Downton Abbey Season 5: What we know so far

For starters, the trailer for Season 5 of Downton Abbey is pretty vague…

What we know about Season 5 of Downton Abbey…

FIRE!:
Allan Leech said we might cry during the season premiere of Downton Abbey. But Lesley Nichols said “There aren’t any plans for any big characters to die this year.” We know the fifth season opener of Downton Abbey starts with a fire… And that the fire affects one of the main character’s bedrooms. But who?

Because of the real risk of smoke damage at Highclere Castle, the smokey scenes were actually shot next to the house and at the studio. Lady Carnavon, the owner of Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) has spoken about the actual history of fire at Highclere Castle. She said fans will notice that the gilded ceiling is far less ornate in the north library than the main library because of fire damage 150 years ago.

After all we’ve been through, let’s hope none of our fictional characters are damaged by the fire in the first episode of Downton Abbey.

LADY MARY REMAINS SINGLE for now:
The love triangle with Lady Mary, Charles Blake and Anthony Gillingham is still triangulating in Season 5. We know that both actors are still very much on the scene. Michelle Dockery said she knew Lady Mary was never going to settle with a new man right away, partly for the sake of the audience since Matthew was such a well loved character. But we do know for sure that Evelyn Napier is no longer a potential suitor for Lady Mary. We understand that any choice between two hunks like actors Julian Ovenden (Lord Blake) and Tom Cullen (Lord Gillingham) can’t be easy.

MORE DRAMA FOR BATES AND ANNA (and maybe MARY):
We don’t know if Bates is a murderer or not. And Mary burned the ticket that puts Bates at the crime scene, creating a possible legal consequence for Lady Mary.

Anna and Bates are still dealing the traumatic aftermath of Anna’s rape by Green. We hear there is a tender moment in Season 5 where the couple talks about having children, so there is hope they will be able to move forward. But the suspicious cloud still hangs over Downton about Mr Green’s death. Suspecting that your husband may be a murderer is confusing for any wife.

MARY AND TOM GROW CLOSER:
Romance is out of the question, but the unlikely duo have a lot in common with their single parent widower status.

RUSSIANS!:
Lady Rose helps Russian refugees. And Lady Violet is also very involved in this new subplot. Prince Kuragin, the major Russian character, is played by Rade Serbedzija. Lady Mary is overheard saying: “Granny has a past!” He seems a bit young to have had any type of romantic affiliation with Lady Violet, but who knows. Bolsheviks, communists and Russians, oh my.

MORE DRAMA FOR EDITH:
With Edith’s illegitimate daughter hidden on the estate, how could there not be more drama? Add another secret waiting to be revealed when Lady Edith starts spending too much time with the Drewe family, the adoptive parents of Edith’s baby. “It’s a drama waiting to happen,” said actor Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith). It shouldn’t take Rosamund and Violet long to figure out where Edith’s baby is since they already know about this child’s existence. And Lady Edith doesn’t buy the whole Michael Gregson being attacked by a gang of street toughs story. She won’t let the disappearance of her daughter’s father go unsolved.

SARAH BUNTING IS STILL A LOVE INTEREST FOR TOM BRANSON:
All we know is that the actress is back on set and there’s romance, albeit conflicted, in the air.

CARSON AND MRS HUGHES HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON:

At the end of Season 4, the sensible guardians of downstairs held hands, a bold move on Downton. They are both very private people, but nobody can deny something is cooking beneath their civilized exteriors.

CASTING NEWS:
Richard E. Grant joins the cast as Simon Bricker, who visits Downton Abbey as a guest of the Granthams. You may have seen him previously on Girls, Gosford Park, and Doctor Who.

Anna Chancellor from The Hour and Four Weddings and a Funeral plays Lady Anstruther

Rade Sherbedgia from Eyes Wide Shut, and 24 plays a Russian refugee/prince.

Dame Harriet Walter returns as Lady Shackleton

Peter Egan returns as Lord Flintshire.

How to host a Downton Abbey Dinner Party

Season 4 Trailer Downton Abbey

Let’s call the Season 4 Trailer of Downton Abbey “Dancing, Kissing, Crying, Fighting”

The reaction to Season 4 of Downton Abbey Season Four is positive. The Telegraph newspaper gave the Downton Premiere a five star rating, saying the episode marks a return to the splendor of Season One of Downton Abbey.

What is revealed on the premiere of Downton?

The first episode of Season 4 is set in 1922, six months after Matthew’s death. Part of the episode is set on Valentine’s day, obviously not a cheerful holiday for Lady Mary. Baby George and Mary have some trouble bonding. All Mary can see is Matthew when she looks at her wee one. The baby is played by identical twin actors, Logan and Cole Weston.

Michelle Dockery has assured viewers that despite the identical widow status of Branson and Lady Mary, there will not be a love connection, but they will run the estate of Downton together. In the romance department, we can probably expect new character Lord Gillingham to court Mary.

At Downton Abbey Online, we’re really hoping beleaguered Lady Edith will experience more exciting times in Season 4. Edith spends more time in London with her smitten editor. According to actor Laura Carmichael, Edith finds her inner Carrie Bradshaw this season. Woot woot!

Down below, the kitchen is abuzz with a modern electric food mixer. Whatever will Daisy and Mrs. Patmore do with all the extra free time? And actress Phyllis Logan who plays Mrs. Hughes says there is no impending romance between Carson and herself.

Downton Abbey Season 4 Spoilers

Downton Abbey Season 4 nears completion in the UK and a few spoilers are leaking into the ether. But as usual, more secrecy surrounds Downton Abbey plot lines than an Opus Dei meeting. Season Four of Downton Abbey premieres in the US on January 5, 2014 on PBS. In the UK, Downton Abbey started its earlier run in September 2103. Season 4 opens in 1922, six months after the death of Downton heir Matthew Crawley.

Season 4 Characters

Start your engines, Season 4 of Downton Abbey is on. What do we know about new and old characters? Sadly, O’Brien and her bangs left the building. O’Brien schemed herself right off the show. Shirley Maclaine is back to spar with Countess Violet. Branson brings on a nanny. And our favourite flapper cousin Rose is full time at Downton.

And fear not, Julian Fellowes has written some hunks into the new Season of Downton…

Julian Ovenden appears on Downton Abbey Season 4 as aristocrat Charles Blake. Will he make a play for single mom Lady Mary? Ovenden is also a singer, but no word on whether he'll be crooning for Lady Mary.

Sesame Street spoofs Downton Abbey

After airing for nearly 45 years, Sesame Street is still killing it, remaining relevant for both kids and parents. The Sesame Street spoof of Downton Abbey is making its rounds on the internet this week. Behold, Upside Downton Abbey: