Downton AbbeyAnna and Bates have had a tough time as of late

5. An unlikely ally for Branson?

The death of Lady Sybil now seems like it happened an eternity ago but actually she’s only be gone for just under two years in real time. But since becoming a widower former chauffeur Branson has had a lot of adjusting to do. Season four gave us a glimmer of hope that love could be in his future, but what of his relationship with the Crawleys? Well it seems Branson might finally have found a real if unexpected ally in Lady Mary, as actor Allen Leech revealed. The actor said,  “They want to see Downton continue into the future, not only for themselves but obviously for their offspring. You definitely get a sense that they come together on a united front with the idea of making sure that Downton's going to be around a lot longer than even while they're around. In that, they solidify their friendship as well.”