Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Overview

I’ve had fairly the journey with Downton Abbey. I watched the unique collection with my mother when it was airing, and eagerly caught every film in theaters, together with 2022’s A New Period. So writing about Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is bittersweet, a end result of this glorious franchise.

Directed by Simon Curtis, The Grand Finale is completely for followers of the collection. As a sendoff for viewers, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale accomplishes precisely what it must.

With the saga coming to an in depth, it enters a brand-new period. The film is ready in 1930 and finds Downton on the precipice of main change. A brand new butler is ready to take over, as Andy (Michael Fox) lastly prepares to interchange Mr. Carson (Jim Carter); one other longtime employees member’s retirement is on the horizon; and, most pressingly, Robert (Hugh Bonneville) is debating whether or not to formally relinquish management to Mary (Michelle Dockery).

The final level is sophisticated by the truth that Mary, as soon as essentially the most haughty member of the Crawley household, is embroiled in scandal. She’s separating from her husband (Matthew Goode, who was final seen within the 2019 film), and society does not take kindly to divorced ladies. This solely makes Robert extra reluctant for change, and it places Mary off-kilter from the whole lot she’s ever identified.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Goes All-In On The Characters We Love

In basic Downton Abbey style, virtually each member of the sprawling ensemble has one thing occurring. Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) brother Harold (Paul Giamatti) returns after his single-episode present look to deal with some monetary issues, and Isobel (Penelope Wilton) oversees the native county honest with some stunning allies. With a lot occurring, it feels very very similar to an prolonged episode of the unique collection.

After all, there’s one key ingredient lacking. Even earlier than the passing of Dame Maggie Smith late final 12 months, her iconic character Violet died on the finish of A New Period, and her presence continues to be felt in The Grand Finale. Violet is usually referenced as characters debate what to do, and her portrait hangs prominently in the home.

There’s even a refined connection to Smith herself, by way of the inclusion of real-life playwright Noël Coward (Arty Froushan). Coward involves play a significant function within the movie, and his storyline with Thomas (Robert James-Collier) and his returning paramour Man Dexter (Dominic West) offers Downton some queer positivity, one thing the franchise typically lacked.

Not each new character matches in as nicely. Alessandro Nivola performs Gus Sambrook, an affiliate of Harold’s who arrives at Downton with some questionable motives. He and Mary first cross paths proper within the aftermath of her divorce making the information, and their preliminary interactions threaten to disrupt her arc of reinvention and self-discovery.

There is not any want for concern although; Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which was penned by creator Julian Fellowes, is largely constructed as a love letter to the followers and honors the characters all of them love. There are a number of references to the unique collection, and a number of other key relationships – Robert and Bates (Brendan Coyle), Mary and Anna (Joanne Froggatt), Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) and Daisy (Sophie McShera), to call just a few – get satisfying, heartfelt moments to shut out their tales.

The Grand Finale Is The Sendoff Downton Abbey Followers Deserve

If I needed to single out any MVPs, it is an absolute delight to see how far Laura Carmichael’s Edith has come through the years, and Thomas goes to some relatively surprising locations.

Visually, the world of Downton is as fantastically rendered as ever. Anna Robbins’ costume design actually prospers with the onset of a brand new decade – Mary’s purple costume at an early ball is especially beautiful — and manufacturing designer Donal Woods’ work is top-notch. The Grand Finale options contemporary London areas, an extravagant horse race, and the county honest, offering loads of alternatives for celebration and exquisite historic element.

In some methods, few followers will really be shocked by how The Grand Finale closes out the franchise. The previous two motion pictures all nudged the collection on this course, and the most recent installment solely seeks to place a finer level on it. And but, I dare viewers to not cry over the last sequence, a gorgeously edited second that serves because the strongest tie to the unique present.

Although Fellowes has indicated Downton Abbey may reside on sooner or later by way of new characters, this film is as near an ideal ending because the franchise may get. The prolonged sendoff with three completely different motion pictures is pointless, however anybody who has cherished these characters will get pleasure from getting closure. As Mary says on the finish, “Lengthy reside Downton Abbey.” It is honest to say it’ll.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale releases in theaters on Friday, September 12.