First of all, let’s take a moment to put this in perspective. No one’s actually said that Dame Maggie Smith is leaving the show. Dame Maggie Smith said, “They say this is the last one, and I can’t see how it could go on.”
That could mean so many things…
Part of me is waiting for Julian Fellowes to announce that the Dowager Countess is moving to Russia (sorry that’s a vague spoiler), and receiving her own spinoff series. But, for now, we’ll have to prepare for the worst.
As heart-wrenching as the unexpected departure of Sybil and Matthew were, the thought of a show without grand-mama is unfathomable. I mean, what is cousin Isobel going to do without her sparring partner? Here’s hoping the show ends after six seasons and we can all safely assume that Violet will of course live forever. It could happen (seriously, it hasn’t been renewed for a seventh season).
I think the best thing we can all do to get through this time is call upon the words of this unmatched matriarch:
“All this endless thinking. It’s very overrated.”
The Dowager Countess, “Downton Abbey”
TIME: Maggie Smith to Leave Downton Abbey After Next Season
…bi-daily smile…