Matthew Crawley – Hufflepuff
Lady Mary may be the spirit of the show, but for the first three seasons of Downton Abbey, Matthew Crawley was the heart. Kind and considerate, Matthew reminded the Crawleys of the type of person they all had the potential to be. His patience with Mary’s foibles knew no end, and his willingness to adapt and embrace his new family’s way of life was admirable.
And yet, despite his endless tolerance, Matthew never allowed himself to be turned into a doormat; he was loyal, yes, but fair too. He knew where to draw the line with Mary, admitting her faults while admiring her virtues, and knowing that he deserved to be loved, while pushing Mary to admit to her warmer side. Like all true Hufflepuffs, Matthew Crawley was a determined man if there ever was one: he fought for Downton’s future the way he fought for Mary’s love — wholeheartedly, and like a true gentleman.
Tom Branson – Gryffindor
Our beloved Branson really came into his own at Downton Abbey as Tom, after Sybil’s death. Despite his political views, he’s adapted well to his new family, and his blooming bromance with Mary has definitely brought out the natural leader in him. He’s fair and can’t help but be pragmatic about the world; he understands that the Crawleys are good people, and that Lord Grantham is a fair employer, but he struggles to justify their lifestyle with the wide gap between the aristocracy and the British poor.
He’s still fiercely loyal though, and defends the people he loves until the end, even when he can’t seem to justify their lifestyle to himself. Both realistic and witty, Tom’s humor, like Mary’s, often seems to come from an inherent sadness he can’t seem to shake. It’s obvious that out of everyone, he has changed the most during the series. As a young man, he was fairly reckless, putting his own hopes for what he believed to be right above what was reasonable, especially in regard to winning over Sybil. He’s mellowed out much more since his wife’s death though, and though he still aspires to be a daring man, his love for his daughter forces him to rethink what would truly be best for her in life.
Lady Rose MacClare – Gryffindor
More daring than dutiful, Lady Rose isn’t so much brave, as she is simply fearless. Rebellious in a way very different from Sybil, Rose wants to drink up the world and all there is in it to fully experience life’s pleasures. Though not politically minded, Rose is a free spirit who, like so many young people, believes in social progression. She relishes in being a little scandalous, because to her, it is the older generation that needs to rethink their values.
Kind and inclusive, Rose not only cherishes those she loves, but she might also be the only person at Downton who places no regard whatsoever on class standing. Though her social high-jinks with the lower classes are partly to purposely rebel, Rose also seems to truly see the beauty and value in everyone’s life, to the point of romanticizing the life of a servant. A determined little lady, Rose can be stubborn where her loyalties lie; she demands to be taken seriously, though her light-hearted nature and open spirit rarely coincide with the upstairs lifestyle.
Isobel Crawley – Hufflepuff
Perhaps the kindest, most selfless person at Downton, this is the woman who while desperately heartbroken over her son’s death, took a complete stranger into her home in the hopes of saving him from a destitute life. This is the same woman who patiently put up with Ethel’s terrible cooking for months, and who nursed Violet back to health after many sleepless nights.
Incredibly determined, she will stop at nothing — even to the point of enduring humiliation — to get her way, as long as she feels it is the right and noble thing to do. She exasperates Violet and Cora with her supreme ethical righteousness, mostly because she is always at least partly right. Incredibly inclusive, Isobel sees the good in everyone, and believes everyone should feel fulfilled in life. She takes the initiative to encourage Tom to take up his politics again in season 4, and is selfless enough to want Mary to find love again despite her own heartbreak.
Dowager Countess of Grantham – Slytherin
A favorite both at Downton and amongst fans, Violet Crawley’s witty, pragmatic nature has made her a class standout, and the leading voice of wisdom at the Abbey. Self-interested as well as self-preserving, Violet’s traditional views often clash with the newfangled ideas of the emerging generation, but as clever as she is, she knows when to embrace change and go with the flow. Ever resourceful, she pushes her family to be the best, classiest versions of themselves they can be, and truly embodies the British spirit of keeping calm, and carrying on.
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