# Downton Abbey S6 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 16, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966 "2015-08-16T02:06:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/201 "2016-02-01T19:43:32Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> At the beginning, Tom was talking about where to locate the repair shop. Was he planning an automotive repair shop, or something else?

Basically a gas station/garage.

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**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/202 "2016-02-01T19:43:50Z")

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> [@jsc1953](#):
>
> And there does seem to be a blatantly obvious tie-up-all-loose ends and marry-everyone-off happening, but the sentimentalist in me approves.

Hey, it was good enough for Shakespeare! (Four marriages at the end of _As You Like It_, for example.)

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**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/203 "2016-02-02T02:01:06Z")

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In the loose ends department… Edith’s publisher guy who went to Munich? I predict he returns. He went to Munich and went out for a beer and hasn’t been seen since.

Mary needs a daily ham sandwich and a tanning booth.

Tom starts a car racing team. Wants a black horse as a logo. Changes his mind, paints the cars green (Downton Racing Green, it’s called) and names the team after a flower.

Of course, Robert needs some medical gizmo (Ulcer-Flux Capacitor) that’s not available locally do to hospital rift and as a result…_buys the farm_, assumes room temperature, pushes up daises, bites the dust, cashes in his chips, becomes worm food, goes to a better place, gives up the ghost, goes to the big Abbey in the sky, attends his last round up, kicks the bucket, dies. His Mama blames herself, as she should.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/204 "2016-02-02T02:19:15Z")

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> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#):
>
> In the loose ends department… Edith’s publisher guy who went to Munich? I predict he returns. He went to Munich and went out for a beer and hasn’t been seen since.

He was confirmed to be killed by a group of Nazis after he argued with them.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/205 "2016-02-02T03:34:01Z")

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> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#):
>
> His Mama blames herself, as she should.

No, because even if she agreed, it wouldnt have happened that fast.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/206 "2016-02-02T04:39:08Z")

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> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#):
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> …Mary needs a daily ham sandwich and a tanning booth…

She’s thin but not gaunt, I’d say. She is remarkably pale, though.

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**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/207 "2016-02-02T12:07:58Z")

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> [@hajario](#):
>
> He was confirmed to be killed by a group of Nazis after he argued with them.

Long lost twin brother?

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/208 "2016-02-02T13:25:27Z")

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Good gawd that was gross! Don’t think Caligula spewed as much blood back in the days of I Claudius!

Re: Danker threatening Spratt - didn’t anyone back then ever consider lying? What was to keep him from saying, “What nephew?” From watching these shows, it is amazing that ANY crime ever got solved.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/209 "2016-02-02T16:57:18Z")

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As far as Spratt knew, the police had documents or another witness to confirm that he was aware of his nephew and the nephew’s criminal record. Spratt didn’t want to get caught in a lie. Proving the butler concealed or aided the fugitive nephew would be harder.

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**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/210 "2016-02-02T17:35:45Z")

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> [@hajario](#):
>
> He was confirmed to be killed by a group of Nazis after he argued with them.

Was it confirmed? I remember it being more like “He was last seen arguing with some local toughs wearing brown shirts.”

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/211 "2016-02-02T17:37:44Z")

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Yeah - but I thought what Danker was holding over him was that he concealed the nephew. Not sure the old lady would have been to bothered simply by a family black sheep. I would have thought he could have simply said that he didn’t know the nephew escaped. Or worst, that the nephew showed up, and Spratt turned him away.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/212 "2016-02-02T17:38:23Z")

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In the season after that, yes, they had confirmation from the German authorities that he had died. Of course, it was offscreen and we never saw the body, so…

But no, I think he’s dead and that the end of it.

Here’s how Lord Grantham’s rather messy dining-room scene was filmed: [How Downton Abbey Pulled Off Lord Grantham's Shock Medical Scare | Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/01/downton-abbey-lord-grantham-ulcer-gif)

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/213 "2016-02-02T18:00:42Z")

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Reminded me of the Mad Men lawnmower scene.

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/214 "2016-02-02T20:11:23Z")

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> [@AlsoNamedBort](#):
>
> Reminded me of the Mad Men lawnmower scene.

Oooo…good observation.

Has \*Downton \*jumped the shark? :eek:

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/215 "2016-02-02T20:26:20Z")

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It’s the last season, so I would say no. It was a pretty powerful scene, all the more so because the show is normally so staid and polite.

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**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/216 "2016-02-03T00:50:11Z")

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> [@Dinsdale](#):
>
> Yeah - but I thought what Danker was holding over him was that he concealed the nephew. Not sure the old lady would have been to bothered simply by a family black sheep. I would have thought he could have simply said that he didn’t know the nephew escaped. Or worst, that the nephew showed up, and Spratt turned him away.

Spratt could deny having aided the nephew, but he couldn’t plausibly deny knowing anything about it since the local policeman came to the house asking if anyone had seen the escaped nephew.

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**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/217 "2016-02-03T08:23:19Z")

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Considering the Tarantino esque level of blood, I was expecting to find a bunch of viewer reaction videos posted to youtube, like those of a certain episode of another popular TV show inhabited by lords and ladies, but no such luck. Maybe Downton watchers were just too mortified at Robert making such a scene of himself.

I kinda wish Sarah Bunting had been sitting across from Robert when it happened, though.

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**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/218 "2016-02-03T12:28:22Z")

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> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> She is remarkably pale, though.

The fashion for suntans came a little later than 1925. It would still have been considered a sign of someone who had to be out working in the sun.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/219 "2016-02-03T17:45:31Z")

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Understood, but Lady Mary’s had a healthy skintone before. She’s looked ghostly for much of this season.

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**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/220 "2016-02-03T18:36:31Z")

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Gotta love a soap opera with one of the main characters projectile-vomiting blood.

I know it’s the last season, and it is showing some wear-and-tear, but I liked the little vignette between Carson and Mrs. Hughes where they are having trouble adjusting to being married and no longer independent, and it would have been cliche to have it be about sex.

Barrow teaching Andy to read is a nice, ambiguous touch - is he trying to redeem himself, ingratiate himself to find an ally when the Abbey fires its servants, or trying to boink Andy?

And Lady Edith is coming into her own. All that is needed is that she slap Lady Mary hard upside the head (come to think of it, most of the characters should do that, including her latest suitor). It will be interesting to see the scene where Lady Edith reveals the Truth about Marigold, if she does.

Tom the agent didn’t need to come back - he isn’t serving any dramatic purpose, and he didn’t say anything to Neville Chamberlain, as he should have. And dear Violet - blackmailing the future Prime Minister for her petty triumphs about a hospital just to avoid losing. Again, a perfect insight into a character, and (of course) perfectly delivered by a truly great actress.

And I was unable to avoid giggling at the idea of Lady Mary, whose husband died in a car crash, taking up with the 1925 equivalent of a NASCAR driver. This will not turn out well.

So it’s time to predict the final outcome for each character.

Lord Robert - dead.

Mrs. Denker - takes up with a gigolo and becomes an alcoholic.

Cousin Violet - writes a popular column on advice for the love lorn.

Lady Edith - marries her editor, moves to France, gets involved in the Vichy government during WWII, is hanged as a traitor. Marigold has a moderately successful career as a night club singer, marries well, but reacts badly every time someone says “who’s your daddy” in her presence.

Lady Mary - loses everything in the Great Crash, struggles for years eking out a living as a waxwork, then writes a tell-all novel called “Aristocrats I Almost Boinked” and appears as a contestant on a popular BBC radio show called “What Used to Be My Line?”

Carson and Mrs. Hughes - run a small inn after the Granthams go down in flames. Mrs. Hughes smothers him with a pillow after he complains about her pork chops one too many times, but is acquitted at trial when Daisy, who was to testify against her, is mysteriously killed and eaten by pigs. Suspicion swirls around Andy, especially after he and Barrow announce their engagement, but nothing ever comes of it.

Anna dies in childbirth, when the hospital is taken over by the NHS and Bates forgets to fill out the paperwork in triplicate. Enraged, Bates runs for Parliament, is elected, and alternates his time between advocating for people who just can’t catch a f\*cking break and working on his memoirs, tentatively entitled “Enough Already, God! Sheesh!”

Mrs. Patmore moves to America and has a successful run as the title role in _Sweeney Todd_.

Lady Cora and cousin Isobel go into business together, Isobel as administrator and Cora as creative consultant, in the most exclusive cathouse in Piccadelly. They specialize in clients who want to be spanked with a cricket bat by someone saying “Who’s been a naughty boy?” in their plummiest upper-crust accents.

Regards,  
Shodan

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