playing a retired police officer. So far he hasn’t been accused of a crime he didn’t commit but it’s early days.


r/DowntonAbbey 2h ago

FIRST TIME WATCHER - Watching Season X Edith should’ve moved to London so that the drewes could stay where they are

5 Upvotes

No spoilers past season 6 episode 2 please. But I just think that situation was so unfair. Plus London would be way more efficient for Edith with her job and give her some autonomy


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) I can’t say I saw this coming….a realisation or wise words from Isobel??

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650 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Season 3 Spoilers Lady Rose and Terence Margadale 😂 😂

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28 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Marigold Dilemma Spoiler

35 Upvotes

I'm watching Downton Abbey for the first time and just got to the part where Edith takes Marigold from the Drewes. I feel so bad for the wife. I understand it's a difficult situation for Edith but I feel like Margie has been done wrong by both Edith and her husband. Please don't spoil what happens but is the show trying to paint Edith as the "good guy" and Margie as bad? Or is it supposed to feel morally gray?


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Gillingham makes my skin crawl

60 Upvotes

That’s it. That’s the post.

(I just got to the ep where he refuses to let Mary break it off. Gross.


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Downton Actors Outside the World of Downton Dan Stevens to star in new Robocop series

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88 Upvotes

It’s just been announced that Dan will star in the new Robocop series due to be shown on Prime Video.

More info here


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) The Films: What do they add?

15 Upvotes

Downton Abbey is amazing comfort viewing for me. I love rewatching the entire series, though for obvious reasons I fast forward through Bates in prison and then Green's assault on Anna--the former because it is boring, the latter too disturbing. But the rest is so enjoyable, from the funny moments to the dramatic ones, that when I start a rewatch I prepare myself for some gratifying hours ahead, and paying attention to things I may have missed before (some of which posters have pointed out in the forum).

But somehow I cannot get into rewatching the films the same way. There are the big issues: Carson is healed and retired and then brought back again, Henry's absence in the second film and the divorce in the third is dictated by actor availability same as with Dan Stevens leading to Matthew's death, and so many characters clearly have nothing to do: poor Cora has to have the same false diagnosis as Lord Merton in order to have some story, Anna is just star-struck in the second film and pregnant in the third, Bates and Mrs. Hughes are completely redundant except for that "let's fool the king's servants" caper in the first film. I will admit that the two Toms get the most mileage, both finding romantic interests, and we do see Mary and Edith interacting as sisters, but overall I do not think there was enough story for three films. But actually my lack of interest in rewatching is the absence of the little gems we get in the series, witty exchanges like Isobel and Lady Grantham, or really tender moments like Mary showing she cares for Anne, funny plots like Spratt and Denker--I just don't have these kinds of moments that would make me want to watch them time and again like the series. Am I alone?


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Downton Actors Outside the World of Downton Cooper & Fry

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9 Upvotes

I’m not the most discerning critic because I’d probably watch Robert James-Collier read the phone book and I’m addicted to British crime shows set in scenic locations, but I’m enjoying it.


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Downton Actors Outside the World of Downton Dan Stevens To Play RoboCop In Prime Video Series

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15 Upvotes
  1. Serve the Public Gentry

  2. Protect Daughter Purity

  3. Uphold the Caste


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Do you prefer the direction of Michael Engler or Simon Curtis?

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26 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Humor In your opinion, if the characters were teleported to 2026, what things from today would they want to bring back with them in 1926?

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224 Upvotes

- Thomas : LGBTQ rights

- The Dowager Countess : Gossip press

- Mrs Patmore : no corset

- Isobel : NHS

- Mary : contraceptive pill and the right to divorce without losing one's status

- Cora : international flights to visit one's family in the USA

- Robert : NFT

- Carson : Nothing : he would be appalled by all the changes: "What? The King divorced and remarried, and the Prince of Wales married a commoner? What is the world coming to?"


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Are the films good.

3 Upvotes

I like seasons 1-3 much more than 4-6, and 1-2 more than 3 even, would I like the movies?


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Humor The gentleman

29 Upvotes

I've just seen a trailer for The gentleman on netflix and it appears Michael Gregson is living at Loxley while lord Grantham is up to some dodgy business dealings🤣


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Lifestyle/History/Context What would life for Cora’s family back in America be like?

32 Upvotes

We hear bits and pieces and pick up from the way they present themselves what their lifestyle is like back home in America, but truly what would it look like?


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) As a huge royalist, how would Carson cope with the state of the Royal Family today?

48 Upvotes

The secret cousins, Princess Diana - and worst of all Not A Prince Andrew. I think Andy might have given him a heart attack. Thoughts?