# Downton Abbey S6 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S. **URL:** \ **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:** 27
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/521 "2016-03-08T18:54:11Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > They haven’t left themselves much in the way of questions-to-be-answered or suspense that needs to be resolved. > [@ivylass](#): > > Maybe they’ll do a jump ahead 50 years or so. …or they’ll do the Great Depression, etc. Just because they answered all of the current questions doesn’t mean new ones can’t be raised. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/522 "2016-03-08T19:00:05Z")
Carson probably has something like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). He said earlier that his grandfather and father had “the palsy” and grew progressively worse, and that he had been hoping it had passed him by. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/523 "2016-03-08T19:00:25Z")
I’m woefully uninformed here…how did the Great Depression affect the nobility in England? All I know is the stock market crash and the Dust Bowl and the great migration to California. ETA: I thought Carson had Parkinson’s. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/524 "2016-03-08T19:23:07Z")
True, it could be _Downton Abbey: The Next Generation_. And as a special treat in the opener, they’d have the Dowager be found suspended in a transporter stream. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/525 "2016-03-08T20:06:31Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m woefully uninformed here…how did the Great Depression affect the nobility in England? All I know is the stock market crash and the Dust Bowl and the great migration to California. > > ETA: I thought Carson had Parkinson’s. First of all, Britain was still recovering economically from WWI (not that you’d get an inkling of that from the show), which had driven every combatant power except the US into crushing debt. Once the Depression hit, global trade fell and prices dropped steeply, devastating the areas of the UK that exported their goods, including industrial Yorkshire. The Crawleys aren’t just nobles — they’re landowners. They would have been confronted with falling prices for the food their tenants produced, drastically reducing their revenue and severely constraining their lavish lifestyle. Their tenants couldn’t have afforded their rents, forcing the family to either renegotiate with them or evict them. I don’t know what happened to Highclere or how the Canarvons managed to keep it, but I expect that, if the Crawleys managed to hold on to Downton, they would either rent out or otherwise commercialize most of the space, or else shutter most of it and live in it with a skeleton staff. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/526 "2016-03-08T20:39:58Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > ETA: I thought Carson had Parkinson’s. I think Parkinson’s, too. He said his father and grandfather also had to retire, didn’t he? Not that they died horrific deaths. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/527 "2016-03-08T21:24:44Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Well well well. Looks like Daisy [has some competition](https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/downton-abbey-lovebirds-laura-carmichael-1380744491327542.html) for Andrew’s affection! Oooo…Edith could have followed in Sybil’s footsteps and married one of the help! ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/528 "2016-03-09T00:18:51Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Maybe they’ll do a jump ahead 50 years or so. Too far; if they do a sequel series it should be set during WWII. Sybil, George, & Marigold would all be in the services, and the rest of the family would be crammed together in either the Dower House or Crawley House after Downton get’s requisitioned. Much to Mary’s indignation this time around the Crown takes it over on it’s own terms. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I think Parkinson’s, too. He said his father and grandfather also had to retire, didn’t he? Not that they died horrific deaths. My grandmother had Parkinson’s, it’s far from a pleasant way to go. Carson can look forward to spending his final days depended on Elsie his most basic functions, yet have his mind remain intact so he’s completely aware of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/529 "2016-03-09T14:17:00Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Maybe they’ll do a jump ahead 50 years or so. Where Bates’ son opens up a motel… Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/530 "2016-03-09T15:48:33Z")
I don’t care for your implication there about Anna, Mr. **Shodan**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/531 "2016-03-09T17:04:08Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I think Parkinson’s, too. He said his father and grandfather also had to retire, didn’t he? Not that they died horrific deaths. Yep, Parkinsons. ALS would be devastating, and at a younger age. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/532 "2016-03-09T18:22:44Z")
Yeah, Parkinson’s is probably it. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/533 "2016-03-10T02:20:14Z")
You can have tremors in the hand without Parkinson’s. My aunt and mother both have shaky hands and neither has Parkinson’s. My aunt’s palsy is quite bad actually. I would imagine that’s the type of palsy the writer would give one of his favorite characters. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/534 "2016-03-10T02:29:56Z")
Parkinson’s Disease was known, by that name, decades before 1926. If it ran in Carson’s family, he would probably know it. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/535 "2016-03-10T04:01:27Z")
I read somewhere that Carson has “essential tremor”, not Parkinson’s, and that Julian Fellowes has it too. And it’s Dickie and Isobel, not Larry. Larry is Dickie’s (Lord Merton’s) horrible son who ruined two dinner parties at Downton, was very insulting to both Isobel and Tom, and married the scheming Amelia. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/536 "2016-03-24T16:37:43Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Jeez, it’s nothing so complicated. You don’t need to be a person of exactingly high moral standards to be an unlikely bawdy house madam. The stereotypical madam would probably be kind of brassy, sexy, alluring, a Mae West type. Mrs. Patmore is far enough from that that the idea of her running a den of sin is pretty absurd on its face. I found it completely believable the other characters would find it funny. That was about how I took it, too. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > …Maggie Smith was interviewed on Fresh Air today if anyone wants to [listen](http://www.npr.org/2016/02/23/467802382/maggie-smith-on-the-pressures-of-acting-you-want-so-much-to-get-it-right). Very good - thank you. > [@Nonsuch](#): > > [This blog post from last year](https://enoughofthistomfoolery.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/back-in-the-dolls-house-misrepresenting-post-war-women-in-downton-abbey/) dives deep into the historical inaccuracies that increasingly marred Downton Abbey in its post-Dan Stevens years, with a particular (and rather prickly) focus on Mary and the problems facing unmarried women in the post-war years… Also quite interesting - thanks. > [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I was really expecting Tom and Marry to happen this episode. > > He’s too pushy with getting her together with Ozymandias (Henry?) and during the confrontation when she pushed back with “why do you care” it really seemed like he was going to say he just wanted her to be happy and then reveal his romantic love expecting it not to be reciprocated…and Mary come at him with a kiss. > Way better story route… I would’ve liked that, but I’m OK with how things finally ended up. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > Gosh, won’t there be a convenient opening for a butler at the very respectable home of the Dowager Countess? Sprat having gone on to bigger and better things, presumably? I wonder… isn’t there someone looking for the position of a butler who is fond of the Crawley family? If only I could remember! > > Although having to share the house with Denker might be enough to inspire another suicide attempt, so there’s that. If Barrow were subjected to Denker’s snippiness and backstabbing for any length of time, I have a feeling the local police sergeant would once more be looking into a murder, with Barrow the prime suspect. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/537 "2016-03-24T16:46:14Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Pure fanservice, from start to finish. But I enjoyed being serviced. Likewise! > [@delphica](#): > > …The whole Denker/Spratt plot this season was tiresome, it felt so wedged in this season and I don’t feel particularly invested in either of them, but I liked that they used it to give the Dowager a scene where she just lost it (reading the column and laughing)… Yes, that was a highlight for me, too. > [@hajario](#): > > Matthew was a stranger as well when we started down this path. It could also be that there are no more heirs and the title would go vacant. The first Earl’s male line could die out. Just as happened historically: [Earl of Grantham - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Grantham) > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Heh. I actually turned to my girlfriend during the wedding scene when the priest does the whole if anyone has any objections, etc., and said “Watch, Gregson walks in the door right now and yells ‘WAIT!’”. 😉 … Heh. I don’t think even Fellowes would resort to that. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > I was more than a little surprised by that, too, given that there’s been quite a bit of talk about a possible movie… Unless the reviews were awful, I’d be first in line to see a DA movie. Showing how the Crawleys dealt with the Great Depression and WWII would be interesting. > [@gkster](#): > > I read somewhere that Carson has “essential tremor”, not Parkinson’s, and that Julian Fellowes has it too… Could be. My dad has it. The biographer Ron Chernow speculated that George Washington suffered from it late in life. Chernow consulted several medical experts, but didn’t come to any firm conclusions. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/538 "2016-03-24T16:59:48Z")
Well, I thought the series wrapped up pretty satisfactorily, if noticeably at the gallop. Glad that Isobel finally came to her senses and married the sweet and always-admiring Lord Merton (and now she has a title, too). Mary still edges Edith with two successful onscreen weddings to one (but Edith gets an even grander title - marchioness: [Marquess - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquess)). An organ version of Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” played at her and Bertie’s wedding: [G.F. Händel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9sYpS7xp0). Here’s the more traditional orchestration: [George Frideric Handel - The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ) Having Thomas become the butler seemed a foregone conclusion, although I still haven’t fully forgiven him for his earlier evilness. Nice to see little George and his stepfather Henry playing together in the estate office and apparently enjoying each other’s company. All the hoohah about Rose and Atticus celebrating Christmas seemed a little odd, as he’s Jewish. Daisy’s new emergency hairdo was an odd subplot but she looked quite good as a result. I was glad that not _everyone_ was married off by the end - but there’s definitely the possibility of romance for Tom and Edith’s editor, Mrs. Patmore and the old farmer, and Daisy and Andy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/539 "2016-03-24T18:42:44Z")
One thing I never was able to figure out: Exactly what job did Mrs. Hughes have at DA? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/540 "2016-03-24T18:46:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > One thing I never was able to figure out: Exactly what job did Mrs. Hughes have at DA? She is the housekeeper , which lords it (or is it ladys it?) over the entire female staff. > **[Elsie Carson](https://downtonabbey.fandom.com/wiki/Elsie_Carson)** > > Elsie May\[2\] Carson (née Hughes; b. 1862\[1\]), known as Mrs. Hughes for most of Downton Abbey, is the head housekeeper and she is in charge of all the female servants. More or less, she runs the entire servant branch of Downton Abbey alongside Thomas... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=28)