Last week we sorted our beloved Crawleys into Hogwarts, and this week we’re taking a stab at our favorite downstairs darlings!
It’s been over a week since our favorite Antiques Roadshow lead-in ended its all-too-short season with a royal ball extravaganza (complete with a few misdemeanors). But as we begin to put away our stash of Sunday night sherry, we’ve still got a little time left to sit back and appreciate the men and women downstairs who make the Crawleys looks so, so good.
They might not get to wear the fancy dresses, and they might not get to drive the fancy cars (unless they’re the chauffeur, of course), but the truth is that the servants are the heart that keeps Downton up and running, and truly they are the spirit that keeps us tuning in to Downton Abbey anxiously.
So, without further ado, we present part two of our Sorting Hat: Downton Abbey addition. Which Downton Abbey servants made the cut into your favorite House?
Mr. Carson – Slytherin
A true traditionalist, Carson values the formality and elegant nature of the past. A stubborn man who sticks to his ideals, he has to be prodded into accepting the changing times. Carson has great respect for the aristocracy, and he takes pride in his role as the butler at Downton Abbey. A hardworking, determined man, he effectively and efficiently works to ensure Downton’s success, at least in its reputation. A true leader in the house with a commanding as well as reassuring presence, Carson is the father figure at Downton both downstairs, and on occasion upstairs as well. In his staff he values hard work and humility, and in the Crawleys he treasures spirit and class.
Carson loves Downton more than anything, except perhaps his dear Lady Mary. It’s when comforting the spirited young woman he’s watched grow up that Carson truly shows the soft side to his strict, stern exterior and we realize that as much as this serious man values the traditions of the past. In the end Carson understands that houses are not so important as people, and the people he loves deserve the very best — even if that means bending the rules of polite aristocratic society.
Mrs. Hughes – Ravenclaw
A practical woman, Mrs. Hughes truly appreciates the Crawleys as employers, but does not worship them as Carson does. She takes great pride in her work as head housekeeper, but she does not define herself as a human being by the job that she has, and so she is able to see each individual at Downton Abbey as a whole person with both faults and virtues.
A smart, wise woman, she is the voice of reason that characters both downstairs and upstairs turn to when in need. The fact that she is both kind and pragmatic is invaluable, as she is always willing to help those who are suffering, but will also never sugarcoat the situation and so can offer realistic solutions. We treasure her for her witty quips and ability to put every individual at Downton Abbey in his or her place with her real-talk lectures.
Mrs. Patmore – Hufflepuff
Mrs. Patmore is not a frolicker, and she is offended that you would even suggest it. Although she can occasionally appear gruff because her high stress work environment often leaves her prone to yelling, Mrs. Patmore is truly a kind and inclusive woman — most shown in the way she essentially took in and raised Daisy.
Perhaps more than any other character in the series, Mrs. Patmore is resistant to change and new technologies as she fears it will eventually make her redundant. Incredibly loyal, she fights for Daisy to achieve all that she can, and truly wants the best life for the young girl. A stubborn, determined woman, Mrs. Patmore’s age makes her wise in the childish love lives of the downstairs youngins, and though she frequently snaps at Daisy like she was her own daughter, she also loves her like her own as well.
Anna Bates – Gryffindor
A fierce, spirited little thing, Anna is a strong, determined woman whose loyalty — though admirable — can border on the unreasonable. Always thinking of others before herself, Anna is willing to risk everything for those she loves. Of course, it is this unfailing loyalty that makes Anna a true Gryffindor, and one of the main reasons why we would always want this lady on our side. Brave, kind, and irrefutably selfless, Anna is definitely the woman we’d want helping us drag dead bodies through the Downton corridors.
Anna’s bravery lends her an independent spirit because she isn’t afraid of the opinions of others — she just wants to lead a peaceful, happy life. Like Mrs. Hughes, Anna is generally the most practical and reasonable person in the room, and the advice that she gives is truly the best because it comes from a place of sincerity — she is compassionate, yet realistic about life’s difficulties.
Mr. Bates – Hat Stall: Gryffindor/Slytherin
A complicated man, when Mr. Bates first showed up in series 1 of Downton, we could have never guessed the depths of darkness beneath his calm, determined exterior. A favorite at Downton both upstairs and downstairs due to his strong work ethic and sensible behavior, his character is never doubted within the house — even when all the cards are stacked against him.
The Crawleys would surely agree that Bates is Gryffindor, through and through. Brave in the face of adversity, Bates is fiercely loyal, and with his graceful manners is the picture of chivalry. But since series 3, we’ve had the chance to see a different side to Mr. Bates — one that he keeps well controlled while at Downton. Bates certainly has a dodgy past, and we’ve found out that this quiet man has quite the temper when provoked. We know that Bates is not only clever, but cunning, using his skills to manipulate those around him. And he is loyal beyond measure, yes, but it is difficult to gage his true loyalties beyond his wife, Anna. He appreciates the Crawleys surely, but like Mrs. Hughes, he is too sensible to be able to truly love them, even so far as Robert seems to care for him. His difficult life has left him unable to be guarded and self-preserving, but he still strives to be a good man — the kind of man that Anna deserves.
Turn to page 2 to find out where our favorite Downton villains and downstairs youngsters have been sorted!
Thomas Barrow – Slytherin
A cold, calculating man, Thomas was the original villain at Downton, and wasn’t much appreciated either downstairs or upstairs. Ambitious, cunning, and wholeheartedly self-interested, Thomas does absolutely nothing unless it can benefit him in some way. Being a closeted gay man in a country that would imprison him for his orientation has left him hardened to the world, and he has had to grow up strong and resourceful to survive. Thomas’ pride is perhaps his best and worst asset; it keeps him from finding friends at Downton, but it has also kept him spirited in the face of adversity.
Thomas does have a soft spot though, and his kindness shows up abruptly, and at the most unexpected of times. There aren’t too many people who have been genuinely kind to him in the world, and he takes that to heart. His heartbreak over Lady Sybil’s death was a tearjerker, and recently, he’s shown genuine kindness and concern for Jimmy and Daisy.
O’Brien – Slytherin
A cunning and ambitious woman, Sarah O’Brien is not quite clever enough to recognize that her own self-interest would be furthered if she could just learn to make herself a little more likeable. Perhaps more than anyone else at Downton, O’Brien recognizes the harsh divide between upstairs and downstairs, and resents the way she is expected to fawn over the aristocrats who she feels undervalue her as a person. She sees the Countess as her employer, and does not kid herself into considering her a friend, but out of self-preservation for her own job, plays the part of confidant to Cora well.
Incredibly resourceful, O’Brien is a master manipulator who can pull the strings to play most anyone in the house — even those who are already wary of her behavior. As the series wears on, we come to realize that O’Brien is not quite the one-sided villain she would seem. She has several soft spots; she truly loves her family, and she shows compassion towards those she feels are misunderstood.
Daisy Mason – Hufflepuff
A simple, humble girl, though sweet, Daisy is incredibly naïve at the start of the series, but blossoms into both an excellent assistant cook and a mature young woman by the end of season 4. Fiercely loyal to those she cares about, she is especially devoted to Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason who have both acted as surrogate parents to the otherwise family-less Daisy.
Though her jealous streak can sometimes get the best of her, Daisy is overall an incredibly kind, tolerant person. Hardworking and determined, she isn’t easily won over by flashy material things like Ivy and Jimmy are, but because she comes from such a harsh background, she has learned to simply appreciate the opportunity to lead a healthy, content life. Always incredibly practical, Daisy knows how to keep a level head in even the most stressful situations — often finding herself the caretaker to the high-stress Mrs. Patmore.
Ivy Stuart – Ravenclaw
A sweet girl, Ivy does not take joy in hard work the way that Daisy does, but often dreams of escaping into a life of fancy and adventure. Still, though Ivy has lofty dreams, she is a simple girl who hasn’t had very many experiences in life. Ivy raises Mrs. Patmore’s ire with her fondness for makeup, and with her easy manners and sweet face, she easily catches the eye of most of the downstairs young men.
Ivy often unintentionally finds herself at odds with Daisy, as Daisy can’t help but be jealous of how easily romantic aspirations come to Ivy. Still, at the end of the day, Ivy is a kind, sweet, naïve girl, and though she has big-city dreams, she still has old-fashioned values, and has the gumption to take Jimmy to task for treating her with a lack of respect. At the end of season 4, this curious dreamer finally gets to sail off on her own adventure when she begs Daisy’s suitor to take her to America to cook for Cora’s brother, Mr. Levinson.
Alfred Nugent – Hufflepuff
Though Alfred doesn’t share Jimmy’s natural charms as a footman, he manages to make up for it with hard work and a steadfast determination. Humble from the minute he arrives at Downton, Alfred’s willingness to learn and grow ends up making him a favorite with Mr. Carson. Unfortunately, his aunt, O’Brien, is a terrible influence, and often manipulates him into hurting others downstairs for her own gain.
Alfred can be a little clueless when it comes to the ways of women, and after a couple of seasons of romantic turmoil, in the end he proves himself to be a man who is truly kind as well as practical when he leaves Downton with only warm wishes for both Ivy and Daisy. Like the housemaid, Gwen, before him, Alfred is on the path to achieving his dreams, and his pathway towards becoming a cook was a true inspiration for everyone downstairs at Downton.
Jimmy Kent – Slytherin
Proclaimed by Mrs. Hughes to be a “vain and silly flirt,” this handsome little devil is both ambitious and confident. Like too many Slytherins, Jimmy is unfortunately not as smart as he thinks he is, but cunning and a sense of self-preservation have managed to get him pretty far in life. Unfortunately, at Downton he’s going to need more than just a pretty face and winning smile to win over Carson.
Selfish and arrogant, Jimmy might have won over the young ladies (and Thomas) with his charming good looks, but the older (and in Daisy’s case, wiser) folks downstairs are not so easily impressed with his haughty attitude. But although Jimmy can act like a real prat sometimes, he has his moments where he genuinely (and sometimes, almost accidentally) acts like a good person. We come to realize that Jimmy is a good guy with heavy dreams that at a ripe young age, he’s already seemed to learn he will never quite get to fulfill. So he passes the time resenting a life he feels he is too good for, but doesn’t have the humility, drive, or work ethic to work to get out of.
Be sure to check out Part 1 of this article, featuring the Downton Abbey lords and ladies upstairs!