Five years at the Abbey has caused a lot of drama, but what are Now's best bits?
Multi-BAFTA and Emmy award winner Downton Abbey is leaving our screens on Sunday after five years of high society drama. SOB! We’re so sad. But what an emotional five years it’s been! War, affairs between Lords and commoners, and death. So. Much. Death. It’s all this ridiculousness that earned the show’s special, old-timey place in the nation’s heart. So, before we say goodbye to the Crawley/Grantham clan, let’s have a look at the best bits.
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Lady Edith left at the altar – Season 3, Episode 3
Poor Edith hasn’t had the best love life but after a lot of trying, she finally was asked for Sir Anthony Stallan hand. Well, this lasted until the very moment he stood at the altar with the poor (emotional) aristocrat. Once up there, he proceeded to do the one interesting thing the man has ever done: tell the whole wedding congregation that he ‘can’t do this’ and ran away, leaving devastated Edith the opportunity to become a journalist. Can’t say she made a bad decision there but poor, poor Edith.
Mr Pamuk dies after a night of hanky-panky with Lady Mary – Season 1 Episode 3
Hailed as the moment that the series stepped away from a same-old period drama reputation, Mr Pamuk sexing himself to death in a stately home, in a respectable show, is probably one of the best plot twists of all time. Having spent the night making oogly-eyes at Lady Mary, the Turkish diplomat blackmailed his way into her room and did the do. Unfortunately, he took ‘la petit mort’ to the next level, and orgasmed himself to death. This lead to some body disposal, a lot of lying, and, of course because it’s Downton, some blackmail.
Death of Bates’ Wife – Season 2, Episode 6
The blackmail came to ahead with Bates’ wife Vera returning and using the Turkish diplomat’s death against Bates’ then object of affection, Anna. Arguments ensued, people were unhappy, then Vera decides to kill herself with poison in order to frame Bates – which made the audience question whether the butler actually did murder her. He was imprisoned for life until Anna did some old-fashioned investigation and got him out. You go girl.
Soap-based miscarriage caused by Miss O’Brien – Season 1, Episode 7
O’Brien forged a strong reputation throughout the first series, mainly of being horrible, and this is made clearest when she caused the miscarriage of dear Cora. After thinking her job was in jeopardy, she to placed a wet bar of soap next to the countess’ bath. Cora slipped and miscarried and we all cried. Even O’Brien cried, for like, a day.
Lord Grantham pukes blood – Season 6, Episode 5
Season 6 took a very bloody turn when the patriarch’s stomach ulcer exploded and he vomited blood all over the dinner, and future Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. This left us all wondering if the poor Lord would survive the ordeal, until we watch the preview of next week’s episode, where he sat eating dinner with the Dowager Countess. Almost had us, Downton.
Matthew returns from the dead! – Season 2, Episode 4
Probably the most romantic moment of the show, Lady Mary sings ‘If You Were the Only Girl (in the World)’ to the wounded soldiers staying at Downton Abbey. Slowly she stops singing, as the thought of Matthew’s suspected death creeps up on her. Then suddenly he appears. It’s all very British and cute. If only it lasted through to next season, because Matthew was killed in a car crash in the second-most callous death the showrunners could throw at us. What was the evilest, most despicable death on the show?
The nation’s favourite dog dies! Season 5, Episode 7
They killed the dog. The cute, cute dog. How could they? She starred in the opening credits. Everyone loved her. Okay, it was unfortunate that the massive terrorist organisation ISIS shared the same name as her and, by the time of season 5, the dog was older than Bruce Forsyth in dog-years. It ended with the heart-wrenching scene of little Isis snuggling up in bed with Lord and Lady Grantham as she died. WHY!?
And finally… The Dowager Countess, doing her thing
And to see us off is the Dowager Countess, doing what she does best: being unstoppably sassy. Take it away, Maggie…
Tom Capon
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