The Crawleys excitedly await as the new addition to the family is soon to come. Meanwhile, Anna attempts to uncover evidence for Bates's innocence. But then, when tragedy strikes, will things ever be the same again?
Downton Abbey opens its doors to the public for charity. Barrow's actions are misconstrued. Mary and Henry's romance blossoms. Tensions between Cora and Violet reach a dramatic climax.
Mary endeavours to build bridges with her sister, while Edith's secret continues to pose a threat. As Henry settles into the role of husband and stepfather, finding his place at Downton proves more difficult.
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother, Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Bates takes a gamble.
A vindictive Ms. O'Brien hatches a damaging plot. Edith makes a major decision. Matthew devises a major plan for changing things, and Tom's brother pays a visit.
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots are hatched.
The Crawleys go to Duneagle Castle to celebrate Christmas with the MacClares. Everyone is delighted as they fish, hunt, and dine. Unfortunately, when the Crawleys return, tragedy strikes. Will things ever be the same again?
Mary is still inconsolable six months after Matthew's death, Edith supports Michael going to Germany to divorce his wife, Molesley looks for a job, and there is a surprise applicant for Ms. O'Brien's job.
An unofficial will from Matthew comes into the family's hand, Thomas plots against Anna, Rose gets involved in a scrap at a servant's dance, and Mrs. Crawley tries to reconcile Carson and Trigg.
An extravagant house party at the Abbey gives the Crawleys a chance to reconnect with old friends, but some guests prove more welcome than others, and along with the celebrations come deceit and heartache.
Mrs. Hughes tells Bates an edited version of Anna's rape. Edith goes to London to see Michael. Alfred takes a culinary test. The Countess suspects new employee Pegg of theft. Robert tries to keep a tenant.
A birthday party is planned for Robert, but Rose's contribution to the event surprises those above and below the stairs. A new farming venture on the Downton estate comes with dramatic repercussions for Mary. Edith receives troubling news.
Cora's playboy brother, Harold, is in trouble, so Robert must travel to America to help bail him out. A new farming venture at Downton sees Blake and Mary putting aside their differences.
Rosamund comes up with a plan to help Edith, but Violet sees right through it. Isobel is the object of someone's attention, while Mary asks Gillingham for a very big favour.
Summer of 1923. It's summer and as part of Rose's "coming out" she is to be presented at Buckingham Palace. The Crawley family go to London to prepare Grantham House for this busy social programme.
Tim Drewe guesses the parentage of Marigold. Mary receives another proposal from Tony. Violet plays matchmaker. Thomas continues to press Baxter for information with blackmail. A flash fire threatens the mansion.
Kuragin tells Violet he wants to live with her. Someone tries to break up the Atticus Rose wedding. Daisy wants to live in London. Anna is accused of Green's murder.
Lady Mary's past catches up with her when an unwelcome visitor delivers an ultimatum. News about the running of Downton Hospital puts Violet on the warpath.
Christmas 1919. Downton Abbey is hosting a lavish Christmas party, yet despite being the season of goodwill, tensions are rife and Bates' arrest has cast a shadow over the festivities.
Spring of 1920. Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters threaten. One of which is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
Downton is turned into a convalescent hospital for the war wounded and through circumstances Thomas is given authority in its operation as Anna and Bates are briefly reunited and Branson plots against a heroic general dining at Downton.
Matthew and William are missing in France, the mounting tensions between Cora and Isobel result in Isobel's volunteering for France, Bates returns to Downton, and the servants open a soup kitchen for unemployed veterans.
Matthew and William return from the war - Matthew permanently paralyzed and William dying. A village war widow joins the staff, the major who fathered Ethel's trial turns his back on her, and despite taking Bates' money, Vera breaks her blackmail agreement.
An unrecognizable burn victim turns up at the convalescent home claiming to be Mary's presumed drowned cousin Patrick, Carlisle plans to lure Carson from Downton, and Bates' wife reneges on her divorce agreement.
Ethel confronts her baby's grandparents. Bates thinks he might have played a role in his wife's death. Branson and Sybil elope, and Carlyle tries to recruit Anna to spy on Mary.
The Spanish Flu disrupts plans for Matthew's wedding when Cora, Lavinia, Carson, Molesley, and other staff members fall ill. Ethel has to decide the future for her son, and Jane resigns from Downton.
The new legal heirs to Downton, lawyer Matthew Crawley and his nurse mother Isobel are invited to live on the estate, but there is resentment of them as interlopers from both up and downstairs as interlopers.
Gwen's ambitions to leave service to become a secretary is discouraged, Bates takes painful steps to overcome his limp, and a dashing Turkish diplomat visiting Downton seems to work his charms on everyone - especially Mary.
Mrs. Hughes is reunited with an old beau, now a widower proposing marriage, and the Countess hires Matthew Crawley to see if the will can be broken and disagrees with his mother on a diagnosis.
Bates sees Thomas stealing a bottle of wine, the footman tries to frame him for petty theft, and Mrs. Crawley tries to convince the Dowager Countess to surrender her annual entitlement prize for best bloom in the village.
O'Brien and Thomas continue their efforts to frame Bates, Mary falls in love with Matthew, and Sybil is injured in a political disturbance and Branson is blamed.
Mary finds it was Edith who let the ambassador know about Pamuk's death, Cora announces her pregnancy, and Thomas and O'Brien hatch new slanders against Bates as War clouds loom.
After Bates' mother dies, he hopes his inheritance will buy him a divorce and allow him to marry Anna, Matthew announces his engagement to Lavinia Swire, and Sybil gets involved in the war effort.
August 1920. Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
Violet's new maid doesn't seem to be working out. Kuragin reveals he still loves Violet. Anna realises Bates' innocence. Thomas reveals a secret to Baxter.
Tom ends his relationship with Sarah. Rose meets a young man of Russian descent. Rosamund's visit to Marigold has consequences. Mrs. Patmore asks advice for her inheritance. Simon Bricker expresses his love for Cora.
James leaves Downton. Mary has a weekend rendezvous with Gillingham. Carson and the Earl disagree on the site of the war memorial. A wireless becomes part of Downton life. Edith becomes Marigold's godmother.
The Countess confesses her past with Prince Kuragin. Lord Merton proposes to Isobel. Rose's parents are divorcing. Lord Grantham becomes jealous of Simon. Lady Mary tells Gillingham she won't marry him.