I’m… going to make a prediction. and I’m not sure if this is right, or entirely plausible.
but I was looking at the way this gifset lays out the shots of Guy Dexter in the trailer–specifically the shot of Anna and Daisy walking away from him all giggly–and it hit me again that I don’t think the shot of Guy Dexter touching Thomas is unequivocally, unobjectionally meant as a pass at him. yes, it’s affectionate, but people can be affectionate, and there’s a whole character trope of Flamboyant Theatre Person (gay or not) who is touchy feely over the top with people. and that + the indulgent look on his face in the second gif got me thinking.
what if Guy Dexter has an offscreen long-term partner? I know it’s a bit early for the real golden age of cinema, and I’ll admit that era isn’t my forte, but the idea of a gay actor in this era whose image as a sex symbol is heavily pushed by the studio as a cover for his private life isn’t at all outrageous. the last movie introduced Thomas to a gay social scene, and it would actually be a great progression to have this one introduce him to a gay mentor figure who can model a long term relationship. and I actual do trust the writers to handle that in a sensitive way, as opposed to the monogamy/nonmonogamy thing which I know a lot of people are leery of.
In that context, the chest touch could actual be something totally different. For example… Thomas sharing a gift from his lover that he keeps in the inner pocket of his jacket, which he is too nervous to wear openly, and sometimes he thinks maybe things are a little hopeless and muddled and he should stop carrying it everywhere? And Guy Dexter responds with some sage advice, Love Conquers All, I’ve been there kid but check out this lighter my boyfriend gave me ten years ago that I always keep with me–you’ll get there. Little pat to the hidden love token in Thomas’s pocket, friendly smile as he leaves, and Thomas is left looking a little stunned at the possibility of a fragile relationship lasting that long?
Genuinely I have no idea where that scene is going and this is like the third or fourth scenario that’s come to mind lol. But I think if I had to put money down, it would be on this one.
On some days, Thomas honestly can’t stop marvelling how the most handsome man on the planet was out there waiting for him for thirty-five years, and he didn’t know.
People have been agreeing and saying it’s completely out of character but i think i’ve found a reasonable explanation. Because in my opinion, the shyness isn’t actually a surprise in the movie but starts in the finale. So here’s my rewatch conclusion:
Tw suicide attempt// Thomas was broken by the world. His suicide attempt being stopped didn’t actually “heal” him, even though fellowes portrayed it like that. He’s still struggling but i think by the end of the series he can make out a glimmer of hope when people stop the outrageously rude behaviour towards him and he’s offered two jobs (the one outside the house and then later the butler position at downton). It makes him realise that he isn’t transparent after all.
But even if he decides to fight for recovery from his depression, mental illness changes people for the rest of their lives. And all he’s ever been made to understand is that anything he did or was before his suicide attempt was unworthy, bad, evil. So, he sees no other way as to burry his clever wits, his snarkiness, because he’s falsely been taught that those character traits equal villain hood. Hence, the quiet shyness.
In that regard i think it does make sense. But to be honest, i do believe in order to stick to logical character development his demeanour should change in the sequel. For with richard’s company, a new perspective has come along, since that man loves EXACTLY thomas’ quick-wittedness and sarcasm. I dislike the term “to fix somebody”, but i’ll say that richard is able to teach thomas that his previous conclusion was false, his true self doesn’t equal evil. He can show thomas how to use those traits for his own good instead of fuelling petty bitterness and help to rebuild his confidence and trust in his own character.
So how did julian fellowes get the idea that thomas barrow, now the butler and leader of the downton abbey house, is suddenly a shy person??? It’s quite a change in character between the series and the movie, i don’t recall him being that frequently flustered on tv in comparison to the 2 hours in the cinema
And so i think we can expect our sassy thomas back next time, changed by love and sorrow, but nevertheless himself.
TBH, I think Thomas has a pretty good character development in the movie. Sure, he’s not the season 1-4 Thomas, but then again in seasons 5, 6 he wasn’t that Thomas either.
Thomas snarkiness comes out in two scenes, one with Grantham and one with Carson which makes them all the more delectable imho. And look at his eyes, look at his eyes when Wilson talks, look into his eyes when Chris makes a move at him, or when they make the plan to ditch the royal footmen. He may not be as sarcastic but he’s the butler. He seems to be doing his job differently than Carson and he’s respected by them for that. Anything he says to his subordinates will be seen as abuse, and he had too much of that to be that kind of Butler.
Plus, comparing a boy’s behaviour of his late teens/early twenties to the man in his mid/late thirties will always show the differences.
Shyness? When was the last time Thomas was romanced by a man? If he ever was. And how did that end? The Duke comes to mind (my deepest apologies to Duke’s fans, but I despise the man with a passion, fictional or not.) His own attempts at romance were fruitless. I find it brave he still believes after his experiences.
I think Richard can bring an even softer side of Thomas on the surface and hopefully some playful sarcasm, but everything else was Thomas’ protection against the attacks; attack before you get attacked and as @bitletsanddrabbles says a shout out for attention. And he doesn’t have the need now.
The only part I have to disagree with in all of this is the - very common - concept that Fellows portrays Baxter rescuing Thomas as having ‘healed’ a damn thing. It shook him up, yes. It showed him that he was not going to be allowed that escape, absolutely. But everything we see him do from there to the end of the series is still ‘the socially acceptable thing’. The most obvious example of this is when Lady Mary asks if he’s lonely, he says yes, but makes it about him not being nice enough. This is what people have been telling him is the problem for years. He’s just saying it because fighting hasn’t worked, giving up hasn’t worked, compliance honestly hasn’t worked (see Andy), but by this point what else is he supposed to do? If this had been a modern story he’d have been saying exactly what many fanfiction writers make him realize, if not say out loud - he was sorry, he’s been selfish, he’d not thought of the other staff, he should have known suicide wasn’t the answer, etc. and he’d say it whether he felt it or not, for the same reason the writers make him realized it whether he really would or not: because that is what society tells you you’re supposed to realize when you’ve tried to kill yourself.
He’s not healed. He’s still hurt. He’s still hiding, he’s just hiding behind social compliance rather than his old spikes, because that seems safer just now. “I’m going to try and be someone different” isn’t him regaining love of life, it’s seeing an opportunity to be hidden again, because no one knows a thing about him. Seriously, watch him at the Stiles’s house and tell me that’s someone who’s ‘healed’ rather than someone who’s questioning why Baxter bothered.
I’m in the camp that any actual ‘healing’ happened between the end of the series and the movie, and I don’t think that was accidental. I think Fellowes just didn’t have time to really get things across in two episodes and that the fandom will never forgive him for not somehow magically making it happen…because the fandom does that. Continually.
All interesting thoughts! Re Thomas being shy, I would call it bashfulness rather than shyness. The moment when Jimmy comes to his room after the Thirsk fair, when Baxter kisses him goodbye, when Chris makes eyes at him in the pub, when Richard kisses him and gives him the pendant/watch fob - even when Cora thanks him for saving Edith from the fire - these are all moments when someone either compliments him or shows overt affection for him, and Thomas has had so few of such interactions in his life, and he has such a well of emotion underneath that armor, that I think he doesn’t quite know how to deal with the feelings that unexpected compliments or expressions of affection bring up, and that shows in a sort of bashful demeanor. In that way, I would say there is continuity between the series and the movie.
@bitletsanddrabbles, great point about how trying to be someone different is just another way of donning a mask for Thomas, and also about how blaming his own behavior for his unhappiness was a form of compliance with what was expected. I have some additional thoughts about the handling of the storyline, but I don’t want to hijack this post lol, so I’ll just post separately. Do you mind if I tag you when I do?
I would also like to throw my two cents in here (as I am always eager to get on my soap box). Thomas, post S6E8, was forced to contend with the second and perhaps ugliest of his ‘sins’ (forgive the term, I will explain).
I say this as someone who has attempted suicide, and who has been in a place like Thomas was in S6E8. When you realize that there is a darkness inside of you which can and will ultimately end in your death, for the rest of your life you have to live with the awareness that it is there. Ordinarily, human psych is determined to keep you alive for as long as possible. The brain is an incredible thing, and can protect itself when exposed to trauma. But at some point, brains can break and people can emotionally/spiritually/mentally be pushed beyond the point of no return. Once you reach that point, you know that point is there, and it will never leave you.
Thomas knows he’s a homosexual, and in the Edwardian period he has been brought up to believe that this is a sin. Consider the implications of this: every time Thomas went to church, he was shown images of people burning in the fiery pits of an unforgiving hell. He has been taught to believe that is where he is going, and there is nothing that he can do to change it. He has lost his family due to his homosexual nature. He has been out casted and rejected by society all his life to where multiple ‘safety nets’ have failed him.
Thomasdoes not feel safe.
There is no where safe for him. And the entirety of season 6 pushed Thomas to realize that the one place he could escape to, the one place he could stay safe (his own mind) was likewise dangerous and full of betrayal. When he attempted to kill himself, it was more than just a cry for help. It was the final scream of anguish after a lifetime of mental torment.
His recovery in the show, or at least what was shown of it, seemed to suggest a weak smile and placid emotions. Anna touched on it briefly but Thomas dodged the question when they were at the wedding. We never truly get to see what Thomas feels like mentally post suicide attempt. In the movie, it’s likewise never addressed.
Thomas goes dancing with Webster, and isn’t even wearing braces about his wrists. Suicide was a punishable offense in prison, and even amongst other homosexual men it might have raised eyebrows. I find it highly illogical that Thomas would allow his bare wrists to be seen. It is my belief this was an oversite, and that in truth Thomas would wear cuffs. Hiding his homosexuality was a matter of hiding his romantic intentions. Hiding his suicide attempt will be a struggle all his life.
All of this has culminated in the form of Thomas being quiet and reserved. He’s been deeply shaken, and he knows now that a terrible darkness exists within himself. He’s trying not to draw attention to himself because he knows that too many questions will result in him falling apart mentally or someone finding out his second ‘sin’, that he tried to kill himself.
I know it’s cliche to state, but when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you. I say that from personal experience, and feel that Thomas would likewise align with it. He’s looked at the abyss, he knows what it’s capable of, and he knows he cannot win against it.
The preparatory da (2019) rewatch is happening this coming saturday (april 9) at 16:00 to 18:00 BST! The stream will take place in the TBDS discord channel and you can join here:
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the whole screening, me and other peeps will most likely be hanging out in the channel a bit before the movie starts and after the movie ends, so there’s plenty of time for screaming! And you’re welcome to chat in the channel anytime outside the rewatch ( ◜‿◝ )♡
