‘Downton Abbey’ season 6 debate: Should Allen Leech return as Tom Branson?

The season 5 finale of “Downton Abbey” was pretty darn cruel when it comes to its cliffhangers, and there were many of them. Not only was there the matter of Anna being arrested, but we also had in here in two actors in Allen Leech (Tom Branson) and Sophie McShera (Daisy) whose future was left relatively ambiguous.

We’re going to give Daisy her due in another article coming up, since this one is really all about Tom and some of the question marks that are present here with him. Should we see more of Mr. Branson? We love the character, but we see his future as something containing both advantages and disadvantages.

Why Tom should stay – He is a beloved part of the cast, and he also is extremely likable. He presents a very different perspective on life in England that the other characters upstairs do not have. He’s seen both sides of the class divide, and can challenge them.

However, you cannot just leave Tom on an island of indecision forever! If the actor is to remain a part of the series, our humble request is to stop with the constant wondering of if he belongs. If he stays, just have him be accepted and move on to other subjects beyond him debating if he should leave.

Why Tom should go – Because change is good, and despite our love for the character, it is unbelievable to expect the residents of Downton to be permanent. We did not lose any major characters between seasons 4 and 5, and this could be a chance to shake things up.

Also, you do not necessarily have to write Tom out completely. Leech could still make an appearance or two coming over from America, and there would be quite the motivation to, given that his daughter has so much family there.

Our take – We want to keep Tom, just because we’re selfish. However, we would like to see him become more involved outside the Abbey, and be more of a challenge to Robert, just not in a combative, Sarah Bunting way.