When Mary finds herself in a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.
“Finales” are famously either flat, sottish, overly grandizing, sloppy, tear-jerking, or not final. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which opens in American cinemas on September 12th, is none of the above. Unfortunately, continuing the beloved series and movies would undoubtedly run into the problem that many of the main characters, and the not-so-main but still essential characters, would either not be available or no longer with us. Fortunately, this film was made in the rare time that all the cast was available and ready for this one “last go,” with the notable and sad exception of Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess of Grantham, a heavy loss. Her death in 2024 left the DOWNTON ABBEY series with a massive gap in both the storyline and the character mix.
This film, due to the writing of Julian Fellowes, deftly avoids the usual pitfalls of a “finale.” It is a loving goodbye—a goodbye issued in the midst of social and family upheavals. A goodbye with loose ends tied up and emotional ties to the past smoothed out. It is a goodbye to the past. That past which has captivated audiences through the six-season series and two motion pictures. That is a difficult goodbye for us, but even more so for the characters in the film as they each say goodbye, some to each other, and others to their past as they face a new, exciting, but challenging future.
The famous six seasons of the DOWNTON ABBEY saga and the Crawley family struggles have a special place in my heart. My husband had Alzheimer’s, and by the time the “Downton Abbey” series came out, he could no longer follow a storyline in a television show, so I was unable to join with what seemed like “the rest of the world” who zealously followed the Crawley family. He succumbed to Alzheimer’s sadly in 2016, and climbing into bed alone after thirty-four years was difficult. To compensate for my sadness and loneliness, I took my phone to bed then and watched all six seasons of “Downton Abbey” over the next several nights. I couldn’t get enough.
And as far as this “finale” is concerned, I’m ready to go back and watch the series again, taking my time this go-round to really enjoy the story!
The characters in this last chapter remain true. Fellowes patiently evolves the story of the beginnings of class erasure as the Downstairs and Upstairs begin to meet and mesh. Hugh Bonneville is superb in his character development as Crawley enters a new and challenging phase: retirement. One of the more touching moments occurs as he is leaving Downton Abbey for the last time, and he walks over and places a goodbye kiss with his hand on the wall of the place that has been his life.
The storyline never sags into melancholy but keeps a naturalness, including always appreciated humor. Witty lines are sprinkled throughout, which buoy the mood even when it is serious. Reviewing this film was easy as it is altogether enjoyable. The characters are faithfully brought to life once again by the cast. The costumes are gorgeous, the hairstyles beautiful, both genuine reflections of the period (I loved the guiche curls on Lady Mary). The cinematography is outstanding. The story features scalawags, lovers, sadness, fun, and the changing of the guard at every turn—Adieu, beautifully delivered.
Now available on Digital and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD November 11th
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