Original Ending

You bring up a very interesting topic and one that hasn't generated much discussion on this forum.

I distinctly remember an interview with the actress who played Cora before the sixth season in which she said something would happen that profoundly (and apparently sadly) changed their way of life. The implication was something like a major death (such as Robert's death) that would lead to the closing of the Abbey or something similar - a drastic lifestyle change. I didn't think the Abbey would be sold, but that Robert's death would necessitate more death duties, leading Mary to close down the Abbey/rent it out while retaining the estate and endeavoring to manage it successfully so that George would inherit it entirely someday. Meanwhile all the servants would be let go, Cora settled in a dower house somewhere or even returning to America, Edith married off, etc, altogether the very decisive end to a family and their world at Downton. It would fit in well with the decline / retrenchment and survival attitude that became prevalent among the aristocracy in the interwar years.

But that did not happen. So it's possible Fellowes had a change of heart and wrote a different ending to Downton Abbey, one that was much rosier and positive. When you get down to it, the family's lifestyle did not really change that much in the mid 1920s from when the show first opened in 1912, just with marginally fewer servants.

Back when that was first aired, the speculation was that the funeral was that of Peter Pelham. As soon as Bertie mentioned that he was Peter's third cousin, the odds shot up that he'd be the Marquis, given Matthew's third cousin relationship to Robert.

That is such a good point! I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. It's so obvious now that you mention it, and it explains all those major buildups of storylines (hospital saga, Robert's ulcer, Thomas' torture) that ended in nothing. It also explains the whole feeling of aimlessness that permeated the series.

I think that the funeral was for Violet, maybe in that same period is the final fight betwen Mary and Edith and in her last hours she managed to bring peace betwen those two. With Violet´s death the series could have shown to us the "end of a era", because to this point Violet is the only one who is pinning for the old days, even Robert changed (accepted Tom in the family, also Marigold, etc), the other member of the old guard is Carson, but he hasnt enough power. Also i think that the hospital thing was made with the purpose of show us how retrograde Violet was being and how Cora emerged as the leading lady of the county, (something absurd, because in the same moment that Robert´s father would have died, Violet would have passed all of her duties to Cora); the hospital could have been better, but JF is so in love with Violet that even if her point is the wrong he gave to her the best lines.

I also agree that Robert´s death could have a lot of impact, but i seriously doubt that JF would go so further to trying to explain to the viewers that Downton should pay another death duties. The whole "we must economize" was so badly done, for example, after Matthew´s death we saw Robert complaining about death duties, but in the next episode they do a whole house party with a opera singer included; then in season 6 we also they told us that they are trying to save but we see Mary and Robert hunting as if nothing had changed. For dramatic purposes Robert´s death would have been right when Matthew was alive.

It seems the first two seasons were the only ones written out with any kind of vision. JF seemed to be hunting for storylines and repeating them in later seasons. The hospital storyline was boring but JF probably thought it fascinating. He had already done the love interest storyline for Violet so he needed something for her in season six. I don't think it meant someone was going to die.

As for Elizabeth McGovern talking about the funeral in advance, I agree she was probably thinking of the death of the Marquess of Pelham. It was probably planned from the season 5 Christmas special that Bertie would eventually end up being the new marquess and Edith would get her happy ending - otherwise what was the point of having him be a paternal cousin? He could have just been a random guy who was the estate manager.

I think there would have been talk of a DA movie well before the last series started. It's natural for any hit series to think of movie potential as they start to talk about when the series will end.

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There was an off-stage funeral. Bertie’s cousin, the marquess of Hexam.

No, Fellowes was never going to kill off either of them. The hospital storyline was Violet’s last great hurrah. Fellowes wrote some excellent scenes for her and she acted them superbly. The scene in the library when the house is open to paying guests is outstanding, followed by the even more excellent scene in Robert’s bedroom.