Special | 26m 10s | Video has closed captioning.
Join host Hugh Bonneville to recall the high points of the series storyline and its memorable cast of characters. Watch interviews with Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame and the cast, clips from previous seasons and tantalizing previews of season six.
Aired: 11/29/15
>> HELLO, I'M PAULA KERGER, PRESIDENT OF PBS.
AS WE GET READY FOR THE PREMIERE OF THE SIXTH AND FINAL SEASON OF "DOWNTON ABBEY" ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD RIGHT HERE ON THIS STATION, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS OF THIS AWARD-WINNING PERIOD DRAMA AND GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK AT SOME EXCLUSIVE SEASON SIX CLIPS YOU WON'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.
I HOPE YOU'LL ENJOY OUR SALUTE TO "DOWNTON ABBEY" WITH HOST HUGH BONNEVILLE, AND THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WATCHING AND SUPPORTING THIS, YOUR PBS STATION.
>> WE CONCLUDED SEASON FIVE WITH SO MANY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED.
WILL CARSON AND MRS. HUGHES ACTUALLY GET MARRIED?
OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER TWIST IN THE PLOT THAT ENDS IN HEARTACHE?
>> I HAVE A FEELING THAT JULIAN FELLOWES IS WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE FANS COULD FIND OUT WHERE HE LIVED AND KILL HIM IF CARSON AND MRS. HUGHES DIDN'T GET TOGETHER.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT POOR EDITH?
THAT GIRL HAS HAD MORE BAD LUCK THAN A BLACK CAT WALKING UNDER A LADDER ON FRIDAY THE 13TH.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST DOESN'T GO SMOOTHLY WITH HER, LET'S FACE IT.
>> (sobs) >> AND WHAT ABOUT THE GORGEOUS LADY MARY?
WILL SEASON SIX SEE HER FINALLY SETTLED AND HAPPY OR IS IT TO BE ETERNAL WIDOWHOOD FOR THE ELDEST CRAWLEY DAUGHTER?
>> I'D RATHER BE ALONE THAN WITH THE WRONG MAN.
>> SEASON SIX, I JUST HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST WONDERFUL AND THE MOST FULFILLING YET.
>> WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?
>> PLEASE JOIN ME, HUGH BONNEVILLE, TO FIND OUT IN "A SALUTE TO DOWNTON ABBEY."
HELLO, I'M HUGH BONNEVILLE.
I'VE PLAYED ROBERT CRAWLEY, EARL OF GRANTHAM, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
THE WRITING HAS BEEN DELICIOUS, THE CAST AND CREW WONDERFUL, AND AS FOR WORKING AT THE STUNNING HIGHCLERE CASTLE, WELL, IT'S BEEN QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.
BUT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.
BUT NOT BEFORE SOME MORE "DOWNTON ABBEY" TWISTS AND TURNS AND SOME HAIR-RAISING MOMENTS.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS EXCLUSIVE CLIP FROM SEASON SIX.
>> WELL DONE, MY LORD!
>> YES, WELL DONE US.
>> WHERE IS MISS MARIGOLD, MY LADY?
>> SHE WAS-- WHO'S GOT MARIGOLD?
>> SHE WAS HERE JUST-- >> NO, SHE'S GONE.
>> I GATHER WE'VE WON.
>> YES, BUT MISS MARIGOLD IS MISSING.
>> WHAT?
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> DON'T WORRY, SHE'S JUST WANDERED OFF.
SHE'S FINE.
SHALL BE PERFECTLY FINE, YOU'LL SEE.
>> OH, DEAR.
WILL MARIGOLD BE FOUND SAFE AND SOUND OR COULD THIS MARK YET ANOTHER DARK TURN IN EDITH'S JOURNEY?
POOR EDITH.
"DOWNTON ABBEY" HAS HAD MANY ELECTRIFYING MOMENTS THROUGHOUT ITS FIRST FIVE SEASONS, MOMENTS OF DRAMA, INTRIGUE, AND OF COURSE ROMANCE, ALL SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF MOMENTOUS UPHEAVAL IN BRITISH SOCIETY.
>> BECAUSE WE SET OFF OUR STORY OF DOWNTON IN 1912 WITH THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC AND WE'VE NOW ENDED UP IN 1925, A LOT OF CHANGE HAS HAPPENED, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE EMBARKED ON THIS WAS THAT THAT-- THE STORY OF THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THAT TIME.
>> WHEN WE STARTED SEASON ONE IN 1912, THE BRITISH EMPIRE WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF ITS POWERS.
THE ARISTOCRACY WAS UNCHALLENGED IN ITS SUPREMACY.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ORDER OF "DOWNTON ABBEY" WORKS AT THE BEGINNING OF SEASON ONE.
>> AND THEY'RE OFF.
>> NO REST FOR THE WICKED.
>> THE FIRST WORLD WAR CHANGED EVERYTHING.
THAT WAY OF LIFE WAS-- THE FOUNDATIONS OF THAT WAY OF LIFE WERE SHAKEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD NOT GO BACK.
THEY WERE SHAKEN AND FRACTURED.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CHANGE IN THOSE YEARS, AND THE 20S AND 30S, YOU KNOW, WAS ONLY 20 YEARS, BUT REALLY, THE DIFFERENCE IN THINKING BETWEEN 1919 AND 1940 WAS COLOSSAL.
>> FEELS SO WILD TO BE OUT WITH A MAN DRINKING AND DINING AND A SMART LONDON RESTAURANT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING OF THE SORT FIVE YEARS AGO, NEVER MIND 10?
>> THE WAR CHANGED EVERYTHING.
>> YOU DO MAKE THIS DECISION TO STAY ON, TO GO ON WITH IT, TO RUN THE ESTATE.
YOU ARE TO SOME EXTENT MAKING A STATEMENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SWIM AGAINST THE TIDE.
>> FROM TOASTERS TO TOLERANCE, OR AT LEAST THE 1920S VERSION OF IT, TIMES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING AT "DOWNTON ABBEY, LIKE IT OR NOT.
BUT SOME OF THE CHARACTERS ARE CLINGING TO THE PAST REGARDLESS OF THE REALITIES AROUND THEM.
THAT BASTIAN OF PROPRIETY MR. CARSON THE BUTLER, FOR INSTANCE.
THE DOWAGER COUNTESS, HER LADY VIOLET.
AND PERHAPS MOST OF ALL, LORD GRANTHAM.
NOW HANG ON A MINUTE, THAT'S ME.
OKAY, WELL SOMETIMES HE'S BEEN A BIT OF A DINOSAUR, BUT ULTIMATELY, ROBERT EXCEPTS EVOLUTION.
HE FINALLY SEEMS TO BE REALIZING THAT THE FEUDAL SYSTEM IN WHICH HE GREW UP IS COMING TO AN END.
POOR OLD ROBERT, EH?
BUT DOES THAT MEAN THE END FOR DOWNTON?
HERE'S ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE CLIP FROM SEASON SIX.
>> TO BE HONEST, I'M STARTING TO ASK MYSELF HOW MUCH LONGER WE CAN GO ON WITH IT ALL.
>> GO ON WITH WHAT?
>> THE HOUSEHOLD, THE SERVANTS.
>> WELL, YOU-- YOU THINK IT'S A BIT TOO MUCH IN 1925?
>> THE WAGE BILL IS THREE TIMES WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE WAR.
SOON IT WILL BE WORSE.
AND ANYWAY, WHO LIVES AS WE USED TO NOW?
>> WELL DONE, LORD GRANTHAM, WAKING UP TO REALITY, GIVING A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THOSE WHO RESIDE UPSTAIRS, AT ANY RATE.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK DOWNSTAIRS?
AS WE'VE JUST SEEN, THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGING TIMES ON THE CRAWLEY FAMILY AND THEIR SERVANTS CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL THEMES OF "DOWNTON ABBEY."
BUT I MAY BE GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF A BIT.
PERHAPS FIRST, A BRIEF LOOK BACK AT ALL THAT'S HAPPENED BOTH UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS DURING THE FIRST FIVE SEASONS MIGHT BE IN ORDER, ALONG WITH A REMINDER OF SOME OF OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS.
DOWNTON ABBEY IS THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF THE CRAWLEY FAMILY, A LARGE AND COSTLY ESTATE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND.
ROBERT, MY CHARACTER, IS THE CURRENT EARL OF GRANTHAM, AND OUT OF NECESSITY, HE MARRIES AN AMERICAN HEIRESS, CORA LEVINSON, TO SAVE DOWNTON FROM FINANCIAL RUIN.
BUT NECESSITY TURNS TO LOVE, AND THEY HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, LADY MARY, LADY EDITH AND LADY SYBIL, BUT NO DIRECT MALE HEIR.
RUNNING THE SHOW BELOW STAIRS, WE HAVE THE SUPREMELY TRADITIONAL BUTLER MR. CARSON AND THE WISE HEAD HOUSEKEEPER MRS. HUGHES.
>> THEY RESPECT YOU, OF COURSE, BUT I AM THEIR LEADER.
>> WELL, THAT'S PUT ME IN MY PLACE.
>> MRS. PATMORE, THE COOK, KEEPS EVERYONE WELL FED WITH THE HELP OF DAISY, HER ASSISTANT COOK.
THE AMBITIOUS AND, SOME WOULD SAY, EVIL FOOTMAN THOMAS RISES THROUGH THE RANKS TO BECOME UNDER BUTLER.
I JUST THINK HE'S MISUNDERSTOOD.
AND THERE'S HANDSOME IRISH CHAUFFEUR TURNED LAND AGENT TOM BRANSON.
THEN THERE'S ANNA, LADIES' MAID TO THE LADY MARY, AND THE MYSTERIOUS MR. BATES, VALET TO LORD GRANTHAM.
AND THE GREAT DAME MAGGIE SMITH PLAYS THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF GRANTHAM, VIOLET, WHOSE QUIPS AND PUTDOWNS JUST GET BETTER AND BETTER.
>> WHY DWELL ON THAT NOW?
>> BECAUSE I WANT PLEASURE OF SAYING I TOLD YOU SO.
>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO THE PERIOD IN WHICH "DOWNTON ABBEY" IS SET AND THE CULTURE IT EXPLORES.
THE ARISTOCRATIC CRAWLEY FAMILY ENJOYING ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF THEIR CLASS, AN ENORMOUS ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE, SERVANTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR EVERY NEED, AND NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD, OR SO IT SEEMS.
IT WAS ALL SO ROSY UNTIL IT WASN'T.
WHEN THE HEIR TO THE ESTATE IS LOST ON THE TITANIC IN 1912, A DISTANT COUSIN BECOMES NEXT IN LINE TO INHERIT THE TITLE.
AND SO THE LIVES OF MATTHEW AND HIS MOTHER ISABEL CRAWLEY ARE CHANGED FOREVER.
>> WELCOME TO DOWNTON.
>> THE BEDROCK ON WHICH DOWNTON ABBEY IS BUILT IS SHAKEN BY THE GREAT WAR.
WOMEN ARE NOW WORKING, AND COMBINED WITH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY, THE CENTURIES-OLD SOCIAL ORDER BEGINS TO CHANGE BOTH UPSTAIRS AND DOWN.
LADY SYBIL, THE YOUNGEST OF THE CRAWLEY GIRLS, SCANDALOUSLY FALLS FOR THE FAMILY'S IRISH CHAUFFER, TOM BRANSON.
THEY ELOPE BUT EVENTUALLY RETURN TO DOWNTON TO HAVE THEIR BABY.
BUT TRAGICALLY, SYBIL DIES FROM COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTH.
HER DEATH CAST A SHADOW OVER EVERYONE AT DOWNTON.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING WE SHOULD DO, MR. CARSON?
>> CARRY ON, DAISY, AS WE ALL MUST.
>> VERY SAD INDEED.
AFTER A LOT OF WILL THEY, WON'T THEY, THE HEIR TO DOWNTON, MATTHEW CRAWLEY, MARRIES THE ELDEST DAUGHTER, LADY MARY, AND THEY HAVE A SON, GEORGE.
BUT SEASON THREE ENDS WITH MATTHEW'S UNEXPECTED AND TRAGIC DEATH.
JULIAN FELLOWES SEEMS TO LIKE KILLING OFF HIS PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS, DOESN'T HE?
I WONDER WHO'S GOING TO GET IT IN SEASON SIX?
( COUGHS ) PARDON ME, JUST A LITTLE COUGH.
OR IS IT?
NOW BACK TO OUR STORY.
SEASON FOUR SAW THE NOW WIDOWED LADY MARY BEING PURSUED BY TWO ELIGIBLE SUITORS.
TOM BRANSON TAKES A LARGER ROLE IN RUNNING THE FAMILY'S BUSINESS, AND LADY EDITH'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHAEL GREGSON FLOURISHES.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET MR. GREEN'S EVIL DEED AND THE DARK CLOUD OVER ANNA AND BATES AFTER MR. GREEN'S UNEXPLAINED DEATH.
HMM.
SEASON FIVE WAS FILLED WITH MANY TANTALIZING TURNS IN THE PLOT.
LADY MARY IS CAUGHT BETWEEN HER TWO PROSPECTS, BUT NEITHER SEEMS QUITE, HOW SHALL I PUT IT, SATISFYING.
SADLY, GREGSON DIES ABROAD, BUT LADY EDITH INHERITS HIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
TOM BRANSON DECIDES THAT AMERICA IS FOR HIM AND HIS DAUGHTER SIBBIE, AND CARSON FINALLY PROPOSES TO MRS. HUGHES.
>> OF COURSE I'LL MARRY YOU, YOU OLD BOOBIE.
I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK.
>> AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE SIXTH AND FINAL SEASON OF "DOWNTON ABBEY."
YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
>> WE WANTED TO HAVE A SEASON THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY DEDICATED TO RESOLUTION, AND SO THAT IS THE THEME OF THE SERIES.
I MEAN, THE THEME OF FOUR WAS REBUILDING AND PERSONAL CHOICES.
THE THEME OF FIVE WAS CHANGE.
THIS IS A SEASON OF RESOLUTION.
>> SEASON SIX HAS BEEN GREATLY ENERGIZED BY THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S THE END.
I THINK IT'S FREED JULIAN'S PEN IN SOME WAYS.
HE IS SORT OF SAYING, "THIS IS MY CHANCE TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THESE PEOPLE."
>> I COULDN'T ACCEPT IT FROM YOU.
>> DON'T BE SILLY, YOU'VE EARNED IT FAIR AND SQUARE, KEEPING MY SECRETS, HIDING THAT FEARFUL DUTCH THINGAMAJIG, CARRYING POOR MR. PAMUK DOWN THE GALLERY AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
>> (LAUGHS) WE HAVE HAD OUR MOMENTS, HAVEN'T WE, MY LADY?
>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE.
AND THIS IS OUR NEXT MOMENT.
>> I CAN'T PROMISE THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
THEY WON'T ALL HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
THEY WON'T ALL NECESSARILY REACH A COMPLETE RESOLUTION BECAUSE YOU DON'T-- YOU DON'T REACH A RESOLUTION IN YOUR LIFE UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD.
YOUR LIFE IS ALWAYS EVOLVING, AND "DOWNTON ABBEY" ISN'T GOING TO EXPLODE, BLOW UP, AND DISAPPEAR ALTOGETHER.
OUR CAMERA WILL GRACEFULLY MOVE AWAY AT THE END OF SEASON SIX, AND WE WILL LEAVE THE CRAWLEYS AND THEIR SERVANTS TO WHATEVER THEIR FUTURES HAVE IN STORE.
BUT THEY WILL ALL GET A STORY.
THEY WILL ALL GET A JOURNEY, AND FOR THE FANS OF THE SHOW WHO ROOT FOR ONE PARTICULAR CHARACTER OR LOVE THEM ALL EQUALLY, THEY WILL ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE LAST SEASON THAT I HOPE SATISFIES ENORMOUSLY.
>> NOW LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF THE CHARACTERS WHO HAS PERHAPS DEVELOPED MOST THROUGH THE YEARS, MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER-- THAT IS, LORD GRANTHAM'S MIDDLE DAUGHTER-- LADY EDITH.
SHE'S GROWN FROM BEING AT TIMES ACIDIC, JEALOUS, AND CRUEL, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS HER SISTER LADY MARY-- WHO GIVES AS GOOD AS SHE GETS, BY THE WAY-- INTO A DOTING MOTHER AND A WOMAN OF THE WORLD.
>> I THINK SHE STARTED AS THIS GIRL WHO THOUGHT SHE KNEW HERSELF AND KNEW WHAT WAS WHAT, AND I THINK THE EVENTS OF THE SHOW, YOU KNOW, OVER THESE YEARS HAVE PROVED TO HER THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
>> THE NUMBER OF MISFIRES THAT SHE'S HAD IN HER LIFE HAVE STRENGTHENED HER, WHETHER IT'S BEING JILTED AT THE ALTAR, WHETHER IT'S FINDING LOVE AND THEN THE MAN DISAPPEARING, EVENTUALLY DISCOVERING THAT HE'S DIED, THESE HAVE ALL STRENGTHENED HER, AND NOW SHE HAS THIS BUSINESS INTEREST, WHICH GIVES HER A WHOLE DIFFERENT FOCUS AND MAKES HER FEEL LIKE A MUCH MORE MODERN WOMAN THAN OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE SHOW.
>> LADY EDITH HAS HAD SO MANY UPS AND DOWNS OVER THE YEARS, BUT PERHAPS HER GREATEST PREDICAMENT WAS BECOMING PREGNANT WITH MICHAEL GREGSON'S LOVE CHILD, MARIGOLD.
THE QUESTIONABLE SOLUTION WAS TO PLACE THE CHILD WITH A FRIENDLY FARMER DOWN THE ROAD, MR. DREW.
>> SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
SHE WANTS TO FIND A WAY FOR THE CHILD TO BE HAPPY AND TO SOLVE IT AND FOR HER TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CHILD AND TO LOOK AFTER IT BUT NOT GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
WHAT SHE HASN'T ALLOWED FOR IS HER OWN EMOTIONS, THAT IT'S TOO DIFFICULT TO HAVE THIS CHILD GROWING UP AS A FARMER'S DAUGHTER DOWN THE ROAD AND ONLY BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN AND SORT OF BUTTER HER MUFFIN OR SOMETHING.
>> I THINK THE POWER OF MOTHERHOOD IS WHAT JUST-- IS THAT PRIMAL SORT OF URGE TO HAVE HER CHILD AND TO CARE FOR HER CHILD, AND SHE KNOWS THAT THE COMPROMISE THEY'VE COME UP WITH IS NOT WORKABLE.
>> (SOBS) WAIT!
JUST, WAIT, WAIT!
WAIT.
(SNIFFLES) SHE WON'T SLEEP ELSE.
DON'T BE AFRAID, MY DARLING.
THIS NICE LADY IS YOUR NEW MUMMY, AND SHE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE COULD.
BUT DON'T YOU FORGET.... (SNIFFLES) THAT WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
(SOBS) >> IT'S AN EMOTIONAL MISTAKE THAT SHE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH SHE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AFTER HER OWN CHILD.
IT'S TAKEN HER BY SURPRISE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN ALL OF THAT, OF COURSE IT'S CHANGING HER, BUT FOR ME, IT'S TRUTHFUL IN THAT SHE'S NOT SEEKING CHANGE.
SHE IS MAKING A SERIES OF CHOICES WHICH ARE SORT OF FORCED ON HER ANYWAY, AND SHE'S MAKING WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE LEAST WORST CHOICE, BUT THE END RESULT IS SHE'S SUDDENLY THIS CUTTING-EDGE 1920S FORERUNNER.
>> HERE SHE IS, THE FAMOUS EDITOR TRAILING STREAMERS OF SUCCESS.
>> THIS IS THE MOCKUP.
>> AH.
>> IT DOES SEEM WEIRD THAT WE MANAGED IT IN TIME.
>> WE MANAGED IT?
>> THE OFFICE.
WE ALL PULLED TOGETHER.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S PERFECTLY BRILLIANT, DARLING, DON'T YOU?
>> SHE'S NOW INHERITED THIS NEWSPAPER, SO IT'S HER JOB TO EMPLOY AN EDITOR AND TO EMPLOY THESE WRITERS, AND WE SEE HER DOING THAT IN SERIES 6.
ACTUALLY, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HER BEING SORT OF A FEMALE BOSS AND SEE HOW THAT GOES DOWN WITH MEN IN 1925, WHICH-- (LAUGHS) YEAH, SHE RUFFLES SOME FEATHERS.
>> AND WHERE IS THE COPY FOR THIS?
MR. SKINNER, THIS REALLY ISN'T FINISHED.
>> I HAVE DEALT WITH AMATEURISM.
I'VE EVEN DEALT WITH INCOMPETENCE!
BUT THIS RIDICULOUS MUDDLEHEADED MEDDLING JUST ABOUT-- >> MR. SKINNER, THAT'S QUITE ENOUGH.
IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, I SUGGEST WE PART COMPANY ONCE AND FOR ALL.
>> THAT IS A WOMAN WITH A BACKBONE.
NO LONGER "POOR EDITH" BUT "GOOD ON YOU, EDITH."
FINDING HER WAY IN WORK IS ONE THING, BUT WILL EDITH EVER FIND LOVE AGAIN?
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS EXCLUSIVE CLIP FROM SEASON SIX.
>> I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU'D LIKE A DRINK ME LATER ON.
>> WELL-- >> ONLY I'M GOING HOME TOMORROW AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN I'LL BE BACK.
>> ALL RIGHT, WHY NOT?
>> SHALL WE SAY SEVEN?
NOW I'M GOING TO HURRY AWAY BEFORE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.
>> WELL, WELL, MAYBE THINGS ARE FINALLY LOOKING UP FOR LADY EDITH.
WHAT A RELIEF.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE A FEELING ABOUT SEASON SIX.
WITH JULIAN FELLOWES PULLING THE STRINGS OF THESE CHARACTERS, NOTHING IS EVER STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> THERE'S STILL ONE MORE BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR EDITH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T GO SMOOTHLY WITH HER, LET'S FACE IT.
>> SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE "POOR EDITH" ALL OVER AGAIN.
SHE JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GET THE BREAKS, DOES SHE?
WILL HER NEW BUSINESS FALL APART?
ANOTHER ILL-FATED LOVE AFFAIR?
AND WHATEVER BECOMES OF MARIGOLD?
WELL, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT.
IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE WORLD OF THE CRAWLEYS AND THEIR SERVANTS FOR THESE LAST SIX YEARS, A DEDICATED AND FUN GROUP OF ACTORS, ASTONISHING LOCATIONS SUCH AS HIGHCLERE CASTLE, AND CAPTIVATING STORIES WRITTEN BY JULIAN FELLOWES.
READING EACH NEW SCRIPT WAS LIKE UNWRAPPING A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, ALWAYS SURPRISING, WITH ENOUGH HUMOR, INTRIGUE, DRAMA AND ROMANCE TO KEEP US ALL ON THE EDGE OF OUR SEATS.
>> I MEAN, THERE IS SOMETHING VERY STRANGE ABOUT...
CREATING A WORLD, CREATING A WORLD OF PEOPLE THAT THEN HAVE IDENTITIES AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD CONNECT WITH THEM AND BOND WITH THEM, THESE PEOPLE YOU THOUGHT UP WHILE YOU WERE SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU WERE LYING IN THE BATH.
>> WHAT SHOULD WE CALL EACH OTHER?
>> WELL, WE COULD ALWAYS START WITH MRS. CRAWLEY AND LADY GRANTHAM.
>> I MEAN, I WAS STOPPED IN... BARNES & NOBLE IN NEW YORK, AND I WAS FOLLOWED BY THIS WOMAN, AND FINALLY I TURNED TO HER, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, "CAN I HELP?"
AND SHE SORT OF-- HER LIP QUIVERED.
SHE WAS SILENT FOR A MOMENT.
AND SHE SAID, "JUST LET EDITH BE HAPPY."
AND I REALIZED, MY GOD, YOU KNOW, WHAT AM I DOING TO ALL THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN EDITH WAS JILTED AT THE ALTAR, WHEN I KILLED SYBIL, WHEN I KILLED MATTHEW.
YOU DO HAVE A SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
>> A LOT OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND EVEN CAST MEMBERS FIND IT ALWAYS PRETTY INTERESTING AND FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES IN THE WAY THAT JULIAN WILL SET UP A STORYLINE, AND THEN YOU'LL BE SURE IT'S GOING ONE WAY, AND YOU GET HOODWINKED AS MUCH AS THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS DO AS WELL.
AND CERTAINLY, I THINK WHEN MARY AND MATTHEW HAD THEIR BABY GEORGE AND EVERYTHING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE ROSES, AND THEN HE JUST GOT IN THE CAR AND TOOK THAT CORNER A LITTLE TOO FAST AND, YOU KNOW, NO ONE REALLY EXPECTED THAT.
>> HAVING JULIAN WRITE EVERY EPISODE IS ASTONISHING.
AND IT'S BEEN-- MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO US BECAUSE HE IS SO SURE OF THOSE CHARACTERS NOW THAT IT'S-- YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO-- THERE IS NO TIME WHEN WE SAY THAT PERSON DOESN'T SOUND QUITE LIKE THEM BECAUSE JULIAN IS SO SURE-FOOTED WITH THESE NOW.
>> WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS IT?
>> AN ELECTRIC TOASTER.
I HAVE GIVEN IT TO MYSELF AS A TREAT.
IF IT'S ANY GOOD, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST GETTING ONE FOR THE UPSTAIRS BREAKFASTS.
>> IS IT NOT ENOUGH THAT WE ARE SHELTERING A DANGEROUS REVOLUTIONARY, MRS. HUGHES?
COULD YOU NOT HAVE SPARED ME THAT?
>> ALL OF THE CHARACTERS HAVE REALLY BEEN EVOLVED BY THE ACTORS AS WELL AS BY ME BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU WRITE THE FIRST EPISODE, AND THEY CAST IT, AND BY THAT TIME, YOU'VE PROBABLY WRITTEN THE SECOND EPISODE, BUT BY THE TIME YOU'RE WRITING THE THIRD EPISODE, YOU KNOW WHO'LL PLAY IT, AND BY THE TIME YOU'RE WRITING THE FIFTH, YOU'RE PROBABLY BEGINNING TO SEE BITS OF THE FIRST, AND YOU START TO WRITE FOR THE ACTORS.
AND BY THE TIME YOU'VE GOT TO THE SECOND SERIES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY WRITING FOR THE ACTORS' PERFORMANCE.
LESLIE NICHOL FROM THE SECOND SERIES ON GREW INTO THE SORT OF DOWNSTAIRS MAGGIE SMITH BECAUSE SHE'S SUCH A FUNNY WOMAN.
(TELEPHONE RINGS ) >> OH, MY LORD, LISTEN TO THAT.
IT'S LIKE THE CRY OF A BANSHEE.
>> AND SIMILARLY, MOSLEY, YOU KNOW, WHO HAD COME IN AS QUITE AN UNIMPORTANT PART AS MATTHEW'S VALET IN THE CRAWLEY HOUSE, AND HE WAS JUST SO SKILLFUL AT THIS UNDERSTATED COMEDY.
AND SO YOU START TO WRITE FOR THAT.
>> FOR ME, I THINK IT'S TRUE TO SAY THAT JULIAN FELLOWES WAS BORN TO WRITE FOR MAGGIE SMITH.
I THINK THEY ARE-- (CHUCKLES) IT'S A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
>> I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR MOTHER AGAIN.
WHEN I'M WITH HER, I AM REMINDED OF THE VIRTUES OF THE ENGLISH.
>> BUT ISN'T SHE AMERICAN?
>> EXACTLY.
>> MAGGIE'S A LEGEND, AND DESERVEDLY SO.
SHE'S-- SHE LANDED FULLY FORMED AS A STAR IN HER 20S AT THE OLD VIC, AND YOU KNOW, SHE WAS PLAYING DESDEMONA OPPOSITE OLIVIER'S OTHELLO.
YOU KNOW, JULIAN WRITES BRILLIANTLY FOR HER BECAUSE WHO BETTER CAN ZING OUT THOSE LINES?
BECAUSE THOSE LINES ARE NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE WAY MAGGIE IS IN LIFE.
>> WHEN YOU TALK LIKE THAT, I'M TEMPTED TO RING FOR NANNY AND HAVE YOU PUT TO BED WITH NO SUPPER.
>> WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH MAGGIE SMITH?
WELL, SHE'S UNIQUE.
I REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST SCENE I SHOT WITH HER IN THE DRAWING ROOM, AND THERE WAS A TINY STAGE DIRECTION IN THE SCRIPT ABOUT HER SHIELDING HER EYES FROM THE NEWFANGLED ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
BUT ON THE DAY, SHE FLICKED OPEN HER FAN AND HELD IT UP THERE NOT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT BUT FOR MOST OF THE SCENE.
SUPERB COMIC INSTINCT AND ABSOLUTELY TRUE TO THE CHARACTER.
I REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH EVERY SCENE WE EVER DID.
JUST BRILLIANT.
>> I COULDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY IN THE HOUSE.
I WOULDN'T SLEEP A WINK.
ALL THOSE VAPORS SEEPING ABOUT.
>> AND THE DOWAGER'S ONE-LINERS HAVE BECOME THE STUFF OF LEGEND THE WORLD OVER.
>> DO YOU THINK I MIGHT HAVE A DRINK?
OH, I'M SO SORRY.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE A WAITER.
I WONDER YOUR HALO DOESN'T GROW HEAVY.
IT MUST BE LIKE WEARING A TIARA ROUND THE CLOCK.
NO ENGLISHMEN WOULD DREAM OF DYING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
>> HOW YOU HATE TO BE WRONG.
>> I WOULDN'T KNOW.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SENSATION.
>> I'D SAY THAT WAS GAME, SET AND MATCH TO LADY GRANTHAM.
>> AND DAME MAGGIE SMITH IS AT HER FINEST IN SEASON SIX.
HERE'S AN EXCLUSIVE CLIP FROM ONE OF THE FINAL EPISODES.
>> MAMA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU.
>> I WANT TO BE QUITE CERTAIN YOU'RE THINKING SENSIBLY ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CHANGES AT THE HOSPITAL.
>> BY "THINKING SENSIBLY," YOU MEAN THINKING LIKE YOU.
>> OF COURSE.
>> CORA BELIEVES YOU'RE WRONG.
>> WELL, CORA IS CONFUSED.
>> AND WHEN SHE SEES SENSE, SHE'LL AGREE WITH YOU?
>> YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ISABEL.
>> I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO CORA.
>> NOW THAT IS A MISTAKE.
>> YOU CAN'T EXPECT ME TO AVOID TALKING TO MY OWN WIFE.
>> WHY NOT?
I KNOW SEVERAL COUPLES WHO ARE PERFECTLY HAPPY, HAVEN'T SPOKEN IN YEARS.
>> I LOVE IT, THE UNCENSORED GRANDMOTHER WHO TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A DOWAGER COUNTESS IN THEIR LIFE.
ACTUALLY, MAYBE NOT ALL THE TIME.
"DOWNTON ABBEY" IS BLESSED WITH SUPERB ACTING FROM THE LIKES OF DAME MAGGIE, WONDERFUL WRITING FROM THE PEN OF JULIAN FELLOWES, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE ARMY OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO HELP BRING THE SHOW TO LIFE.
>> I THINK THE THING THAT IS MADE "DOWNTON" AS SPECIAL AS IT UNDOUBTEDLY IS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE SETS AROUND ME.
I MEAN, THIS IS A PRETEND ROOM.
WE'RE AT EALING STUDIOS.
BUT THIS ROOM YOU COULD PICK UP AND PUT IN HIGHCLERE AND WOULD LOOK TOTALLY RIGHT.
AND THAT SAME EYE FOR DETAIL IS IN THE COSTUMES, WHICH ARE EXQUISITE, IN THE HAIR THAT NIC DOES AND THE MAKEUP.
IT'S PUTTING ALL THAT DETAIL AND ALL THAT CARE INTO EVERY ASPECT THAT HAS MADE IT AS EXTRAORDINARY AS IT IS.
>> THE WRITING, THE PRODUCTION DESIGN, COSTUME, MAKEUP AND HAIR, LIGHTING, MUSIC, SO MANY ELEMENTS COMBINE TO BRING YOU EACH EPISODE OF "DOWNTON ABBEY."
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BRIEF PREVIEW OF OUR SALUTE TO "DOWNTON ABBEY."
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME AND FOR SUPPORTING THIS, YOUR PBS STATION.
