‘Downton Abbey’ season 5 spoilers: What we know about Maggie Smith, cast’s future
Tonight on PBS, “Downton Abbey” season 4 is going to be coming to a close with a lengthy finale that hopes to answer a number of questions that could be on your mind, including whether or not Lady Mary makes a choice of male suitor, if Mr. Bates can move forward past this Mr. Green incident once and for all, and also if Lady Edith is going to come to terms with what is going on when it comes to her baby.
But, this article is more about the future beyond that, and without giving anything major away, we want to present you with the five things you need to know now about season 5 either before or after you watch the finale.
1. Production has already started in England, and will continue there until August. The new season premieres on ITV in September, and again in America in January. PBS has no reason to move it around when the ratings are so high.
2. All of the major cast members, including Maggie Smith (who really has the opportunity to leave whenever she wants), will be back for more.
3. Also, we can tell you that Tom Cullen and Julian Ovenden, who play Anthony Gillingham and Charles Blake, will also both be back. Read into that what you will when it comes to the Mary storyline.
4. Filming has already taken place in London, so there once again will be some traveling beyond the Abbey like in the show’s finale tonight.
5. At the moment, there are no plans for this to be the final season of the show. Whether or not that changes may depend on if many of the cast members opt to sign new contrasts, or go off into the world of feature films. Maggie is someone to worry about as always, but there have also been hints from other cast members that they may want to move on. We understand the feeling, but at the same time, this is a very collaborative show, and you can get an opportunity to work elsewhere six or so months a year.
What do you want to see on “Downton Abbey” season 5? Share your thoughts below, and head over to the link here if you want to get some more news specifically related to Michelle Dockery. You can also sign up now for our CarterMatt Newsletter to get further updates via email.
Photo: ITV
Meyra93
February 25, 2014 @ 12:44 pm
Would like to see more about Edith’s storyline and Mr.Carson and Mrs. Hughes to get together finally, it would be the best present for everyone really
Dion flowerboy
February 25, 2014 @ 4:06 am
The Thomas character should have been sacked or moved on by now. They are not going to give him a “happy relationship.” That is not realistic for that time period. Maybe Anna will call her husband by his first name for once. They should be starting a family by now. I’m guessing Edith’s babydaddy is dead. Has the actor who played him been seen on set? The show shouldn’t last past season six.
Lady Elorac
February 25, 2014 @ 2:13 am
Maggie Smith’s facial expressions make the show worth living for….I love Downton and have refused to leave my house when it’s on :-) Make the season longer.
almadecolor
February 24, 2014 @ 10:28 pm
First of all, I am delighted that Mosely and Ms. Baxter have a chance at something together. Bravo! I do not, however, wish to see anything further come between Lord and Lady Grantham…they’ve already had their fair share of the drama and divisions in their relationship. I do so wish for Edith to be able to be settled with someone who is unattached…whether it be her daughter’s father or another chap willing to overlook her past folly. She always seems to get the short end of the stick…(yes, some of those instances are her doing)…but I would like for her to come into her own at some point and not always be dodging bullets and living in Mary’s shadow. I know I’m beginning to sound very revisionist-fairytale-ish, but I must say I do love a good plot that ties up loose ends and not simply rehashes old frayed ends!
Steve B
February 24, 2014 @ 10:07 pm
The great depression and the lead up to the second world war.
Caroline john
February 24, 2014 @ 8:48 pm
They should have people be on a side for Mary’s suitors… Who’s side r u on? Blake or gillingham?? And why won’t they just make Gregson come back? Edith needs a little sunshine
Doggiemama
February 24, 2014 @ 8:44 pm
Lord G WAS NOT screwing a maid…just kissed her. I would love to see Barrow fall in love with a really sweet man and who would change him forever. Maybe he’s so mean because being gay in English society back then had to be hideously impossible. I am still smiling at the image of how season 4 ended, with Mrs. Hughes and Carson holding hands. Maybe they’ll be an item when the show returns. I really wish PBS would just get over it and broadcast at the same time as in England. Are they really afraid they will lose viewers? This show is so beloved, no one will stop watching it. Then I can stop feverishly searching for spoilers!!! I cannot believe we have to have to wait so long
Mary Robinson
February 24, 2014 @ 5:22 pm
Really wish Downton could go on for ever! In series 5 Michael Gregson needs comes back or else the it is likely that Edith will spend the rest of her life alone. She really could do with a bit of luck!
atigrace
February 24, 2014 @ 12:00 pm
And YES, These seasons are ridiculously short!
atigrace
February 24, 2014 @ 11:59 am
Love Downton Abbey, LOVE Maggie Smith. Maybe its just me, but I’m getting a little tired of so many characters (almost all of whom I adore) have last names that start wIth the letter “B”. We have
(1) Bates (love him. And love Anna)
(2) Barrow (Tom: love to dislike him, he’s always looking for an angle to get someything; that said though, you couldn’t help yourself from starting to like him at the end of last season when he jumped in, put himself in danger to protect Jimmy. Great to see Barrows vulnerability. Sad to see him become the scheming ass immediately this season, but nice to know he does have a softer side)
(3) Branson (another “Tom”; love that he’s just a regular guy, a good guy)
(4) Baxter (clearly she’s hiding a secret past that could ruin her, but love her for looking at Mosely, whom I adore as a possible love interest)
(5) Blake (Charles, who I’m hoping ends up witb Mary)
(6) & now another “B”, Bunting (school teacher who appears to be heading into Bransons life as a possible love interest).
My question, is “What’s up so many of these characters having last names that start with the letter B?
Anyone else out there besides me wondering what’s with all the characters hsving last names that with the letter “B”?
Susan
February 24, 2014 @ 5:43 am
8 weeks is not long enough for a season. I love Maggie Smith and enjoy the cloths that the ladies wear.
Kristen
February 24, 2014 @ 5:14 am
Make Thomas Barrow go to America or just away anywhere. Let Michael turn up alive, then he and Edith can get married and “adopt” their baby girl. And I think that Mosely and Ms Baxter should get together. Julian Fellows Needs to write more than Just 8 weeks for season 5 so that we’re not all hanging on by a thread for another full year before season 6.
Tricia
February 24, 2014 @ 4:10 am
Mary should fall in love with a visitor from America,,Edith’s boyfriend needs to come back, The former maid Jane who was sleeping with Lord Grantham needs to show up with “their” child, and may Anna
discover at the end of next season , that she & Bates are finally going to be parents!
atigrace
February 24, 2014 @ 12:06 pm
Whoa! I’m a late comer, Lord Grantham was having an affair w/a maid? OMG. I was just thinking after last weeks episode when Lord Grantham returned from America looking like he’d just seen God when Cora came to welcome him home, that their love story was even deeper than Bates & Anna. Which season was Grantham screwing a maid in?
Lady Elorac
February 25, 2014 @ 2:16 am
The maid thing was when Cora didn’t have time for him and the maid came on to him because he was so kind to her. He just kissed a lot :-0 then off she goes.
DawnM Simons
February 24, 2014 @ 2:22 pm
I think you are confusing things a bit. Lord Grantham did have a strong flirtation with Jane but he never slept with her. Tom slept with a maid and that came back and almost bit him in the arse but Mrs Hughes to the rescue
Night Watch
February 24, 2014 @ 3:51 am
Let something dreadful happen to Burrows….the sooner the better.
Lady Chance
February 24, 2014 @ 2:08 am
Please let Lady Edith’s baby daddy return from Germany and get their baby girl back. Bates and Anna need to have a baby. Never ever let Maggie Smith leave the show. I hope she lives forever.