Prepare to say goodbye to the prestigious Crawley family and their band of loyal servants. On Sunday (Jan. 3), PBS kicked off the final season of the network's highest-rated drama, Downton Abbey. Before the sixth season brings the British series to an end, fans can expect this spoiler to occur: Lady Mary and Lady Edith's ongoing sibling rivalry to continue.
Downton Abbey was created Julian Fellowes, premiering in 2010 on ITV in Britain. The show gained immense international attention when PBS aired the period drama on their network in the United States. Fans have immersed themselves in the trials and tribulations that happen within the aristocratic family and the lives of the many workers who serve them on their estate.
Throughout the seasons Downton Abbey has explored tales of unexpected death, money troubles, passionate affairs, troubled pasts, rape, marriage, personal identity discoveries, and pregnancy problems. Based on the season six trailer, the final episodes in the series will still contain many highs and lows, including the rocky relationship between sisters Mary and Edith Crawley.
A photo posted by Downton Abbey (@downtonabbey_official) on Jan 3, 2016 at 1:04pm PST
"They remain true to their relationship," star Laura Carmichael (Edith) told TVLine.com. "There is an element of respect and love there. It's just frosted in the guise of bitterness. There's a lot of that this season, because they're both becoming these successful women in different ways."
Edith manages the paper in the city, while her older sister Mary manages the estate. With Edith living in a house that her sister runs and Mary taking care of family affairs while her sister frequently attends special events in London, tension and envy builds between them.
Love also plays a theme for the ladies in the final season. In season five, Mary revealed her feelings for Lord Gillingham weren't strong, so an unexpected visit from a familiar face (Henry Talbot) might make things a little interesting.
"It's a really satisfying ending," Carmichael told TVLine.com. "It's hard. It's never going to be the way that you think it is. There's going to be a lot of gasps and tears, but all in that classic Downton way!"
Catch Downton Abbey every Sundays at 9 p.m. on PBS.
