Where’s the Veuve Clicquot? Downton Abbey returned last night for the premiere of its final season, and it was as delightfully absurd and wonderful as always.

Were we the only ones that got a little emotional as Downton’s opening credits began to play? We only have precious few weeks left to enjoy the ever familiar sight of Isis (RIP) and Robert walking toward the stately home, before we have to resort to playing our DVD boxsets of the series over and over again. What is it that they say about that river in Egypt…

That’s right, we’ve embarked on Downton Abbey’s final outing, and the opening episode certainly didn’t disappoint after its excruciatingly long break. It wasted no time in setting up the general theme for the series, those financial woes are back and already claiming victims, and it tied up some of the remaining loose ends from series 5 that we’d been hoping and praying for.

Stop Bate-ing us!

Let’s get this one out of the way: The Mr. Green plot line is, much like the man himself, dead, and the resounding cheers of every Downton fan could be heard the world over. The person responsible for pushing Mr. Green into oncoming traffic, another unfortunate victim of his, finally came forward and confessed. Our serial-killer-lovers theory didn’t come true for the Bates, more’s the pity, but at least they’ve wrapped this up after two seasons of milking the misery for all it was worth. Which means that the Bates can finally be happy, right? Right?

Wrong.

It wouldn’t be a series of Downton Abbey without some modicum of suffering for this couple, and it remains to be seen whether or not they’ll overcome this latest devastation as they have their other trials and tribulations. Anna Bates, it’s revealed, has had several miscarriages, and doesn’t believe she’s able to have a child at all. She’s clearly devastated by the thought, though Mr. Bates tries to reassure her that all they need is each other. At this point it’s a miracle they even have that, so we can’t entirely disagree with the sentiment.

Can anyone spare a penny?

The bulk of the episode was made up of the financial and economic worries facing the estate. We learn that while a large number of the staff have left Downton for perfectly ordinary reasons, they haven’t been replacing them. Lord Grantham speaks candidly with Mr. Carson about the fact that they may need to reduce the household some more — which, naturally, doesn’t remain a secret for long. With the introduction of more technological conveniences (there’s even a fridge at Downton!) it’s clear that the staff are worried they’ll become obsolete.

These thoughts aren’t helped by the news that another large estate in the area, the one that Mr. Mason’s farm belongs to, has been sold off as the family can no longer afford to run it. At least it wasn’t demolished, like so many estates were during that time, but the family does gut the place to sell everything at auction — which sees the entire Crawley family, Daisy, and Mr. Mason turn out to observe the sale. Of course, with Mr. Mason’s future hanging in the balance, Daisy can’t help but exert her new-found confidence and chastise the new owner about jeopardizing the livelihoods of the current tenants. Ultimately, she does more harm than good, and potentially ruins Mr. Mason’s chances of being kept on.

Well, at least she didn’t lose her job as well. Lady Grantham decides a warning is more than enough, and that Daisy’s shame should be her punishment. Not to mention the fact that she’s destroyed her potential inheritance should Downton go under over the course of the series — there won’t be a farm for her to go to if the new owner doesn’t cool off and change his mind.

Bitches get stuff done

One of the jobs they’ve yet to replace is Branson’s — but Lady Mary steps up to announce that she’ll be taking over the role of Downton’s agent. Lord Grantham isn’t convinced by Mary’s conviction, though she’s been doing the job for months, but he soon changes his mind after discovering how she refused to be cowed by an opportunistic blackmailer from Liverpool. We knew some sordid piece of Lady Mary’s past was going to come back to haunt her, but we’d assumed it’d be something to do with Mr. Pamuk. Instead it was all about her week-of-sin with Gillingham.

After Robert nips the problem in the bud to the tune of £50, he turns over management of the estate to his daughter. Lady Mary can ride her horse astride now; she’s thoroughly modern and everyone else just has to deal with it. She also asserts that she’s perfectly happy being single — she don’t need no man — but we’re not sure how long that’ll last. Speaking of thoroughly modern women, Edith has chosen to keep her publishing company rather than sell it, though it’s not all smooth sailing — she’s struggling to gain the cooperation of her editor and a move to London seems to be on the cards for her.

Get yer togs off!

Perhaps our favorite side-plot of the week featured newly-engaged couple Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes, and the latter’s worries over their nuptials. Mrs. Hughes has been delaying setting a date for the wedding over concerns about what Mr. Carson might expect from her as a wife. She enlists Mrs. Patmore to discover her husband-to-be’s intentions, and it was the most hilariously awkward series of conversations there likely has ever been on Downton. Mr. Cason’s fluster when he realizes exactly what Mrs. Patmore is suggesting was seriously endearing, but what came next was quite possibly the most romantic declaration we’ve ever heard on the show.

Mrs. Hughes may have been worried about appearing ridiculous in their marriage bed, but Mr. Carson assures her he’s marrying her for her, and that she’s the most beautiful woman in the world to him. “Well, then, Mr Carson, if you want me, you can have me, to quote Oliver Cromwell, warts and all,” Mrs. Hughes replies, and the wedding is definitely on. But they won’t be using their Christian names at work — heaven forbid!

What did you think of the ‘Downton Abbey’ series 6 premiere?

Next week we’ll see the continuing conflict between the Dowager Countess and Isobel escalate, as Downton’s hospital hangs in the balance. Will it remain under the power of the board locally, as Violet wants, or will it be taken over by the larger Yorkshire hospital — which Isobel believes is in the best interests of their patients? The battle lines have been drawn, and may the best woman win.