The discharge of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale indicators the tip of an period, making now the right time to replicate on the strengths of every Downton Abbey movie. With a prolonged Downton Abbey timeline to think about, the trilogy of movies lastly concludes the story of this technology of the Crawleys, introducing some main adjustments to their property.
The Grand Finale‘s Rotten Tomatoes rating is spectacular, and for good cause. Like the opposite movies within the sequence, the brand new film tells a robust and emotional story that’s rife with wealthy characters and exquisite landscapes. Grappling with social shame, the brand new movie is a wonderful alternative on which to finish this beloved story.
With all of that stated, and with the ending of The Grand Finale serving as the tip to the sequence, there may be a lot to debate in evaluating the movies to at least one one other. Following such a beloved tv sequence, this trilogy of films has accomplished an important job in preserving the Downton Abbey model alive.
Downton Abbey
Whereas there have to be one thing on the backside of the checklist, this doesn’t imply that 2019’s first Downton Abbey film was a disappointment. There was some concern from avid watchers of the present, who felt the movie was extraneous and at instances even cartoony, however the continuation of the story with an even bigger funds was a shiny and satisfying entry for many audiences.
Within the movie, King George V and Queen Mary plan to go to Downton. This results in immense preparations on the property, with every of the beloved characters given a while and focus. Nonetheless, a lot of this results in the movie’s rating right here: the story is usually pointless, with out a vital influence or evolution to the characters themselves.
Whereas having some robust moments for just a few of the gamers, together with Thomas Barrow, the majority of the movie appears like an pointless additional episode to the present. Whereas the costume drama and a few ranges of intrigue are satisfying, the contrivances of the plot, together with the exploration of an assassination scheme, felt compelled and misplaced.
Seeing the Crawleys at their stunning dwelling and watching the category dynamics and issues play out between these glorious characters, is all the time satisfying. Nonetheless, 2019’s Downton Abbey doesn’t do sufficient that’s significant with the figures, strolling a nice line between letting the movie stand by itself and making it a mandatory continuation to the sequence.
In 2019, this was sufficient. Nonetheless, now that two extra even stronger movies within the franchise have since been launched, 2019’s Downton Abbey can not sit wherever on this checklist besides on the backside.
Downton Abbey: A New Period
Downton Abbey: A New Period is an particularly robust chapter within the sequence, bettering on the earlier movie in nearly each method. The costuming and pictures are stronger, the script is each extra emotional and funnier, and the story appears like a novel sufficient departure to justify the bigger price and dimension of a studio movie.
With a villa being inherited within the south of France, and a curious New Period story that feels straight pulled from Singin’ within the Rain, with Mary dubbing over Myrna Dalgleish’s voice, the movie feels expansive and inventive. A New Period successfully integrates the Crawley household and their employees into the bigger adjustments taking place on this planet throughout the late Nineteen Twenties.
Not the whole lot within the movie is ideal; Henry Talbot’s absence within the film is deeply felt in Mary’s story. Matthew Goode was not current for the movie because of scheduling and medical points, which led to some disappointing selections being inserted into Mary’s story, leaving their relationship strained however with out efficient closure.
Nonetheless, audiences who loved the sequence, and people who did not watch it alike, discovered a lot to get pleasure from on this costume drama. The characters really feel true to themselves, and the final look of Violet is very robust.
A lot of the success of the movie depends on seeing acquainted characters as soon as once more, and particularly permitting them to search out some type of pleasure. Bates, Branson, and the remaining all have glorious moments within the movie, which have been particularly refreshing to see on the large display screen.
There was quite a lot of ache and struggling that persevered via the sequence, which helped to raise the dramatic stakes, however it’s such a pleasure to see many of the characters on this movie experiencing ranges of happiness.
With efficient intrigue, wealthy characters, and exquisite photographs, the brand new movie does an efficient job in persevering with the story of Downton Abbey. Nonetheless, its narrative significance usually causes the film to really feel like little greater than an additional episode of the present, which locations it slightly below the very best Downton Abbey movie.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is strictly what it purports to be, and that’s its best energy. Resembling the format of the beloved Downton Abbey Christmas specials, the brand new movie makes use of its prolonged runtime so as to inform a bigger story, inserting some huge adjustments into the lives of the Crawleys and the standing of their property.
Downton Abbey needed to come to an finish finally, after six sequence and two prior movies, and the brand new film does an important job in wrapping issues up. Whereas a few of the tales inside, together with the shame of Mary’s divorce, really feel like narratives necessitated by Matthew Goode’s schedule somewhat than the plot, the execution of that is efficient.
Sure, it’s disappointing to say Mary’s relationship deteriorate after such tragic turns all through the sequence, however the brand new movie does good and daring issues along with her character that permit the Grand Finale ending to really feel earned. Ultimately, her dad and mom depart Downton to her, vacating to take the Dower home.
With a robust give attention to endings and tying up tales and relationships in satisfying methods, the brand new movie ends the story of Robert and Cora at Downton, permitting Mary’s life to proceed there with a model new technology. She stays along with her two youngsters to construct a lifetime of their very own.
Her youngsters, George and Caroline, may have been given larger focus within the movie. Their characters characterize the subsequent technology of Downton, and their small roles within the movie really feel considerably diminished. Nonetheless, that is principally necessitated by the wants of the story, which already has an expansive forged to take care of.
The lack of Dame Maggie Smith casts an emotional shadow over the movie, as her Dowager Violet Crawley’s mirrored loss performs into the machinations of the story. These remembrances are particularly felt on the finish of the movie, the place Mary displays on her previous with Matthew and remembers her late sister Sybil.
These feelings are what assist to make The Grand Finale such a profitable finale to the sequence. After so many tales, unfold out over so a few years, Downton Abbey has constructed a wealthy legacy that the brand new movie handily ties collectively into an ending of kinds for every of the characters concerned.
There are some criticisms available of the movie, together with not having sufficient give attention to some characters, however total, the brand new film appears like the very best execution but for this world and these continued tales. Tying all of that collectively into an emotional and efficient conclusion, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ends the sequence on a really excessive notice.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
8/10
- Launch Date
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September 12, 2025
- Runtime
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123 Minutes
- Director
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Simon Curtis
- Writers
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Julian Fellowes
- Producers
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Liz Trubridge, Nigel Marchant
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Hugh Bonneville
Robert Crawley
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Laura Carmichael
Edith Crawley
