‘Shiptober: Will ‘Downton Abbey’ season 6 end in love for Michelle Dockery’s Mary?

The first thing that you should really remember in this latest edition of our ‘Shiptober series is that the ITV / PBS series is really not meant as a romance. It is a historical drama that occasionally gives people some semblance of happiness. Just look at Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes, two characters who have come together and married this season after many years of buildup.

Michelle Dockery’s character still remains the one whose love story most remains an enigma. At first, it seemed like she had everything that she wanted courtesy of being married to Matthew and expecting her first child. However, a stunning accident changed everything, including her arc on the show. Since that time, trying to figure out whether she could or even should love again has been a recurring theme of the story. She had chances with Tony Gillingham and Charles Blake, but decided that she did not want those relationships to happen. The manner in which she went about it with Tony was particularly innovative for her time.

Now, there is another chance present for her in the form of Henry Talbot, but should she really take it? At this point, it’s not just about Henry; it’s about Mary figuring out if she is in the right place to love again, to open herself up to the vulnerability and the highs and lows of a long-term relationship.

The case for pairing Mary up – We feel like the show has already done a great job of making Mary into a smart, self-reliant character. Had they paired her up with Gillingham right away, it would have been easy to say that the show was taking a stance that women need men in their lives to be happy. Because of her decision, the show proved otherwise. Mary has been all about finding her right spot in the universe, and she is now in a place where she will have a great life regardless of whether or not someone like Henry is a part of it. You want to see Mary as happy as possible in the end, and if giving her a new love is the way to do that, who are we to discourage it?

The case for keeping Mary single – Since the show has proven that Mary can function just fine as a single woman, there is a logistical argument to not pairing her up with anyone. In keeping the character unattached, you allow it so that you can focus the final episodes on some other romances. Edith in particular is someone in the midst of a potential love story, and maybe you could also consider giving someone Downstairs like Daisy love, as well. It’s unrealistic that every character on this show is going to end up married by the series finale. Not pairing Mary up is a way to change that up, and while Henry seems very nice, have we seen a definite sign that he is the one yet? We’re not sure.