It is indeed the end of an era with the final film from the beloved British series Downton Abbey. After spending several years with the Crawley family, audiences will be seeing the last of them in the new movie Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.
Simon Curtis returns to the director’s chair after helming the previous entry, and he reteams with series creator Julian Fellowes to give these characters a proper ending. As the show moves forward with the times, so do the Crawley family and the house staff, all while they embrace a future in a brand-new era.
The film begins in the 1930s, immediately following the end of the First World War, as the United Kingdom faces economic turmoil during the Great Depression, for any history buffs out there. That is not the only trouble when the movie opens, as a scandal begins to unfold among the Crawleys.
Things take a turn for the worse as the family must also tackle their economic estate in the midst of this global financial crisis. As times change, it forces our patriarch, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), to make some life-changing decisions alongside his wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) that will affect the family forever.
Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has her own troubles, as she emerges from a divorce that has made it difficult for her to be in the public eye and avoid being shunned by society. It is also the final summer for long-time butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and cook Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) as they are retiring from their roles in the household.
We also see the return of Cora’s brother, Harold (Paul Giamatti), who is settling their estate with the help of Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola), a banker who puts his charms on Mary upon his arrival at Downton.
With such a big cast, all eyes are on Dockery. She has a powerful presence as Mary, navigating her role as a divorcee while demonstrating the power and dignity of leading the Crawley family.
Bonneville brings it all as he witnesses the significant changes coming to his family alongside McGovern, who graces us with her maternal love for her family as Cora. It is nice to see Laura Carmichael making some smart plays to help the family as the second eldest daughter, Edith, and sharing that sisterly bond with Mary as well.
When it comes to the help, we get some moments with these characters before saying goodbye. Both Carter and Nicol get their proper send-offs as they pass the baton to Andy and Daisy Parker, who become the new head butler and chef, played by fan-favorites Michael Fox and Sophie McShera.
It is also great to see actors Brendan Doyle and Joanne Froggatt as one of our favorite couples, John and Anna Bates, as they embrace family life with their child and a newborn on the way.
Despite her passing, the late Maggie Smith is still very much a part of the film with her late character, Violet Crawley, making a presence. She is often mentioned in the household and also gets a heartfelt dedication to her. We also get many callbacks to the series, whether it’s moments mentioned or just easter eggs throughout the film.
The film does make strides in showing themes of change in society, as it is in every era. Much akin to Mary’s impending divorce, it is something that is frowned upon in royalty, making it difficult for Mary to interact with her peers due to her status. It also raises the importance of female empowerment, which is something Downton Abbey has strived for with these female characters we’ve grown accustomed to.
Even the status quo has suddenly changed. Thomas Barrow is embracing his new life with actor Guy Dexter, and while society hasn’t publicly accepted homosexuality, there are still modern changes being embraced on the show, as the Crawleys have accepted his newfound job and relationship.
There’s so much to juggle with all these characters and storylines, but Simon Curtis finds a way to create a balance and give a natural flow of things as we say goodbye.
Within these two hours, fans get what they want with Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, filled with family drama, laughs, and incredibly touching moments.
It doesn’t feel rushed at all, thanks to the remarkable screenplay that Fellowes cooked up. It gives us all a teary farewell to this fictional royal family that we’ve all grown so fond of on our screens for over a decade.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale releases in theaters on September 12.
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Mufsin Mahbub
Mufsin Mahbub is a TV and film fanatic who loves all things superhero, sci-fi, horror, and mystery. Outside of writing, he enjoys traveling, gaming, and watching some anime.