'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Spoilers: Dowager Countess Has a Past, Mr. Bates and Anna Move On
The "Downton Abbey" cast members Allen Leech, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, and Michelle Dockery—who play Tom Branson, Lady Edith, Anna Bates, and Lady Mary respectively— were on hand with executive producer Gareth Neame to help promote the fifth season at the PBS summer press tour. Here's what to expect from the upcoming season.
Lady Mary will continue to be torn between her two suitors, Lord Blake (Julian Ovenden) and Lord Gillingham (Tom Cullen). When asked if this will be the season when Lady Mary gets to choose, Neame said, "She's still not quite sure, and I think that's a good hook for the audience n the fifth season to see which decision she's going to make."
Meanwhile, the Dowager Countess' (Maggie Smith) storyline is said to be "brilliant" this season. In a teaser clip for Season 5, Prince Kuragin (Rade Sherbedgia) is introduced, and Lady Mary is overheard saying, "Granny has a past!"
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Lady Edith is still being pitied, and even her own father says as much. Gregson still appears to be missing in action, and having her daughter Marigold nearby and being raised by farmer Timothy Drewe as his own is a source of worry for her. Her turning up on Drewe's farm all the time will start to look a bit suspicious, and it's only a matter of time before someone at Downton notices.
Anna and Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) are still dealing with the aftermath of her rape by Green (Nigel Harman), but there appears to be some healing, judging by a tender moment wherein the couple talks about having children. Froggatt, however, notes that "they are keeping secrets from each other … In her heart of hearts she doesn't believe Mr. Bates has [killed Green] … but she has this doubt."
"Downton Abbey" Season 5 premieres on Jan. 4 on PBS.
