Downton Abbey’s fifth season is still several months away from coming to U.S. audiences, but spoilers for the British Masterpiece Theater show are already being shared.
Downton Abbey’s executive producer Gareth Neame had a lot to say about the show's upcoming season, which will premiere in the UK this fall. Neame promises that season 5 will have a little bit of everything that fans have come to love and expect from the period drama – in addition to some surprises to keep fans on their toes.
“In the new season, we have the high-stakes drama, the laugh-out-loud comedy and the romance,” Neame told TVLine. “We have all of the characters doing the things people love to see them doing, but we have a few really nice twists and turns as well.”
One of the shocks from last season – Anna’s rape – will continue to be fleshed out in season 5. While certain critics felt the show didn’t explore the aftermath of the traumatic event enough in season 4, Neame claims that the show will show both Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and Bates’ (Brendan Coyle) enduring reactions to the incident.
“There are certain stories on this kind of show that you pick up for a few episodes, then let fall away,” explained Neame. “This [the rape] doesn’t seem like something that could happen to a character and be easily forgotten.
Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) storyline, which threw the writers through a loop after the show failed to keep Dan Stevens on board, will continue on with her finding a new love interest. She spent much of last season keeping her suitors at arm’s length. Now, however, the young windowed mother might be willing to take the plunge again.
“I really like the way we juggled two, maybe even three, suitors in the last season. She’s still not quite sure, and I think there’s a good hook for the audience in the fifth season to see which decision she’s going to make,” said Neame, who also suggested that the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) would have a storyline that will be “Downton at its best.”
Downton's fifth season will premiere in the U.S. Jan. 4 on PBS.
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