‘Downton Abbey’ season 4 finale spoilers: Is romance for Michelle Dockery’s Mary in the air?

This season of “Downton Abbey” for Lady Mary has been largely about a pair of things: Independence, and also trying to move forward from Matthew. The writers have done a nice job of honoring the character’s memory throughout; you never feel like he is just being cast aside, or no longer matters in any sort of significant way at all. However, you still get a feeling that the man is as important and as dear to her as ever, but she is also ready and willing to move forward and see what else life could have in store for her.

Could love be a part of that equation? We at least know that the option of romance is being explored, with Charles Blake now suddenly emerging as a surprise darkhorse for her hand. While it felt early on that Lord Anathony Gillingham would be the favorite, there were a few pretty-significant wrinkled that came up courtesy of him needing an answer quickly. Charles clearly brings a few other things to the table:

1. He’s practical – If ever need help tracking down a pig in the mud, he is apparently your guy.

2. He’s intelligent – He knows a ton of the world around him, and he also happens to be unafraid to share his thoughts on most of it.

3. He’s progressive – Maybe there is something alluring in a man helping to make Mary aware that her family’s way of life is a dying breed. There could also be a selfish reason for wanting to be with him, at least in that if he knows that the family estates are in danger, he may know of some of the best ways to save them.

While we are making no guarantees of there being any sort of significant romance happening here at all between these two characters, don’t rule it out. Sometimes, drinking tea (as they are in the photo above from Sunday’s finale) can be quite the big deal.

What do you think is going to happen with Mary on the “Downton Abbey” finale Sunday? Share your predictions below! We’ve got some more finale teasers at the link here, and they are all worth checking out along with a sneak-peek video from the episode.

Photo: The CW