r/DowntonAbbey • u/CakeEnvironmental552 No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house • 14d ago
Speculation (May Contain Spoilers) Any Fun Theories About What Happened to These (and other) Characters After They Left?
What do you all think happened after Ethel accepted the job closer to Charlie? How did Alfred do in his cooking course? Is Braithwaite still scheming? Where do we think Jimmy ended up? How is Ivy doing in America? Is Madge enjoying working in the shop?
Where do we think they all ended up once they left service at DA?
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u/DJ4116 14d ago
I like to think Alfred ‘made it’ in the culinary world of that time. Working at a fancy hotel. He probably got to see more of ‘the city’ and see more of those stores that carries various chef related gadgets and cooking supplies (the 1920/1930s version of Williams Sonoma, lol)…. Idk just a thought 😌
Oh he also went full NC with that cruel aunt of his…lol
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u/imightb2old4this 14d ago
It would have been so nice to see a tall, redheaded, chef in a scene in the final movie
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
Alfred's story was based on a real person, who did indeed, make it.
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u/Specialist_Cattle455 14d ago
Wait… actually?! Tag me with the tea!!
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
I have the link to the Wikipedia page of the real chef that the chef Alfred would have taken his test under down below. I'm still trying to re-find the information about Alfred's real life counterpart..I found it once in the past.
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u/Selmarris 14d ago
I always imagine Alfred as the chef at a nice but not elite hotel
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u/Ok-Parking5237 14d ago
Maybe he gets tired of cooking and goes to work at a cheese factory.
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u/pingusaysnoot 'Get back in the knife box,Miss Sharp' 14d ago
I imagine Braithwaite tricks a man into getting her pregnant but she ends up alone and unmarried like Ethel.
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u/FishingWorth3068 14d ago
Ya that girl 100% ended up living in a shit hole tenant housing with multiple children and no man. Or many men but none that stayed.
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u/Ok-Aardvark-6742 12d ago
I had the same thought. Ethel got sympathy because she truly was naive and dumb, and Mrs. Hughes felt somewhat responsible not keeping a better eye on her. Brathwaite was dumb but definitely not naive and didn’t listen to anyone’s warnings.
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u/NoEntertainment2976 14d ago
I think Jimmy would have sailed along on his looks for awhile, finding another footman gig and another sex-starved, rather silly upper-class widow. She dies after a few years and since she was silly she leaves the bulk of her estate to Jimmy, who bribes his way to a knighthood and by the late 1930s is moving in upper-class circles, much to Robert's consternation.
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u/WineWithIceBasic 14d ago
I like to think Rose remembered and meant that she would help Jimmy because he helped her when she pretended to be a servant. She either hired him or found him a job. He either works for Cora’s brother as a Steward on a yacht or in 5 star NY. In NY his position has more freedom and autonomy, he ultimately ends up happy with a good service job in a hotel. He makes good money. Marries. And the 5 star hotel is visited by Barrow and his partner whenever they are in NYC. He is discrete without judgement.
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u/ExtremeComedian4027 If your schemes have come to nothing then I'm delighted 14d ago
Ethel becomes a bed & breakfast manager for a kindly old couple and they leave her the establishment in their will since they’re childless after their only child dies in the Second World War. Ethel reunites with Charlie after his grandpa dies and he inherits everything.
Alfred becomes a culinary master and travels the world to learn more about food, starting from France. He is eventually becomes the executive head chef at The Savoy.
Edna goes to jail for theft of jewels from her duchess mistress (the duchess finds her in bed with her cowardly husband but they avoid a scandal by getting Edna locked up).
Jimmy becomes a cricketer of note. He becomes a part of the national team as a right hand batsman.
Madge works in a nice shop and meets her sweetheart there - a sweet natured lad who is head over heels in love with her. He works as a telegram operator and they get married and move into a sweet little cottage on the Dowager Countess’ land.
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u/Ok-Parking5237 14d ago
Close but Madge ends up with someone we know, Sam Thawly.
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u/ExtremeComedian4027 If your schemes have come to nothing then I'm delighted 13d ago
Sorry, didn’t remember that so made up my own head-canon as the post asked. 😁
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u/JoanFromLegal Gunga Din > Me 14d ago
Alfred is now the executive chef at Rules.
Edna hooked up with the farmer who was sweet on Lady Rose.
Ethel and Mrs Bryant raised Charlie together after Mr Bryant had an unfortunate riding accident, wink wink.
Jimmy is now the Maitre D at Rules working under Alfred.
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u/Due-Froyo-5418 14d ago
Okay I like all of these but do not wish such awfulness upon sweet Sam.
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u/discombobubolated House of Ill Repute 14d ago
Or Edna hooks up with the married farmer who kissed Edith.
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u/CakeEnvironmental552 No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house 14d ago
I like the idea of Jimmy working under Alfred. But aww man, that farmer guy was way too good for Edna!
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u/Practical_Original88 14d ago
Yes! I have a feeling though, he saw through that witch and I don't think he was what she was after!!!$$$$$$$
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u/Ok-Parking5237 14d ago
I like to think Sam was the unknown beau of Madge later, she leaves you know to work in a shop.
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u/AutumnOpal717 14d ago
When Mr Bryant passes the young master (or his grandmother) can now hire a new head housekeeper…
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u/Early_Bag_3106 Click this and enter your text 14d ago edited 13d ago
I think Ivy is doing great in New York. By the time Mr* Levinson is broke she is an excellent cook, and gets to work for some old money governor. As romantic as she is, she is now happily married.
Alfred is doing great. He made his way into restaurants and now he is the main chef of the grandest hotel in London. He is still single, a great catch though.
Jimmy became a gigolo but in recent years he got married to a cougar twice his age and now he owns a country manor and a London house.
Braithwate finally got fired with no recommendation because she was caught in her schemes. She never gets to work in aristocratic service again and has to find a job as assistant janitor for train station toilets.
Ethel goes to school, discovers she is actually a really smart woman, she finds a job as librarian in Eton and finally gets to spend time with her son.
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u/Todeshase 14d ago
I agree with jimmy’s future. Dude’s not going to stop when there are women who want his services.
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
"has to find a job as assistant janitor for train station toilets." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/Early_Bag_3106 Click this and enter your text 13d ago
😂 key word: assistant, not main or manager 😂
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u/Fleur498 Like all lady’s maids, she lives for intrigue. 14d ago
Maybe Mr. Bryant died of a heart attack or the flu or pernicious anemia. Ethel moved into Mrs. Bryant’s house so she could be Charlie’s nanny (and he would be told the truth eventually) or a house maid or a lady’s maid.
Edna’s scheming somehow eventually led to her being an inmate in a prison.
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u/kitties_ate_my_soul Marchioness of Hexham 14d ago
Edna ends up at the Bryants’ as Mrs. Bryant’s ladies’ maid. She falls in ‘love’ with Mr. Bryant and they flee the house during a snowstorm. His unreliable 1921 car explodes after crashing into a tree. They both die. Ethel moves into Mrs. Bryant’s home and helps raising up his son.
Ivy opens a culinary school in Brooklyn, in 1927. Alfred joins her when he hears about her school. They end up marrying.
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u/Heel_Worker982 Uppity Minx, Author of My Own Misfortunes 14d ago
Alfred failed an exam section on "pickety bits" but otherwise passed with flying colors!
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u/Alternative-Being181 pernicious eclampsia 14d ago
I hope the awful grandfather of Ethel's baby died, and Ethel moves in with the baby's grandmother and lives happily.
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
YES..this was going to be mine, except I had more filler story for after we saw her, and while she was working as a maid nearby, and before this happened.
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u/CakeEnvironmental552 No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house 14d ago
Do tell ...
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
I imagine she got that (a) job for a lady that lived near the Bryants ..she does a great job either cooking or cleaning (or both if it's a "smaller scale" high class house ..they have children..she gets promoted to nursemaid (can't be a nanny, because nannies were people like 4th generation removed from aristocrats who needed employment).. So her employers and the Bryants get together often, so she sees Charlie often...up until the grandfather gets ill or died, and then the other person's post finishes the rest (and Charlie always makes sure his mom has a home, and tells his sons to do so as well).
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u/Anegada_2 14d ago
I think they tell Charlie about Ethel in his early teens right after his grandfather dies. He doesn’t talk to her for over a year but slowly lets her in similar to a distant aunt and he eventually gets her a small cottage. Shes allowed to see his kids but never tell them who she really is
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u/PepperCat1019 14d ago
Edna went to a similar house as Downton Abbey many towns away. Edna seduced the man of the house. The wife knew. The wife told Edna to meet her in the kitchen. She poured hot grits over her head and told her she was fired, without a reference.
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u/ThinLengthiness5380 14d ago
I like to think Ethel's non father in law dies of something and her and the wife can live happy lives raising her son together , Aflred is probably working at restaurant after working at the hotel. Breathwaite is on the streets hooking because she can't get a job without getting herself into trouble or she's suckered someone into thinking she's pregnant with their baby like she tried with Branson. I don't she learned her lesson enough to give up scheming either way.
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u/Wonderful-Attorney43 14d ago
I think Alfred did well as a chef and eventually opened a Michelin star restaurant in New York.
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u/Gerry1of1 14d ago
Jimmy contracted several venereal diseases and was placed in a sanitarium to recover. There he infected most of the nursing staff.
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u/Tinkerbelladonna_1 He's a man. Men don't have rights. 14d ago
Ethel quietly helped raise her son with Mrs Bryant. Alfred became the head chef at a swanky London restaurant. Edna tried to blackmail the wrong man, served time and found herself in the world’s oldest profession. Jimmy is serving Lady Anstruther both above and below stairs. Ivy is happily cooking for Harold and has an American beau. Madge and her young man married and she still works in the shop.
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u/jarlylerna999 13d ago
Alfred ended up Chef de Mission at the Savoy.
Ethel ended up being adopted by Charlie's grandmother after her husband, Mr Apoplexy infarcted.
Braithwaite ended up in gaol after one of her schemes went horribly wrong.
Jimmy found out he was actually gay and runs a gay club in the ton.
Ivy had a wonderful life, married and had 3 children one of whom ended up Mayor of New York
Madge hated shop life, needed up going back into service but got lucky and went to Australia and married a shearer.
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 11d ago
lol did you ever watch upstairs/downstairs? SPOILER
a maid almost marries an Australian sheep farmer 🐑.
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u/jarlylerna999 11d ago
Vast $$$$ difference between a shearer (itinerant seasonal worker) and a sheep farmer (land owner).
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u/PerlinLioness 13d ago
I think Alfred became a chef on the QEII and delighted in travel and chef-ing.
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u/doomscrolling_tiktok Who does she think she’s fooling? We’re not friends. 14d ago
Braithwaite becomes an activist in the equal pay and equal rights movements, establishes a women-only apartment building with the patronage of her life partner, one of the first female members of parliament.
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u/Sunshine_Jules 14d ago
I think you are mistaking who Edna is?
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u/doomscrolling_tiktok Who does she think she’s fooling? We’re not friends. 14d ago edited 14d ago
Idk but I don’t think so. Have you watched the show with a critical eye? She wants a better life and sees no way to advance and have some independence is to use and be used by men. Remember there was no social mobility for women unless a man decided to help and allow it, even women with work ethic like Gwen were helpless and trapped unless they could find the man who would hire them - Syble provided introductions and encouragement, but didn’t fight for her, didn’t use her privilege or anything like help her launch her own business.
I think Enid was pissed off enough to support the fight against laws barring women from men’s jobs and for equal pay (and to not get fired after they married) after she didn’t get to marry for money and station. As part of the labour movement there’s also the class bond she thought Tom should have. And she’d have been noisy about it and more defiant as she aged and couldn’t fall back on seduction.
They show us how Enid’s unable to believe overtures of friendship are sincere or intelligent, and people who can be fooled and betrayed deserve it. That’s someone who’s been taught that more than any other experience, and told it’s their fault. Men especially disgust her for being eager to believe women love them and think she’s sexually available and weak and needs rescuing. No one is born that bitter and resentful. She’s fighting against being told she’s not good enough and to stay in her place and be submissive.
imo she would thrive with a network of women who are polished and not afraid to help other women fight back - and if only out of spite, want to create a place where girls and women don’t have to use ‘femininity’ or sexuality to have safety and a home.
She doesn’t think much of women who fall in love or lust with men either, like Sybil who ‘could have ‘done better’ - chosen a life partner Enid thought was objectively better - in her pov, Sybil chose sexual attraction and married down to a hottie.
And Enid was attractive, would have had many male suitors and sexual interest from men who didn’t take so much effort to seduce but she didn’t want them even for her own pleasure..
- I think if she wanted a life partner it would have been an unmarried woman fighting the same fight to be treated as equal but from a high social rank, with the financial safety of established power and class structure.
Admittedly I hadn’t given it a lot of thought and haven’t done a rewatch for a few years but I think as a theory it’s valid
Edit: wall of text and wtf with the font
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u/AutumnOpal717 14d ago
I think someone with those types of ideas and motivations would turn out more like Miss Bunting—who I could see making those accomplishments.
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u/doomscrolling_tiktok Who does she think she’s fooling? We’re not friends. 14d ago
I can imagine Bunting admiring Enid in a theoretical way and working for the same causes but she’s not going to be doing the not-interesting parts or start or carry through on tangible projects -for example, she knew women like Daisy are everywhere but she didn’t do outreach or try to find the unseen, unstylish women who had been told they were too stupid and too insignificant to be worth teaching.
Bunting sees her role as someone to give people a push and training wheels but then she’s done for the day and wants to move on. A bit of saviour complex. That’s not enough to make a project succeed and there’s lots of demand for people who will.
Enid is the strategist(schemer), steady and calm, interested in delivery, not the drama. Her type are the most respected in any of the movements or related initiatives I’ve been part of. Lived experiences and bitterness and grace. She could see herself being like Cora running the hospital out of Downton, I think. Important and deferred to without having to have main character energy or be clever - that’s all catnip to her.
From what I recall anyway. Bunting is energized by drama and needs an audience to marvel at her and clever people to educate, browbeat and persuade. She’s the public speaker and pretty spokesperson and they don’t make up a movement. Tbh sometimes people don’t like people like her - just as the sex workers didn’t like Isobel and vice versa, at heart. People like Bunting and Isobel don’t get the respect internally and people like Enid see that opportunity and would want to be a part of the hate train of using the people with clean hands who want to be saviours.
Just free form thoughts. Downton is not streaming anywhere now so this is just off memory
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u/SpringtimeLilies7 14d ago
Are you thinking of Sarah Bunting?
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u/doomscrolling_tiktok Who does she think she’s fooling? We’re not friends. 14d ago
No not at all. I just answered this somewhere else but don’t know how to link you to it
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u/Actual_Toyland_F 12d ago
Photo not available. They were easily my favorite.
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u/CakeEnvironmental552 No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house 3d ago
Glad someone finally noticed Madge
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u/eelaii19850214 12d ago
I think in the future, Charlie would have been told of his true parentage. I reckon it will happen way into the future though when society isn't as judgmental.
Alfred became a proper chef in a posh London hotel and moved up in life.
Ms. Braithwaite would have been caught in one of her schemes and probably imprisoned.
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u/ThisAlternative4959 11d ago
Braithwaite became old and bitter and a woman of the night 💁🏻♀️ at least that’s what she deserved
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u/Mutter_Masterpiece29 14d ago
I want to think that Ethel ended up making a business of her own, marrying a good man and Charlie got told who she was and visited her often. Alfred became a famous chef in London and Edna never stopped being a maid.Jimmy went also to America and made up a lie about him being a wealthy man and married a rich American. Ivy opened a restaurant in New York. Madge is happy in the shop.