3. The Old And The New
A recurring theme throughout the earlier series of Downton Abbey was the relationship between the old world and the new. The divisions were are their most clear cut in the first series of the show, beginning in 1912. At this time in the show's history, there was naturally much more of a space between the servants and their masters. Then the First World War came along and changed things for the characters of the show. Lady Sybil married a chauffeur and the house was opened up as a hospital. Slowly but surely their world is becoming a more familiar one and I don't mean in terms of the new electric gizmos they've had installed in the last series or so. For example, Mr. Carson felt able to speak to Mary at the beginning of Series 4 though he was reprimanded by the lady for this. The fact is that times are changing, and nowhere is that more evident than in the changing role of Tom Branson. It has become clear that Branson and Mary may have a very important role to play in the running of the estate and while this is something that will no doubt cause tension with Lord Grantham, it is also an interesting plotline that will surely be developed in great detail throughout the series.