Some series finales leave fans wanting for more, but that was not the case for the final episode of Downton Abbey. Julian Fellowes, who created the British period drama that took America by storm, tied up all loose ends in the series finale of Downton Abbey. In an emotional good-bye to the beloved series, Downton Abbey was not stingy with handing out happy endings to almost every single character. But, hey, no one ever said that the family of Granthams and Crawleys were cheap.
While I would have adored cameos by Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti, every major character from Downton Abbey got some sort of closure. I mean, when the whole episode is framed around the wedding of Edith, you know that Downton is done being cruel. After six seasons of drama, deaths, and dinners, Downton quit playing games with fans' hearts and gave romantic hope to a number of characters and satisfying conclusions to most everyone else.
Although I will never be truly satisfied with any ending of Downton Abbey because it couldn't include Matthew Crawley and I will just miss the show too damn much, the series made the parting a happy one. Here is how the characters in Downton Abbey found joy during the series finale.
Lady Mary & Henry Talbot
After a long courtship and quickie wedding, Mary told new husband Henry Talbot that the pair were to have a baby to join half brother George. To top it all off, Henry gave up car racing (why was no one in her family sympathetic to Mary about not liking his profession?!?) and started a business with ...
Tom Branson
After missing the beginning of the final season, brother-in-law Tom Branson returned from America to be Mary's number one matchmaker. Not only did he open an automotive shop with Henry in the series finale, but he also had a hint of romance himself with editor Laura Edmunds, who works for ...
Lady Edith & Bertie Pelham
As previously mentioned, Edith got married to the loving (and very rich) Bertie, who accepted her daughter Marigold, in the series finale. (She really should thank Aunt Rosamund for all of her help, although I apologize for Rosamund's omission in this list.) Everyone in Downton was thrilled (and surprised) at Edith's good fortune, no two people more so than ...
Lord & Lady Grantham
Robert and Cora have had their fair share of bumps in their marriage, but the series ended with the pair content in watching their family grow. After a little protest from Robert about Cora's job at the hospital (that Lady Rose came to the rescue on), everything was fine with the couple, especially when Cora received a compliment from ...
The Dowager Countess
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley is the most fabulous character from the entire series. While she didn't have a major plot in the series finale, she was happy to sit back and help her friends and family find happiness, including her daughter-in-law Cora. She supported Spratt's hilarious career as an advice columnist for Lady Edith (sorry Denker) and she especially got involved in the romance of ...
Isobel Crawley & Lord Merton
Isobel found out that Lord Merton ("Dickie") was dying from pernicious anemia in the series finale, but decided to make the most of their final moments together by freeing him from his awful son Larry and daughter-in-law Amelia and getting married to him. Dr. Clarkson (sorry, dude — no happy ending for you) discovered that Dickie actually only had regular anemia, which meant he would not be dying anytime soon — hoorah! But another character had a more legitimate health scare ...
Mr. Carson & Mrs. Hughes
After getting married earlier in the season, Mr. Carson revealed to Mrs. Hughes that he had "the palsy," which made his hands shake so badly that he could not work. When he told Lord Grantham he could not continue his duties, Robert told Carson that the pair could continue to live on the estate and Carson could help with special events. It wasn't the happiest moment for Carson, but he can stay at Downton with Mrs. Hughes by his side. And this led to someone else having to take over the role of butler ...
Thomas Barrow
Oh, Thomas. I guess after your emotional season, I can say you deserve a happy ending too. Although servant Thomas spent a significant time of Downton scheming, after his suicide attempt in Season 6, he became a kinder Thomas. He left Downton for another job, but when he visited for Edith's wedding, Lord Grantham offered him the job of head butler. He was able to celebrate with other servants like ...
Miss Baxter & Mr. Molesley
Miss Baxter found her own strength, thanks to Thomas, and decided not to visit the man who put her in prison. Mr. Molesley found his calling earlier in the season as a teacher, but got a full-time teaching job in the series finale. Their romantic relationship didn't go much further though, not like ...
Daisy & Andy
Daisy passed her school tests previously in the final season, but the last episode was all about love. After a few kitchen heartbreaks, Daisy finally found a nice guy in Andy. The pair shared their feelings for one another, all thanks to ...
Mrs. Patmore & Mr. Mason
Although Daisy had been resistant to Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason having any type of relationship, Mr. Mason told Mrs. Patmore in the series finale how he'd like to see her around his house, which he thought was more likely since Daisy chose to live there in the finale. Mrs. Patmore is Downton's most undervalued player, so I was thrilled for her, but none of this joy surpassed the joy of ...
Anna & Bates
The people who have perhaps suffered the most on Downton Abbey finally got a happy ending when Anna gave birth to a child (in Mary's bedroom no less). The couple, who has spent way too much time talking about and in jail, finally had a reason to smile at the arrival of their son. Now, just continue to stay out of trouble!
Everyone had reason to celebrate in the series finale of Downton Abbey, including me, who was just happy to have had at least six seasons of one of the most iconic TV series in recent history. Now, excuse me as I go cry at the thought of never having a new Downton Abbey to watch again ever again.
Images: Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2015 for MASTERPIECE; Giphy (12)
