Downton fans, break out your tea cups and get ready to squeal with delight: the "Downton Abbey" season four promo is finally out.
The minute-long promo begins with the Dowager Countess (Dame Maggie Smith) giving some sound advice to the grieving Lady Mary, who becomes mired in a deep depression due to the love of her life, Matthew Crawley, dying in a car crash. "You have a straightforward choice," the Dowager says to her granddaughter. "You must choose either death... or life."
"And you think I should choose life," Mary responds. The Dowager simply raises her eyes and nods.
The trailer also features plenty of crying, including Mary crying into Carson's (Jim Carter) arms, as well as Daisy (Sophie McShera) breaking down. Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and her husband, Bates (Brendan Coyle), are also shown in tears, suggesting that they will encounter some trouble in season four.
It also shows plenty of smiling and kissing, including kissing between Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and the new nanny. It also features a first glimpse of Mary and one of her potential suitors, who exchange a glance that suggests that they will have a friendship that is not strictly platonic. Mary will have two potential suitors next season, played by Tom Cullen and Julian Ovenden.
The promo also shows the first glimpse of Jack Ross, a black jazz musician who is played by Downton newcomer Gary Carr.
As the trailer only shows a glimpse of the new season, there are a lot of plot hints left out.
It was revealed that the new season will also feature O'Brien's (Siobhan Finneran) departure, which will put extra stress on Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan). Daisy will still continue to vie after Alfred (Matt Milne), even though he only has eyes for Ivy (Cara Theobold), which makes Daisy insanely jealous.
Joanne Froggatt hinted to TVGuide about the future troubles of Anna and Bates, the newly betrothed couple.
Although it seems as if they have achieved marital bliss, their happiness will not last very long. "Anna and Bates start the season in a very happy place, which is lovely," Froggatt said. "But as always, there are some trials and tribulations for Anna and Bates. They never seem to have it easy, as there is for all the characters."
But it's not all doom-and-gloom next season; Downton will host opera singers and even a house party, complete with 1920s-style jazz musicians.
"Downton Abbey" returns to the U.S. on PBS on Jan. 5.
Check out the season four trailer below: