Several characters in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale deserve happy endings, but there are two who should get them more than anyone else. Set for release in September, the Simon Curtis-directed film will conclude the long-running, fan-favorite franchise by bringing the large ensemble into a new decade: the 1930s.
Seeing as Downton Abbey technically first came to an end in 2016 with its series finale, there’s an argument to be made that everyone’s story has already been tied up, and everything that’s come after has merely been icing on top of a particularly lavish cake. However, the two Downton Abbey movies have featured several substantial plot developments and changing arcs for its various characters.
Downton Abbey‘s series finale aired in the United States in 2016, though it first ended in the U.K. on Christmas Day in 2015.
Now, with Downton Abbey 3 actually being positioned as the true last act for Downton’s inhabitants, one can only hope that everyone will get a proper sendoff. With a cast of this size, though, some people might have quieter endings than most.
Mrs. Hughes & Mr. Carson Deserve A Proper Ending In Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
After Everything They’ve Done, The Movie Should Honor Them
Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) have been the two pillars of Downton Abbey‘s downstairs staff since the very first episode. With him as the butler and she as the housekeeper, the two worked together to keep the great house running, and along the way, they fell in love and got married.
More than that, they should get a storyline that honors the impact and influence they’ve had on the household.
At the end of the Downton Abbey series, Carson was forced to retire from his position at Downton when he was diagnosed with palsy. Though it was somewhat bittersweet, there was still an implication that he and Mrs. Hughes would continue to enjoy a peaceful married life while she kept working as housekeeper.
However, the first movie reversed this a bit by having Carson return as temporary butler, and then 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era ended with him officially stepping back into his position – at least while he trained a replacement. Nevertheless, it turned his story back around and effectively erased his original conclusion from the show.
As for Mrs. Hughes, her arc has arguably never received a proper ending. She’s continued on at Downton and remains a steady presence for everyone around her, doling out advice and comfort. It’s a fitting direction for her character considering the show, but with the franchise definitively ending, she deserves a bit more.
When it comes to Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, both Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes should receive a blissful, happy ending that sees them leave Downton behind so they can enjoy retirement together. More than that, they should get a storyline that honors the impact and influence they’ve had on the household.
Based on some footage from Downton Abbey 3 that shows Mr. Carson in a more casual suit, there’s a good chance he’ll already be retired once more by the time the movie begins. All that’s left is for Mrs. Hughes to join him in getting some much-deserved rest and happiness in their twilight years.
Both of them have done so much for the other characters; Carson helped Mary (Michelle Dockery) through her grief after Matthew’s death, and Mrs. Hughes has helped everyone, from Thomas (Robert James-Collier) to Anna (Joanne Froggatt), get through difficult times. If Downton Abbey 3 is smart, it’ll keep that in mind while saying goodbye to these characters.
