‘Downton Abbey’ season 6, episode 4 preview (PBS): Romance ahead for Michelle Dockery’s Mary

For those of you who have been looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for Lady Mary in the romance department on “Downton Abbey” season 6, good news: This is a thread that will start to pick up steam beginning in next week’s new episode. Perhaps the writers wanted to give Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes their moment before diving into this, it’s hard to say. Regardless, it is very easy to celebrate the fact that we are going to get a chance to see Michelle Dockery getting some good material moving forward.

Matthew Goode was a particular favorite of many for playing Henry Talbot from the moment he arrived in the season 5 Christmas Special, and he has an important role coming up. However, at the same exact time he’s not the only potential Mary suitor you are going to get a chance to see. Someone else will be coming in at the request of another character.

So will there be resolution for Mary by the end of the series? We’re not quite saying, but you can expect this to be a focus for her for a few weeks. Julian Fellowes has done a nice job not forcing her to be in a relationship for the sake of it following Matthew’s death; if she does end up having one again, it will be of her choosing.

As for an additional bit of scoop, it will not take Tom Branson too long at all to re-immerse himself in life at Downton following his surprise return.