Downton Abbey 3 Absence of Matthew Goode: A Positive Twist for Fans?

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By the year 2015, when the hit TV show “Downton Abbey” concluded, Michelle Dockery’s character Lady Mary Talbot had found love once more with Matthew Goode’s Henry Talbot. In the 2019 “Downton Abbey” film, we were introduced to their daughter Caroline. Yet, in the 2022 movie “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” and the upcoming 2025 release “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” Henry Talbot will not make an appearance. However, Goode views this omission as a “really positive thing” for a particular reason, and I must admit, his perspective is intriguing.

It seems that scheduling issues were the reason why Goode didn’t appear in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. He mentioned to THR that he was occupied with filming the British crime thriller series Dept. Q at that time. Furthermore, even if he could have made time for it, there was only a small amount of content available for his character, amounting to just half a page. Goode added this as his explanation.

Instead of my original statement: “And actually, I said, you know what? Why canā€™t this be a really positive thing? Because I donā€™t know what theyā€™re doing. They might kill [Henry]! I didnā€™t see the script. But itā€™s a wonderful opportunity ā€” [Mary, Michelle Dockeryā€™s character] is like this modern feminist icon and in a weird way, maybe she doesnā€™t need a man. Perhaps Downton Abbey is enough or maybe an old suitor will reappear. Now, it opens up the story to have something significant happen. Why bring Henry into the picture?”

“I wondered aloud if this could be a good thing, since I donā€™t know their plans and they might harm [Henry]. I didnā€™t get to see the script. However, it offers an exciting chance because Mary, Michelle Dockery’s character, symbolizes modern feminism. Perhaps she doesn’t need a man, and Downton Abbey could be her partner instead, or maybe an old admirer will return. This development allows for something interesting to happen in the story. So, why introduce Henry?

It’s not easy for me to accept the possibility of Mary having another husband, given her past experiences. For those familiar with Downton Abbey, you may recall that Dan Stevens’ character, Matthew Crawley, was Mary’s primary love interest throughout the first three seasons. However, his untimely death in a car crash after visiting their newborn son at the hospital left a lasting impact on the show. In fact, her previous fear of losing a husband in a car crash was one of the reasons she initially ended her relationship with Henry, who is also a race car driver.

More on Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

It was inevitable that the third installment of Downton Abbey would face challenges without Maggie Smith, as evidenced by Paul Giamatti’s statement that it wasn’t the same experience.

Downton Abbey 3ā€™s Michelle Dockery On The ā€˜Beautifulā€™ Third Movie And Honoring Maggie Smith

Setting that aside, in “A New Era,” Mary managed quite well without Henry by her side, as he was participating in a racing event in Istanbul. In case Matthew Goode’s speculation about Henry Talbot’s demise proves true, it’s comforting to know that Mary has a strong support system to help her navigate this fresh wave of sorrow. This includes her parents, siblings, in-laws, the household staff, and more. All I ask is that if Henry does pass away, may it not be due to a car accident.

It’s equally likely that nothing harmful will befall Henry, and his minor appearance in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” could have just been a prelude to his departure. To be honest, I’m content without Henry and Mary reuniting, or Mary taking on another romantic interest. Given that this is the last installment of the Downton Abbey series, I’d rather see her spending as much quality time as possible with her family and cherished acquaintances.

The final chapter of Downton Abbey, titled “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” hits theaters on September 12th. For those who are fans of Matthew Goode, you’ll also have the opportunity to see him portray Detective Carl Morck in the series Dept. Q. This show is now available for streaming with a Netflix subscription.

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2025-06-02 00:07