‘Downton Abbey’ season 5 spoilers: Production updates, more via Joanne Froggatt

How long is “Downton Abbey” filming season 5? Given that there were supposedly some scenes filmed recently for the Christmas Special, the answer may surprise you.

In a new, heavily Emmy-focused interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the woman behind Anna Bates in Joanne Froggatt made it clear that filming for the new season is going to conclude around August; not only that, but she does not even seen every element that will be in the fifth season yet:

“I haven’t seen all of the scripts yet, but nearly all. Some things from season four carry over into season five. It’s not just resolved and they move forward with their lives. They’re still struggling to deal with what’s happened to Anna. It doesn’t simply resolve and disappear.”

This comment almost represents what many love about the series, and also some of what drives others up the way, this is a show that chooses most of the time to allow things to build and simmer, and is not so much in a hurry to rush them along and force “shockers” in the way that you have them on some American action-oriented shows. This makes the series certainly more fascinating and layered at times, but there are also others where you simply wish that more would actually happen. There have definitely been a few occasions where we have wished for that, especially near the end of season 4 when Anna / Bates had one of the only substantial storylines going somewhere.

Personally, we do want to see the trauma from the Mr. Green incident wear off eventually, but the truth is that it will probably take another big event, whether it be a good or bad one, for her to truly be able to move forward.

For more from Froggatt on this upcoming season, be sure to head over here. Also, you can sign up today to receive further updates courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: ITV