Warning: SPOILERS for Downton Abbey: A New Era

Joseph Molesley (Kevin Doyle) saved the day in Downton Abbey: A New Era, which proved once more that the former butler has become Downton Abbey's secret weapon. In Downton Abbey: A New Era, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) led a contingent of the Crawley family to the South of France to learn why a Marquis left a villa on the Riviera to his mother, Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith). Back at Downton, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) oversees the British Lion film company producing a movie at the castle, and Mr. Molesley became crucial to the film shoot becoming a success.

Mr. Molesley was a supporting character in the Downton Abbey TV series whose importance only grew as the series continued. Originally, Molesley was the butler at Crawley house but Joseph became Matthew Crawley's (Dan Stevens) valet when he became the heir to Downton Abbey. However, Matthew wasn't raised in aristocracy and saw no need for a valet. Matthew coldly ignored Molesley's service, wounding Joseph's fragile pride. After Matthew tragically died, Molesley was forced to take a demotion and became a footman at Downton Abbey. Poor Molesley suffered further indignities when he left Downton and had to resort to taking odd jobs like paving roads in Downton village. But Molesley is also well-read and very intelligent, which was noticed by Downton's schoolmaster, who hired Joseph as a teacher. Through it all, audiences gradually came to love the long-suffering but endearingly well-meaning Mr. Molesley.

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Downton Abbey: A New Era finally gave Mr. Molesley his just due in a very surprising and satisfying way. It turns out Molesley is a fan of films who, naturally, became fascinated when the British Lion film company began shooting their silent film, The Gambler, at Downton. Mr. Molesley literally rescued The Gambler from disaster when it was turned into a talkie as Joseph revealed he has a gift for screenwriting and dialogue. It was thanks to Molesley's skills as a wordsmith that director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) was able to transition into making a talkie, and Joseph even rewrote the ending to make it more romantic and poignant. In return, Barber hired Molesley as his screenwriter, paying him more money than he could ever earn as a teacher. Heartwarmingly, Molesley turned out to be the hero of Downton Abbey: A New Era and it gave him a better future than he could have imagined.

Downton Abbey A New Era Molesley

In addition, Downton Abbey: A New Era finally paid off Mr. Molesley's long flirtation with Mrs. Baxter (Raquel Cassidy). Phyllis and Joseph fancied each other for a long time and had an unspoken commitment to each other, but Baxter (as well as Downton Abbey's other servants) didn't understand why Molesley never proposed. It turned out that Joseph hesitated, despite his feelings for Baxter, because he didn't feel like he could provide the life she deserved on a schoolteacher's salary. But as an up-and-coming screenwriter, Molesley's status instantly improved. As a result, Joseph finally proposed to Phyllis, which was hilariously overheard by everyone at Downton Abbey, who were overjoyed at their engagement.

Downton Abbey also gradually utilized the fact that Kevin Doyle possesses tremendous comedic skills and timing as Molesley, which was highlighted to glorious effect in the 2019 Downton Abbey movie. Molesley was beyond overjoyed that the King and Queen were staying at Downton and he joined the other servants in their revolt against the royal household which led to Downton's staff serving the royal dinner. But Molesley couldn't help himself and he blurted out the unauthorized switch in personnel, which left him mortified in front of the sovereign and the Crawleys. It was easily the most memorable comedic moment in Downton Abbey 2019 and it made Molesley even more endearing. Continuing Joseph's story, Downton Abbey: A New Era spotlighted Mr. Molesley as both a loveable comic figure and the hero of the hour. Now, it's hard to imagine Downton Abbey without Mr. Molesley and hopefully, his wedding to Mrs. Baxter is part of Downton Abbey 3.

Next: Downton Abbey: A New Era's Lord Grantham Story Beats Anything The Show Ever Did