Most and least favourites - Downton Abbey TV show

[NeuroAtypical]

Spoiler alert if you haven't watched!

What are your Downton Abbey favourite characters and least favourite characters. Why?

Most favourites
The Dowager Countess - I want to be like her when I grow up.

Mrs Patmore - Love her "northernness" but not so much when she's ordering Daisy about.

Thomas Barrow - Loved to hate generally but made the show exciting. Hated at first but loved towards the end.

Least favourites
Lady Mary - Uurgh! From beginning to the end except when she lost Matthew. Felt for her.

Tom Branson - Didn't quite like him throughout but thought he was okay by the end. Didn't miss him when he left for a while.

Cora - Wouldn't have missed her in the show if she never showed up. Had no hate, just indifference.

I have just binge-watched Downton!

Favourites:
Lady Edith (chronically under-estimated)
The Dowager Countess
Barrow (for having the most moving storyline over the course of all the series)
Rose

Least favourites:
Bates. Are we meant to buy him as some kind of romantic hero? Just ... no.
Anna (for falling for Bates)
Lady Sybille and Cora (excessive simpering)
Daisy
Sir Anthony Strallan (meant well but did something unforgiveable)

I watched it last year I’d say

Favourite
Isobel Crawley (also like her husband at the end)
Dowager Countess
Edith
Sir Anthony Strallan

Least
Anna
Cora
Richard E Grant character
The redhead maid who has a funny acting style who became a secretary then married

I sort of like Anna and Bates separately but the whole "Mr Bates and Anna" thing became tedious for me and it just dragged on. They went in my ignore list afterwards, didn't add much to the show.

Agree about Lady Sybil too. Didnt miss her although her death scene was really sad.

Ooh that redhead maid became Ygritte in Game of Thrones and is now married to John Snow character (Kit Harrington).

Just hated Mary - the scene where she whinges about how WW1 has made her life really hard because she sang a song in a concert is really cringeworthy

Mary was incredibly cruel to Edith. I wanted Edith to win out

The redhead was a lead in The Good Fight she was bizarre to watch, lots of twitching acting

The redhead maid was also in The Good Fight.

I wanted Mary to come good but it never really happened.

Sorry, meant to type redhaired, that looked really rude.

Agree. Have watched her in the Good Fight, didn't like her acting and didn't enjoy the show as much as The Good Wife. Stopped after 1 or two episodes I think. Might take it up again.

Diane Lockhart, makes that show worth it for her. Luckily they phase the actress we don’t like out after the first few episodes. She’s in it but the story line moves on tg.

Favourite

Dowager countess - when she stands up straight after Sybil dies. Total sob fest

Daisy cos she's feisty, loves learning and tried to be honest with everyone about William even if they didn't want to listen.

Thomas cos he's just ace and so lovely with the kids.

Mary cos she has no redeeming features but an amazing wardrobe.

Least favourite

Cousin Matthew - honestly so wet and doughy.

O'Brien - no finesse

Matthews mum who's name escapes me - awful priggy know it all.

Agree. Mary was awful! Couldn't believe how mean she was to Edith and I was glad how Edith ended up. Mary just was up her own arse.

I liked Edith but she had a permanent "I have no idea where I am" face. Perpetual confusion.

@Marsha Oh really? I'll try it again then. Love Diane Lockhart.

@fairyfingers Haha Matthew's mum, Isobel Crawley - She grew on me especially her banter with the Dowager.

Favourites
Dowager Countess (by a mile)
Carson
Lord Robert

Least favourite
Mr Bates
O'Brien
Isobel Crawley

Isobel and Violets relationship is one of the best things in the show.

Isobel and Violets relationship is one of the best things in the show
Also gave the Dowager Countess my favourite line:

Mrs C: "What shall we call each other?"
The DC: "Why don't we start with Your Ladyship and Mrs Crawley?"

I like:
Lord Robert (but have always quite liked Hugh Bonneville)
Dowager Countess
Thomas (when he's not being a twat)
Bates (because he's handsome)

Not keen on:
Cora
O'Brien
Ethel
Molesley

Violet has the best lines. She was a delight to watch. I liked that she grew to enjoy Isobel’s company.

Favourites - Cora and Robert, adorable. Cora is a lot stronger and more powerful than she comes across. She always gets her way. Love both of them.
Mrs Patmore, hilarious and love her relationship with Daisy even though I'm not mad on Daisy.
And the Dowager of course!

Least favourite: Sybil. Spoilt brat. Cheered when she was killed off!
Bates. What the hell is he about? Creepy sinister weirdo, totally not right for Anna who I like on her own but hate with him.
Ethel. Get a grip.
Cora's mother. Dreadful dreadful casting choice. Just awful.

Spot on harlan

I agree with PPs that the developing relationship between the Dowager Countess and Mrs Crawley was wonderful to watch. They brought out the best in each other.

@Rockbird Did you think Sybil was spoilt? That's interesting...perhaps watching it again will make me more aware of this. I thought she was basically ignored.

I thought Mary was the completely spoilt arsehole. Couldn't stand how awful she was to her sisters, especially Edith right in front of her parents and there was no serious caution. It was terrible to watch such hateful bullying.

I really liked Robert/ Lord Grantham too. No specific reason though.

The parents completely favoured Mary and barely thought of Edith it all. As she said in one scene it was clear they loved Mary more.

Mary’s wardrobe was good that was about it.