This has been bothering me since the series ended. Does anyone else feel that we weren't given the original series ending? It seemed to abruptly change course (for the worse IMHO) in the middle of Season 6. This is what I think was meant to happen:
Robert dies from his burst ulcer because the little Downton hospital doesn't have the means to save him. His death makes Violet see that she was wrong to oppose the consolidation with York, and she humbly hands the reins over to Cora. This would make sense of the whole pointless hospital drama, and Robert's stomach problems which began back in Season 5. Elizabeth McGovern had even said while filming Season 6 it was a sad time at the Abbey and that there were four weddings and a funeral.
Thomas goes to work for and begins a relationship with Peter Hexham who doesn't die after all. When they made such a point of discussing the new Lord Hexham back in Season 5, I thought, he was definitely intended for Thomas. Why else make the Marquess single, the same age as Barrow, and definitely gay, only to kill him off unseen? Thomas would have gone to Brancaster Castle, and Carson would have stayed on at Downton Abbey.
Daisy receives a scholarship to attend Hillcroft college from Lady Edith. That would be the only reason I can see for making Edith a trustee of a school for underprivileged women. What was the point of Daisy's studies if she was to continue working in the kitchen, living on Mr. Mason's farm, and possibly marrying Andy? I believe her storyline was meant to show how a person could rise above their station in life through education.
Miss Baxter confronts her former flame and partner-in-crime, Peter Coyle, and Molesley has to fight for her love. That would make sense of the baffling trial plotline that went absolutely nowhere. Why else bring Coyle into it at all?
Bates and Anna finally buy their little hotel. In the first episode after the two are finally cleared in Mr. Green's murder, Bates says that he is going to see a real estate agent in the morning, but nothing is ever mentioned about it again.
I think when the idea of making a movie came up, there was a new ending written that kept everyone alive and living in Downton. Am I nuts, or do you think I might be on to something here?