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So, there are several ways to continue. There are rumours about a possible Downton Abbey film where Thomas could get his happy ending. If Julian Fellowes actually realised gay men lived in relationships (with other gay men - just a clarification) before 1967, it could be done via storyline Agatha Christie would be - if not proud of - then at least somewhat favourable towards. Let me tell you my conspiracy theory.
Do you remember lady Edith marrying? Good. So, the chap she's married is Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham. But before he got the title, his cousin Peter was the Marquess of Hexham. Now, Bertie spends really an inordinate amount of time talking about this cousin of his. That he's an "arty type rather than sporty, if you know what I mean", that he often travels to Tangiers to paint "boys, scenes of local life" and "young fishermen", that he likes poetry and he's generally a gentle soul.
And then, much later on when he's about to marry Edith, Bertie's mother all but says that Peter's conduct was questionable/immoral.
Yes, Mr Fellowes, we get it: cousin Peter is gay. But why shove this fact at the audience with such determination, hmm?
Bertie inherits the title because Peter dies in Tangiers. Of malaria and just as he was all set to marry some girl. Interesting, eh? Of course he had to marry: to ensure there was an heir to the title, perhaps because his family was really pushing. But when Bertie gets to Tangiers, he later tells Edith that Peter had already been buried. So he (and we as an audience) never actually saw Peter's body.
My totally brilliand and very plausible theory is that Peter faked his death to have the family/marriage etc. off his back. He just couldn't hand down the title to Bertie but with his death, Bertie gets the title and will marry and will preserve the line and all those things a marquess should do.
And honestly, I wouldn't put that much stock in this theory (even if it is brilliant) if cousin Peter wasn't so much talked about. If he was just mentioned is passing - fine, but Bertie talks endlessly about him and that makes me suspicous of Mr Fellowes's intentions.
And another - purely fanfic - method of fixing things is to go the Jeeves/Wooster route and have Master George, all grown-up of course, become Thomas's lover. I know, the solution is brilliant in its simplicity, isnt it? :D
Do you remember lady Edith marrying? Good. So, the chap she's married is Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham. But before he got the title, his cousin Peter was the Marquess of Hexham. Now, Bertie spends really an inordinate amount of time talking about this cousin of his. That he's an "arty type rather than sporty, if you know what I mean", that he often travels to Tangiers to paint "boys, scenes of local life" and "young fishermen", that he likes poetry and he's generally a gentle soul.
And then, much later on when he's about to marry Edith, Bertie's mother all but says that Peter's conduct was questionable/immoral.
Yes, Mr Fellowes, we get it: cousin Peter is gay. But why shove this fact at the audience with such determination, hmm?
Bertie inherits the title because Peter dies in Tangiers. Of malaria and just as he was all set to marry some girl. Interesting, eh? Of course he had to marry: to ensure there was an heir to the title, perhaps because his family was really pushing. But when Bertie gets to Tangiers, he later tells Edith that Peter had already been buried. So he (and we as an audience) never actually saw Peter's body.
My totally brilliand and very plausible theory is that Peter faked his death to have the family/marriage etc. off his back. He just couldn't hand down the title to Bertie but with his death, Bertie gets the title and will marry and will preserve the line and all those things a marquess should do.
And honestly, I wouldn't put that much stock in this theory (even if it is brilliant) if cousin Peter wasn't so much talked about. If he was just mentioned is passing - fine, but Bertie talks endlessly about him and that makes me suspicous of Mr Fellowes's intentions.
And another - purely fanfic - method of fixing things is to go the Jeeves/Wooster route and have Master George, all grown-up of course, become Thomas's lover. I know, the solution is brilliant in its simplicity, isnt it? :D
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