British veteran actress Dame Maggie Smith, who plays the role of Violet Crawley, is one of the fan-favorite characters in the critically-acclaimed period drama British TV series “Downton Abbey” because of her sharp tongue and witty one-liners that often border on being sarcastic and outright funny.
Digital Spy was one of the few select British media outlets that were chosen to get an exclusive preview of the first episode of Season 6 of the popular TV show and the outlet was happy to report that Maggie Smith’s witty one-liners are very much in great shape as the show enters its sixth and final season on PBS/ITV premiering on January 3, 2016.
Violet Crawley’s classic put-downs and witty retorts will be back right on the premiere episode of Season 6. And that is just one of the things that fans can look forward to when “Downton Abbey” returns to TV early next year.
What fans should look forward to
The sixth season of “Downton Abbey” will have 1925 for a setting and it will feature Robert already considering that they are just living far too out to date with the rest of the world.
With the financial crisis looming in the horizon, there are talks of reducing the staff at Downton with rumors of even closing shop and forcing the Crawleys to finally fend for themselves.
The first episode will also dwell on Daisy’s frustration for planning time and again to leave Downton for a life of study for the ages. With the staff cutback, it may be her best way out on the course to her long-time plans.
The premiere episode also previewed that one character will be blackmailed by a stranger over something that happened in the past. It would be interesting how the character finds a way out of it during the season.
As has been reported early this year, it is likely that Carson and Mrs. Hughes will finally have their dream wedding before the season ends. When Mrs. Hughes consult with Mrs. Patmore on what her life as a married person could be up ahead, are some of the funniest scenes of the TV series ever.
Anna and Bates will also be in for another grind for Season 6, and whether they will end up in a happy ending or not, only show creator Julian Fellowes knows. And finally, there is the return to Downton of Sergeant Willis which could finally help the cause of Anna.
Excited over the prospect of movie version
Meanwhile, Gareth Neame, chief of Carnival Films, which is producing “Downton Abbey” on TV, responded to rumors about the series getting a movie version in the near future.
He said during the Television Critics Association press tour that he is not denying anything because a “Downton Abbey” movie could really be a wonderful thing. He, however, admitted that there is no script or plan yet for the supposed movie project, details Vine Report.
Season 6 of “Downton Abbey” has just wrapped up filming in the UK and it is one of the most anticipated finales on TV. It is expected to debut in UK television early next year while American audiences will have to wait a few more weeks after that until they can finally watch the last season.
Julian Fellowes previously disclosed that aside from entertaining notions of making a film version of “Downton Abbey,” there are suggestions or proposals to make a stage play or a musical version of the series after it ends on the small screen. There was even a speculation that a ballet could also be made out of the TV series.