Anna, played by Joanne Froggatt, was the dependable housemaid with a heart of gold.
Mr. Bates, played by Brendan Coyle, was the valet with a fiery temper.
At first glance, there was nothing about the couple that suggested they would make a good match.
Bates was gruff, quiet, and withholding, not to mention at least a decade older than Anna.
Anna, on the other hand, was a dedicated servant who kept herself out of trouble.
But, of course, at the start of the show, they were strangers.
However, if you look back at their first encounter, there were already signs of something brewing.
And it all began with a friendly smile from Anna.
It was a time when men were expected to be strong and stoic.
And for many men, showing emotion was seen as a sign of weakness.
After Bates is asked to leave Downton, Annabringsa tray of food to his room out of kindness.
She never mentions that she saw him crying to anyone.
“And he’d be diminished by it,” creator Julian Fellowes added.
It’s clear that Anna understood how to preserve Bates' sense of dignity from their very first meeting.
Or if there was, Mr. Bates certainly didn’t acknowledge it.
“He doesn’t think he’s worthy of her,” actor Brendan Coyle said in aninterview.
“He certainly doesn’t think this beautiful young woman is going to be a potential partner.”
So, when did Bates first begin to see the potential for more than friendship?
Maybe that was the first time he could see them becoming something more.
And Anna and Bates really are the epitome of old-fashioned romance.
Their love is built on kindness, friendship, and respect.
As Neame went onto explain, Anna’s attraction for Mr. Bates goes beyond the physical attraction.
“It’s not like it’s about lust or anything,” he said.
“She sees this person and it’s her own …” he trailed off.
“Oh, it’s tenderness,” chimed in Julian Fellowes.
No wonder Anna is always trying to take care of Mr. Bates throughout the first season of the show.
Her deep feelings of tenderness for him are the entire foundation of their relationship.
For both Anna and Bates, it’s all about acts of service.
It all begins when AnnabringsBates a tray of food in the first episode.
Then, Batesreturnsthe favor a few episodes later.
The pair continue to do adorable little things for each other as the show goes on.
Plus, they also do some pretty big things, too.
“I love you, Mr. Bates,” shesays.
Anna is right: Her proclamation of love certainly isn’t “ladylike.”
Anna and Bates' love story is set over 100 years ago.
So, dating and courtship were pretty different from what we are used to now.
One major difference was how much more careful and reserved couples were.
Who knew that the demure, quiet Anna was actually something of a radical feminist?
He and Anna were married just days before his arrest.
Most of us probably remember how upsetting this storyline was when it first aired.
The truth is, she could have easily given up on him, and many women might have.
“She’s a real trooper to stick by him,” actress Joanne Froggatt said in aninterview.
“But that’s because they’re so in love, you know.”
However, there are a few aspects of their relationship that are more than a little problematic.
For one thing, the pair don’t always tell the whole truth to each other.
In fact, from the very beginning, their relationship was based on lies.
First of all, Bates never revealed to Anna that he had a wife.
A little shady if you ask us.
While their relationship is usually pretty healthy, these two certainly do have a tendency to lie!
It turns out, her fears were warranted.
When she finally revealed the truth, Mr. Bates reacted very, very poorly.
AsThe Atlanticnoted, this comment was downright “patronizing and gross.”
Then, he became desperate for revenge.
It’s true this storyline was completely commandeered by Bates andhisemotional reaction.
It definitely wasn’tone of the best moments on “Downton Abbey.”
But her reaction also tells us about the dynamic between her and Bates, too.
Would Bates have killed this man?
Yes, he would."
And by the looks of things, Anna was a little afraid of his anger.
That is, until Anna begins to have some trouble conceiving a baby.
It turns out, she’s had several miscarriages.
As she told Mary, “I can’t have children, m’Lady.
I can’t hold on to them.”
Morton’sexplained, however, this medical explanation isn’t exactly realistic considering the plot of the show.
“Cervical incompetence is one cause of late miscarriage or premature delivery,” Dr. Morton’s wrote.
Anna, on the other hand, was experiencing miscarriages before 14 weeks into her pregnancy.
In other words, this medical explanation wasn’t accurate.
Plus, the doctor’s solution in the show probably wouldn’t have worked either.
We can hardly complain, though.
As Dr. Morton’s wrote, “Reality doesn’t make for such a good storyline.”
And by the sounds of things, the actors have become exceptionally close over the course of filming.
Apparently, she even started finishing his sentences.
“Brendan complains, ‘You’re not actually my wife!'”
Could these two be any cuter?
However, we did see that they were happily married with a seriously adorable little toddler.
Thesceneshowed the pair chatting about their plans to run a B&B.
“I’ve been thinking … our bed and breakfast hotel, could it be in Downton village?”
“That way, we’ll never lose touch.”
Bates ultimately agrees that it’s a nice idea and leaves Anna with a contented smile.
And we wouldn’t want it any other way!
Either way, we can’t wait to see them back on our screens.
And hopefully, there will be even more films to come.
I don’t think you’d ever say it’s the end of the story."
