Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
Pull out your dancing shoes, because Downton Abbey will be entering the Jazz Age.[Warning: The following contains major spoilers from the past three seasons of Downton Abbey. If you haven't caught up yet, read at your own risk!]It's been months since fans reeled from that shocking Christmas episode that also rocked the Crawley family, and now they're moving into the 1920s with new babies, suitors and even a musician or two. The story picks up in February 1922, when Downton Abbey is still in deep mourning for the loss of heir Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) from an auto accident. 13 reasons we want to grow up to be Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess"Both the audience and the characters have experienced some passage of time," executive producer Gareth Neame said at PBS' Television Critics Association fall preview on Tuesday.
Pull out your dancing shoes, becauseDownton Abbeywill be entering the Jazz Age.
[Warning: The following contains major spoilers from the past three seasons of Downton Abbey. If you haven't caught up yet, read at your own risk!]
It's been months since fans reeled from that shocking Christmas episode that also rocked the Crawley family, and now they're moving into the 1920s with new babies, suitors and even a musician or two. The story picks up in February 1922, when Downton Abbey is still in deep mourning for the loss of heir Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) from an auto accident.
13 reasons we want to grow up to be Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess
"Both the audience and the characters have experienced some passage of time," executive producer Gareth Neame said at PBS' Television Critics Association fall preview of Masterpiece on Tuesday. "We need to feel that something has happened since we were last there."Neame was joined by a panel of Downton's ladies -- Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan and Sophie McShera -- to present a sneak peek and answer questions about the upcoming fourth season, which won't premiere stateside until January.How will the family cope? And what dramas can we expect upstairs and down? Read on!UPSTAIRSLady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) Without Matthew, Mary is at her flintiest, but we can't blame her since she really did lose the best part of herself in a "stupid car crash." But even the always loyal Carson (Jim Carter) has had enough of her attitude and observes that she's letting herself "be defeated." Out of the mouths of servants! Meanwhile there is at least one possible new man in her life, played by Tom Cullen. "He is an old family friend, and she's known him since she was tiny," Dockery said. "She's slowly coming back to real life. It's important for her to eventually move on, so he is a potential love interest." And, surprising to no one, Mary isn't the most maternal of mothers to poor little George. "It's hard to bond with the baby because she's going through the grief," she said. "And when she sees him, she sees Matthew."Did Downton Abbey go to far? Why we're angry with the Season 3 finale
Lady Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) The oft-fooled and jilted Crawley sister will resume her journalistic pursuits and that tenuous relationship she had with her editor Mr. Gregson (Charles Edwards), who is more ardent than ever and even mentions marriage. "Yes, she is still involved with the paper," Carmichael said. "We haven't seen Gregson for some time due to the fact that the family is in mourning, but she's still turning in some articles. I like to think of her as a bit of a Carrie Bradshaw of the '20s. Edith goes to London a lot. " Neame added that "It really is a different story for Edith this year." It certainly looks like Edith is flourishing in the '20s. She's embraced the drop-waist flapper styles and appears more open and relaxed. She even gets to eat publicly in a restaurant! Also, expect her to have something to say about women getting the right to vote in America.Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) "We see the streets of London, and Lily James' character Rose is one of the Bright Young Things," Carmichael said. Through Rose, we'll see more of an escape from the dreary Downton mourning and more of that modern feel as the aristocracy fades.Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) As usual, she's alive and kicking ass, verbally. In the preview trailer, the Dowager Countess is the one who thinks of a scheme to get Mary back on her feet (see below), despite Lord Grantham's (Hugh Bonneville) reluctance to push his daughter. Also, she'll be just as opinionated as ever, especially when it comes to the liberal politics of Prime Minister David Lloyd George. "Every time he's mentioned, Violet has a seizure," Neame said. "We really want audiences to connect with these people to feel they are as much like us."Tom Branson (Allen Leech) Like Mary, Tom is dealing with the loss of a spouse and playing single parent to a young child. Perhaps those similarities are why Lady Violet was inspired for her latest scheme: Having Mary learn how to run an estate on behalf of her infant son George. "I want Tom to be your instructor," said the Dowager Countess in the preview. Don't expect anything but sympathy and business between the mournful in-laws though. "They are very much friends, and he is her brother-in-law still," Dockery said. "They've become close because of what they've been through, and because Mary becomes far more involved with the running of the estate. But romantically, I don't think it's going anywhere. I hope not!"Add new shows to your Watchlist now!
Cousin Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton) From the preview, we see that she's struggling with the loss of her son Matthew, perhaps even harder than Mary is. Neame teased that in an upcoming scene, all the widows and widowers -- Mary, Tom and Isobel -- gather together to commiserate. "They all reflect on their great, deep loves," he said. "It's a beautiful scene. And in a line, they each share how deeply they loved their partners. And before it gets maudlin, Isobel says, 'Aren't we the lucky ones?'"DOWNSTAIRSDownton Abbey: Was Thomas' downfall deserved?
Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera) and Ivy Stuart (Cara Theobold) The two kitchen staffers are still under the command of Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), but Daisy has a new air of confidence and competence about her now that she's the assistant cook. Meanwhile, Ivy's thoughts are still on going out and hanging out with the lads.Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) "It's a complex world for him going forward," Neame said. "I heard rumors that O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) is heading for the hills," which shakes up his need for control. He will also continue his rivalry with Carson to usurp the power in the household downstairs. OUTSIDERS