As ‘Downton Abbey’ prepares to bring on its sixth and final season, PBS has unveiled a new trailer that offers a sneak peek into what is in store for the characters when the hit series returns.
The new season for the British period drama begins six months after the season five finale.
The trailer offers a quick look at the residents and workers of the estate, including Carson (Jim Carter) offering his counsel to Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) that they “must run this place as it should be run.”
Maggie Smith’s well-loved character, the Dowager Countess, is also featured as she does what she does best: exchanging strong opinions with constant rival, Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton).
“So you want to protect your power at the expense of the patients?,” Isobel asks Lady Violet in the trailer. “I want to protect the patients at the expense of my power.”
“Then may the best man win,” the Dowager responded.
At the show’s London press launch of the sixth and final season, writer-creator Julian Fellowes opened up to Variety about looking at the past seasons with mixed emotions.
“The characters have been so real to me for six years. So I do think you have a little sadness,” Fellowes shared. “You do feel rather sorry to say goodbye to these people because I’ve enjoyed the creation. I’m sorry to see them go.”
He also shared how he felt the need to end the series despite its worldwide success.
“I’m very unlikely to be involved in anything that is as successful again and so, of course, I say goodbye to these golden years with a slight pang. But it seems the right time to go while we’re still firing,” the screenwriter said.
For the final season of ‘Downton Abbey,’ the period drama will not necessarily draw attention to the possibilities for the characters nor will it provide flash-forwards.
“We don’t have to have completely happy endings, but for the audience it is not a satisfying ending to have the place blown up. It is overwhelmingly a positive show, even when melancholic,” executive producer Gareth Neame explained.
As for Smith, she also shared how she became emotional upon reaching the end of the show and filming its final scenes.
“I’m just surprised that I got to the end because just before this I’d done about 10 years with ‘Harry Potter,’” Smith said. “So I felt very old indeed by the time I got to the Dowager. I’m honestly just surprised that I got through it and I’m still here.”
‘Downton Abbey’ season six is set to premiere on Jan. 3 on PBS.
