The year is 1925, and things have changed dramatically since we began with Downton Abbey in 1912 (or in our own time, 2010). The show has always remained gorgeous and comforting, even when it’s been heartbreaking, frustrating, and sometimes even a mess (remember Patrick?) Yet the sweeping score, the lush costuming, the grand halls and the cozy servants' quarters have kept Downton a mainstay for PBS viewers for six seasons. And while it’s hard to think of the series coming to a close, everything was wonderfully wrapped up in “Episode 9,” which also served as the Christmas Special when it aired in England, and the series finale on all shores.

Though much of Season 6 was filled with strife and heartache, the finale was full of weddings and babies and happiness for seemingly everyone, which is really all we could hope for. Below you’ll find the outcomes for all of the major characters, as well as some comments about their journeys over this season, and the series as a whole. Fare thee well my honeys …

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Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James)

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There wasn’t any real reason to bring Rose back for the finale except that Lily James has become a proper star since her first appearances on Downton. Rose and Atticus (Matt Barber) are still in love, have a baby (who was left at home in America while they traveled to England), and Rose is still extremely hyperactive. She also got a final bit of revolutionary work in (she was always pushing the envelope in the house) when she took Robert to see Cora in her element at the hospital, which is when he finally came to his senses on the matter.

Andy Parker (Michael Fox)

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Andy was the last in a long line of “other footmen” that the show paraded through the house, but he was relatively charming, especially in his storyline regarding his illiteracy … even if he was particularly unfair to Thomas and the rumors in the house. His romantic feelings for Daisy seemed to come out of nowhere, but then again, so did his sudden desire to become a pig farmer. But good on him, and that was about as sexy as the show got this season when Andy was in his undershirt hammering nails on Mr. Mason’s roof. Ultimately, Daisy admitted that she had feelings for him, but whether the two did (or should) end up together remains uncertain.

Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle)

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One of the few characters to consistently provide comic relief as well as an often heartbreaking story, Mr. Molesley finally got his due in the series finale when he accepted a teaching job in the village. There was a nice, slow build-up to Molesley’s secret talent as a teacher, as he assisted Daisy in her studies, ended up teaching Andy how to read, and showed he had a natural countenance with the students. Though his overtures towards Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) never seemed to lead anywhere (she was an incredibly useless character), there were hints that their close friendship might finally be leading to something more. Huzzah for Mr. Molesley then, finding his way in a changing world and also being given some true happiness.

Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera)

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Daisy had a weird Season 6, one that included her being mostly incredibly annoying, though slightly revolutionary. She defended Mr. Mason’s right to stay on his property admirably, and yet, completely wrongly and in a way that ultimately did more harm then good. When Andy made his affections for her clear, she scorned him, then ended up letting everyone convince her — just like with William — of her own mind regarding him (“he’s a catch! Go for him!”) Look, Andy probably is a catch, but the two had no actual chemistry, and it seems unlikely with all of her new schoolings that Daisy will be content as the wife of a pig farmer, even one who looks that good hammering nails on a roof. In the end, Daisy (with Anna’s help) cut her hair into a modern bob and told Andy she had feelings for him. It was sweet, if largely unearned, and her future seems to mostly be a question mark.

Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol)

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Mrs. Patmore didn’t have any major storylines to wrap up the season with, though there was a hint of romance between her and Mr. Mason (Paul Copley) throughout the season (and as all relationships between the older generation on the show, it was exceptionally sweet). One assumes she will be continuing to cook and complain about for her duration at Downton (and as one of my all-time favorite characters, I hope that she will find happiness, too).

Mr. Carson (Jim Carter)

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Mr. Carson, formerly of the Cheerful Charlies, had a lot to juggle in Season 6. He and Mrs. Hughes did get married, but only after some shyness and awkwardness on both their parts. Carson then turned into a very complain-prone husband, attempting to run his household the same as Downton, and alienating his wife in the process (especially when it came to his conflicted loyalties to the Crawley family versus her preferences).

Carson also battled a tremor that turned out to be a palsy, causing him to ultimately retire from his position as Head Butler, yet remaining on in an advisory role, with Thomas at the helm. This seems to suggest that Carson and Mrs. Hughes can settle into a quieter routine at home, though with Carson still being able to have an outlet for his finicky nature. (It was also fitting that the Crawleys broke with tradition and kept Carson on even when most houses would have broken ties — he is basically part of the family, after all!)

Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan)

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Mrs. Hughes (not to be called Mrs. Carson — it’s too weird) had her storyline mostly wrapped up with Mr. Carson this season, from their wedding (and her insistence that it not be at the Abbey) and talk of “marital duties,” to Carson’s complaints about her cooking and his struggle with his medical malady. Mrs. Hughes felt like she had a little bit of a diminished role, and a more of a retiring personality with Carson than we’ve ever seen before, but she ended the series by leading a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" that was beautiful and touching.

John and Anna Bates (Brendan Coyle and Joanna Froggatt)

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Oh, the Bateses … what other horrors and calamities could the show possibly throw on these two? Remember them in Season 1, before the murder(s) and the jail time and the rape and miscarriages? Season 6 continued their heartbreak and uncertainty (the two barely even shared scenes together) until the finale, where Anna had her (healthy!) baby, and the two seemed ready to — hopefully, God willing — put the past behind them and live as a happy family.

Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier)

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Few characters have had it as rough as poor Mr. Barrow on the show, especially this season. Downton made him a villain, then redeemed him, then made him a villain again, then a hero, then turned everyone against him inexplicably this season. It led to his heartbreaking suicide attempt and Carson essentially forcing him out of service at the Abbey, which only further highlighted his loneliness and isolation. But, despite the goodbyes, Thomas ended back up at Downton to run the staff as Carson stepped back into an advisory role. The series set up that return in a way that could only have worked with Thomas, and he very much deserved the new position. Plus, now he can be for George what Carson was for Mary — a friend, confident, and surrogate family member. At least, we can hope.

Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton)

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After Matthew’s death, Downton struggled to find a place for dear cousin, Isobel, aside from being a kind of low-key liberal dissenter at the dinner table. But with the introduction of romance in the form of Lord Merton (a.k.a. Dickie, played by Douglas Reith), she and the Dowager Countess were able to form a bond of true friendship, with the two sharing a memorable scene where they essentially rescued Dickie from being kidnapped by his own son. Though the show was ready to give us another deathbed wedding, Dickie was miraculously cured (or rather, had been misdiagnosed) in the finale, meaning that he and Isobel seem to have a lovely future ahead of them.

Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith)

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The Dowager had somewhat of a reduced role in the final season, though her quips were as on-point as ever. Though the show built up a bit showdown between the Dowager’s ladies maid Denker (Sue Johnston) and her butler Spratt (Jeremy Smith) over Spratt moonlighting as the advice columnist Cassandra (one of the show’s weirder subplots), it all fizzled away when Violet turned out to be tickled by the Cassandra column, and Denker was vanquished once again. The Dowager also got the final words of the series, speaking with Isobel, who commented, “We’re going forward to the future and not back into the past” in response to the Dowager’s comments about why toast the new year. Fittingly, she shot back, “If only we had the choice!”

Tom Branson (Allen Leech)

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Though we were all heartbroken when Branson made the decision to move to America early in Season 6, it only made his eventual homecoming to Downton (of course) all the sweeter. It was wonderful to have Sybie back with her cousins as Downton: The Next Generation, and Branson ended up becoming everyone’s best friend and confidant. He and Robert even forged a nice bond by the end of the season, and he was instrumental in keeping Mary sane after the grief she suffered these last few seasons (and in modernizing the estate, let us not forget!) The series hinted at romance for Branson in the form of Edith’s editor, Miss Laura Edmunds (Antonia Bernath), who caught Edith’s wedding bouquet and gave our favorite Irishman a sly smile.

Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern)

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Besides dressing Cora in fabulous clothes (including some to-die-for nightgowns), Downton Abbey has often struggled to give her a real niche in the family. With such a domineering mother-in-law and strong-willed daughters, it’s been hard to Cora to distinguish herself. But in Season 6, she finally got the opportunity to shine -- and also show her teeth -- as she battled the Dowager Countess over the hospital board position, as well as helping to run the hospital herself (and ease its merger with York). Cora ended the series strong, and in a good place with Robert -- though as also mentioned in his section, who knows if that will really last.

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville)

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The Earl is a man who has constantly struggled with the soldiering on of modernity, clinging fast to the old traditions of the past, sometimes passionately. But for the most part, Robert is just a stubborn dad who can almost always be trampled over by his strong-willed wife and daughters, and by Season 6, was mostly a benevolent spirit (thanks to his new puppy). He got one exceedingly bizarre scene where he projectile-vomited blood, but in true Downton fashion that seems to have all ended up just fine. He was more perturbed by the war between his mother and Cora, and then Cora’s work at the hospital, which took her away from doting on him. Still, things ended with him recognizing Cora’s strengths, even praising her for it, and their marriage seems to be in a good place. Though with these two, who knows whether that will last.

Lady Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael)

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Poor Edith is poor Edith no more, literally, as she married the billionaire marquess Bertie (Herbert Pelham). But Edith’s long road to happiness also included her finally (and I do mean finally) letting everyone know about her secret daughter Marigold. She also had a great side story going on this season as she became the editor of her magazine, and one hopes she keeps it up. She could become a fabulous lady of London, much like her Aunt Rosamund (Samantha Bond), who was a better mother to her in these last seasons than Cora could hope to be. Ultimately, Edith got the marriage that everyone expected for Mary (including Mary), and good on her for it. She deserves that happiness and so much more.

Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery)

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Ah, Lady Mary. She really had become Queen Bitch in Season 6, after dismissing her (sometimes illicit) lovers from Season 5, and spending her time instead poking at Edith and making her miserable. Though she did have some tender moments with Carson and Anna (providing medical help for them as needed, especially for Anna and her difficult pregnancy), she was largely a pill. Her romance with race-car driver Henry (Matthew Goode) felt more forced than natural, and her being proud of him for become a used car salesman with Branson seemed wildly out of character.

Then again, she had gotten the news that she and (now-husband) Henry would be having a baby, which ended things nicely for the couple, who seem to have a long road ahead. Mary also eventually patched things up with Edith, too, telling Henry that while they aren’t friends, “we are sisters, and sisters have secrets.” Mary’s future with Downton seems bright, too, as she continues to modernize and run the estate with everyone’s full support. Here's to the future ... if only we had a choice!