'Downton Abbey' Season 6 Spoilers, Cast News: Executive Producer Talks What to Expect, Maggie Smith Leaving
Season 5 of "Downton Abbey" was filled with a lot of family intrigue and romance. Lady Mary rejected two suitors and found an interesting new candidate, while Rose got married. It was also revealed that the Dowager had a past with a Russian prince, and at the season finale, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes finally got together. Edith has also been reunited with her daughter Marigold. The season was also full of departures as Branson left for America, and Lord Grantham's dog, Isis, passed away. So what else is in store for the show for its sixth season?
"Downton Abbey" executive producer Gareth Neame spoke to the Hollywood Reporter to look back at season 5 and to give fans a teaser of the upcoming season.
For the romantic storylines in season 5, particularly for Violet and Isobel, Neame gives credit to creator and sole screenwriter Julian Fellowes.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"It's certainly something Julian wanted to write," said Neame. "I think it's to his enormous credit as a writer that he has written such positive stories for Violet and Isobel that there are romances for people in the September of their lives—It's just so positive! The idea that you're capable of emotional or romantic feelings for somebody at that age … This is incredibly positive stuff that isn't really covered anywhere else on television."
The producer also said that coming up with storylines has its challenges.
"You are limited in the show by what can reasonably happen in a family environment," Neame explains. "There are so many things that happen to a family, We're very much about that precinct. We have to stay within that precinct, so there are certain limitations."
As for what lies ahead, Neame said, "The show has always been about the end of this era, so we are seeing the decline of this family and great stately homes of this kind. That world came to an end, and we're seeing that."
Meanwhile, Maggie Smith, who won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe award for playing the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, said that she believes that the sixth season of the acclaimed PBS show will be her last.
"They say this is the last one," the actress told The Sunday Times. "I can't see how it could go on."
"I mean, I certainly can't keep going," said Smith. "To my knowledge, I must be 110 by now. We're into the late 1920s."
"Downton Abbey" is currently filming its sixth season.
