**Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (1/2)**
*Starring:* Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Lesley Nicol, Joanne Froggatt, and Brendan Coyle
*Directed by:* Simon Curtis
Downton Abbey has been saying goodbye for almost a decade now. Premiering in 2010, the critically acclaimed show ended in 2015 after six seasons. But in 2019, the series made a comeback with the first film, *Downton Abbey*, followed by *A New Era* in 2022—both of which ended on what could have easily been final notes.
Now, 15 years after the original show premiered, Julian Fellowes’ world is finally saying goodbye, and it seems for real this time, with **Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale**. It’s in the name, so it has to be, right?
For fans of *Downton Abbey* who just want another taste of the Crawley family, *The Grand Finale* is another satisfying hit. But with so many endings to choose from at this point, one can’t help but wonder if this is the best ending for the series, or if one of the prior finales might have been a more satisfying conclusion.
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### Plot Overview
*Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* takes place two years after the events of *A New Era* and the passing of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith). In that time, the mother of Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern) has also passed, leaving her brother, Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti), to manage their mother’s affairs—amidst the fallout of the stock market crash.
Unfortunately, Harold arrives at Downton with troubling news about the financial situation entrusted to him by Cora. Accompanied by his financial advisor, Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola), he explains the poor investments that may signal the end of Downton Abbey as the family knows it.
Meanwhile, Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) has recently divorced in secret. However, it doesn’t take long before the entire town knows, and the upper-class circles that once welcomed the Crawleys turn their backs on Mary, making her a social outcast.
Amidst these upheavals, Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) are both preparing for retirement; Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and John Bates (Brendan Coyle) are expecting a child; and practically every other character receives a final moment to shine before the book closes on Downton Abbey for good.
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### Tone and Themes
With the last few seasons of *Downton Abbey* and the previous two films, this franchise leaned into light, breezy, and simple drama—such as a royal visit from the King and Queen, or a movie being filmed at the Crawley estate. Yet, this is a show that began with moments of deep melancholy and calamity, starting just after the Titanic tragedy in which the Crawleys lost family members.
While the show has never been heavy drama per se, those early seasons were filled with profound longing and loss, giving them a weightiness that later seasons often lacked.
*The Grand Finale* attempts to recapture some of that uncertainty by leaning into the one thing Downton Abbey never wanted: change.
Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), for example, has always feared that the world around him might not stay the same forever. Here, he is forced to reckon with the fact that times are indeed changing.
The film shows Robert’s growth since the beginning, especially in how he learns to trust the next generation to take the reins once he can no longer lead the estate. But this mark of change affects all characters, who express anxiety about everything from a telephone being introduced in the house to jazz music being played at Downton.
As one character aptly puts it, “Our lives are lived in chapters, and there’s nothing sad about one closing.”
As this story concludes, the Crawley family must confront change—whether they like it or not. The film reflects both the immense growth these characters have undergone over 15 years and the deep love and admiration that now bind them together.
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### Direction and Writing
Directed by Simon Curtis, who also helmed *A New Era*, and written by Julian Fellowes, *The Grand Finale* knows exactly what its audience wants. Each character receives a respectful nod, there are plenty of references and jokes recalling early seasons, and the drama remains fairly light and accessible.
Despite being a significant moment for the house and its inhabitants, much of the tension revolves around modest events—whether Robert and Cora might move into a flat after leaving Downton, whether a local party proceeds without a hitch, and whether Mary will be welcomed back by the community.
The finale also minimizes the introduction of new characters. Gus, played by Alessandro Nivola, shakes things up, and the appearance of real-life figure Noel Coward (Arty Froushan) adds an intriguing touch. Simon Russell Beale also features in a humorous role clashing with Isobel Grey (Penelope Wilton). However, the film wisely focuses primarily on the established cast, opting not to dilute the story with too much new material as it wraps up.
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### Is This the Best Farewell?
But is *The Grand Finale* the best way to say goodbye to this beloved series?
*A New Era* provided a fitting conclusion by placing characters where they should be and crafting a beautiful farewell for Maggie Smith two years before her passing.
This isn’t to suggest *The Grand Finale* fails as a sendoff—particularly the final scene, which mirrors *A New Era* in some ways—but it does feel a little like revisiting familiar ground and “gilding the lily.” While this is likely the end for *Downton*, *A New Era* closed the chapter more tightly than *The Grand Finale* does.
There is no doubt, though, that if you’ve followed this series for 15 years, *The Grand Finale* will give you exactly what you want—a nostalgic and heartfelt addition to the story. It brings some of the original weightiness back and offers a fitting conclusion to this universe.
Now, we can only hope Julian Fellowes decides to finally close this chapter and move on to new stories.
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*Courtesy: Collider.com*
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