Opinions on thomas downes?

I think he was a bad man painted in a good light here’s why.

The Debt: He took a loan he knew he couldn’t pay back, putting his wife Edith and son Archie in the crosshairs of a known loan shark like Strauss.

The Scam: He used his "charity" table in Valentine as a shield, acting like a pillar of the community while his family was drowning in his financial mess.

The Attack: That cough wasn't accidental. He knew he was terminal, and instead of backing away, he spat blood directly into Arthur’s mouth. It was a final, spiteful act from a man who knew he had nothing left to lose.

The Aftermath: His death left Edith and Archie in such a state of "evasion" and poverty that Edith was forced into sex work just to survive—a direct result of Thomas's poor choices.