TV Series Review

Despite how they ended or how they began there were a lot of perfect couples on the show and a lot of couples that made no sense at all.

Downton Abbey had many romances over its six seasons. Many ended in heartbreak – let us never forget that each of the Crawley grandkids has one dead parent – but there were some happily-ever-afters. There was also a lot of scandal. Remember Mary’s first fling dying in her bed? Or Mr. Bates’ estranged wife turning up murdered?

But, despite how they ended or how they began, there were a lot of perfect couples on the show and a lot of couples that made no sense at all. And then there is Cora and Robert who, at times, was a lovely couple, and at other times made you want to tear your hair out. Which is why they’re not on this list.

Make No Sense: Mary and Henry

After Matthew died in the third season, it seemed that Mary might never fall in love again. How could she ever find someone as perfect for her as Matthew was? But she started dating and had all sorts of suitors from Tony Gillingham to Charles Blake to poor Evelyn Napier whom she never looked at twice. But none of them were quite right.

When Henry Talbot entered the scene, he seemed perfect. He was dashing and handsome and witty. But there was no chemistry there. The show tried to convince the audience that they were passionately in love, but the truth was they both had more chemistry with Tom than they ever did with each other. Her friends and family kept telling Mary that they were perfect for each other, but Mary’s instincts may have been right all along.

Perfect: Tom and Sybil

Some of the best characters complement each other and make each other better people. Tom and Sybil were a great example of this. When Tom is first introduced he’s an Irish socialist keen on overturning the status quo. Admirable and necessary ambitions, but he was all sharp edges and brash outbursts. Sybil was sheltered and desired more out of life but didn’t know what. Sybil helped soften his sharpness and encourage his long-term goals, while he encouraged her nursing career and let her know that a life outside of Downton could be fulfilling in different ways.

Sadly, their time was cut short with Sybil’s death during childbirth, but Sybil’s influence stayed with Tom and helped him create his place within the Crawley family.

Make No Sense: Daisy and Alfred and Ivy and Jimmy

This obviously wasn’t just a couple as there are four people involved, but they were each trying to become a couple and none of it worked out. Daisy was in love with Alfred who was in love with Ivy who was in love with Jimmy who was in love with himself. And though there were some successful dates and dances, nothing really stuck. A lot of it was because all four of them acted insufferably towards each other.

And spare a thought for the real victim of their constant couple switching – poor Mrs. Patmore. More than once she had to tell them to stop mooning about each other and get to work. It must’ve been exhausting and she’s a hero for not sacking the lot of them.

Perfect: Mary and Matthew

Mary did not make the best impression on Matthew upon their first meeting. He could tell she was a snob who looked down on a lawyer who was going to inherit her estate and family fortune, not considering that he wanted nothing to do with it. And Matthew made a pretty bad impression on Mary, as she overheard him complaining that it was likely they would try and marry off one of the Crawley girls to him.

But once they got to know each other, they were perfect for one another. Loving Matthew softened Mary considerably and toned down her snobbery. Mary made Matthew believe in himself and taught him that owning an estate like Downton was a duty and an honor, not a burden. It took years for her to truly get over his death, and that’s not a surprise.

Make No Sense: Tom and Sarah Bunting

The first woman Tom was interested in after Sybil died was Sarah Bunting. She had a lot in common with him, with their socialist political views and their stations in life. Both were not servants, as he was Downton’s estate agent and she was a school teacher. And they both believed the world needed to change.

But Sarah was awful. When she was invited to Downton for dinner as the Crawleys wanted to get to know her, she was rude and condescending. And when saying she doesn’t like the type of people the Crawleys are (i.e. Aristocrats), Tom reminds her that he loves them. But it’s not something they can get past, so thankfully she leaves town.

The cast of Downton Abbey was numerous and vast, but here are 10 now-big names that you probably completely forgot were on the series.

Downton Abbey is probably the most popular period drama ever made. Its blend of likable characters, exquisite set design, and all-around grandeur is an infectious concoction for viewers looking for that old-world charm in their entertainment.

But, for all its popularity, a lot of TV viewers might have forgotten how many big names in film and TV made appearances on the series. From the main characters to the supporting cast, there are a ton of actors who joined the ranks of the cast that many of us completely forgot. Here are the biggest names who made appearances on the British series.

Lilly James

While she might have been a mainstay for multiple seasons, fans might have forgotten that Lilly James was on the series. James has become quite the name thus far in entertainment, playing roles in Disney’s Cinderella and Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver.

James played the sweet and kind cousin to the Crawley family, Rose. Rose was a lighthearted youth who brought a ton of life back into the show after the death of Sybil, daughter of Robert and Cora. If it wasn’t for her long-standing role on Downton Abbey, Lilly James might not have become as big a name as we know her to be today.

Charles Edwards

You might not know Charles Edwards by name exactly, but you’ll recognize his face to be sure. This British actor has made appearances all over the place, in series both large and small. In Downton Abbey, Edwards played Michael Gregson, the fallen lover and late fiance to Lady Edith Crawley.

Though he was in the series for a short time, his presence continued to be felt through his daughter Marigold. Edwards can be recognized for his work as well in series like The Crown. Here he can be found playing Martin Charteris, the Baron Charteris of Amisfield. Here he played the courtier to Queen Elizabeth.

Dan Stevens

Ok, perhaps you do remember Dan Stevens. Stevens played Matthew Crawley, heir to Robert and future lover and husband to Lady Mary Crawley. Sadly, Stevens didn’t last nearly as long as he could have, leaving the show and being killed off in a car wreck.

Stevens has since gone on to some major projects. He has lead the FX X-Men series Legion, earning a ton of critical praise in the process. He also starred as the Beast in the remake of Disney’s classic animated film Beauty & The Beast. Without leaving the show, he never would have been able to pursue these career highlights.

Penny Downie

Penny Downie is one of the most talented and recognized British actresses in the business. Apart from her film career, she has held a fantastic theater career as well. In fact, she was in the much-lauded production of Hamlet alongside David Tennant, playing his mother Gertrude.

But, she also held a brief role on Downton Abbey. Here she played mother to Rose’s betrothed, Lady Sinderby. She played quite the foil to her husband, refusing to allow him to ruin the chances of Rose and her son. Her support allowed the two to marry without too many hiccups in the process.

Iain Glen

Iain Glen is known by many in the film and TV community for his roles in many science fiction, fantasy, and comic book series. He is probably best known for his role in Game of Thrones as Jorah Mormont. He can also be found in the DC Universe series Titans playing a matured and weathered Bruce Wayne.

If you forgot though, he also played a suitor to Lady Mary in Downton Abbey. Glen played the role of Richard Carlisle, a mean spirited snob who nearly forced Lady Mary to marry him. Luckily, Mary refused and went for Matthew, leaving Carlisle in the dust.

In Downton Abbey, romance bloomed on both the upstairs and downstairs. We rank shipworthy couples that should have been together forever.

PBS’ hit series Downton Abbey tackles a lot of issues, from historical events to class relationships to the speed of social progress. Arguably though, the series is far more concerned with one thing: romance. So much of the series is a big game of “will they won’t they?.”

Obviously, there was the central struggle for Lady Mary to find a proper suitor, but this was an issue for a lot of characters. Throughout the series, whether they were an aristocrat or a servant, there were many near-romantic connections that could have lead to full marriage.

Lady Mary & Charles Blake

To get some of the obvious ones out of the way, we need to talk about Lady Mary. So much of her character progression is about her struggle to find a suitable husband to assist in running the estate. One relationship that could have turned into something more was that between herself and Charles Blake.

Blake worked for the government, assessing the full cost of running giant historical estates such as Downton Abbey. Although the two came from fairly different worlds, there was a definite connection there, and their contrasting views would have made a great team when it came to running the house.

Tom Branson & Miss Bunting

Tom is one of the more tragic characters of the show. He comes from a country whose identity is threatened by imperialists, and he falls in love with the daughter of that same system. His entire identity and purpose are always put into question.

One person who challenged him and could have really suited him was Miss Bunting, the village school teacher. Her similar “radical” viewpoints matched his, and the two really could have left Downton behind for a life that was more true to the two of them.

Lady Edith & Patrick Crawley

At the beginning of the series, the heir to Downton, Patrick, was said to have perished in the sinking of the Titanic. This set off a chain of events which brought Matthew Crawley into the picture and changed the entire course of this family.

So to have him supposedly reappear as a disfigured veteran during WWI was a bit of a shock. If he really was Patrick, he and Edith could have made a perfect match. Edith seems to attract tragedy, so marrying the once heir to her father fits the bill nicely.

Harold Levinson & Madeleine Allsopp

One of the biggest guest stars to appear in the series was Paul Giamatti as Harold Levinson, brother to Lady Cora. Harold visits London during a Christmas episode and is courted into a proposed union with Madeleine Allsopp.

Their early meetings don’t go so well, as Levinson is a bit of a maverick in this world of aristocrats. His blunt personality isn’t enough to successfully garner a marriage, but the two certainly had a chemistry that could have grown into something more.

Mrs. Patmore & Mr. Mason

Mrs. Patmore remains one of the most beloved characters of the whole series. Her blunt attitude and wit served her well as one of the foundational members of the cast. Sadly, romance was never fully in the cards for the character.

While she almost was engaged, she turned that offer down and never again was heavily pursued. That being said, there was some semi-romantic chemistry between herself and Mr. Mason, father-in-law to Daisy. The pair would have fit together quite nicely.