Downton Abbey’s Grand Finale: A Bittersweet Goodbye to a Beloved Era

As a motivational speaker, I’m here to tell you that every ending marks a new beginning, and the grand finale of “Downton Abbey” is no exception. This highly anticipated film brings the curtain down on a 15-year journey that has captivated audiences worldwide with its intricate web of relationships, scandals, and drama. The movie, running at 124 minutes and rated PG for suggestive material, smoking, and thematic elements, is now playing in theaters.

For fans of the PBS show, the “Downton Abbey” franchise has been a scrumptious, decadent upstairs-downstairs drama about a British stately home, its noble residents, the Granthams, and their hardworking servants below. The series, which aired for six seasons, quickly turned into a soapy extravaganza, but one that at least maintained a level of sophistication. However, the two movies that followed, “Downton Abbey” (2019) and “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (2022), failed to recapture the magic, feeling overblown, charmless, and long.

The third and final film, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” narrowly wins over this critic, largely due to its nostalgic value and a story that, while recycled, is legitimately engrossing. The plot centers around Lady Mary Grantham, played by Michelle Dockery, whose divorce from Henry Talbot, triggered by her affair with a Russian diplomat, causes a scandal that rocks the foundations of Downton Abbey. The news of her divorce makes her a high-society untouchable, throwing the estate into chaos as Lord Grantham, played by Hugh Bonneville, plans to give her the keys to the estate.

Meanwhile, the household is already reeling from financial woes brought about by Harold, the American brother of Cora, played by Elizabeth McGovern. Harold’s visit, accompanied by his friend Gus, played by Alessandro Nivola, adds to the tension, as Gus’s after-dark mischief recalls the early days of the series. The absence of the late Maggie Smith’s sharp-tongued Dowager Countess is deeply felt, as her character’s eruption of acid was needed to cut through the richness of the show.

In a refreshing twist, the developments in the kitchen are nice ones: chatty Daisy, played by Sophie McShera, is inheriting the ladle as head cook, replacing Mrs. Patmore, played by Lesley Nicol, who is retiring. Carson, played by Jim Carter, is waving goodbye to his butler fineries, while Anna, played by Joanne Froggatt, is pregnant. These moments of warmth and change are a welcome respite from the drama unfolding upstairs.

However, the film’s biggest misstep is the weird addition of Noel Coward to the plot. The playwright, a friend of actor Guy Dexter, played by Dominic West, visits Downton with his high-pitched persona, Arty Froushan, singing songs and cracking jokes. While this might have been a delightful nod to Coward’s legacy, it feels forced and out of place.

The wrap-up is clean, much like the glistening china that adorns the tables of Downton Abbey. The final scene sees Lady Mary remembering her family members who were tragically lost over the years – her sister Sybil, her husband Matthew, and, of course, the Dowager Countess. Both Mary and the audience are reminded that times are, indeed, changing.

In conclusion, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is a bittersweet goodbye to a beloved era. While it may not be perfect, it’s a fitting end to a series that has captured the hearts of millions. As we bid farewell to the Granthams and their loyal servants, we’re reminded that every ending marks a new beginning, and the legacy of “Downton Abbey” will live on.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post
Attribution: Rory Mulvey (Creative Commons) (GO)