- Release year: 2025
- Director: Simon Curtis.
- Producers: Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame, and Liz Trubridge.
- Screenplay by: Julian Fellowes.
- Cinematography by: Ben Smithard.
- Music by: John Lunn.
Synopsis: there is a change of guard in Downton Abbey as it prepares for the new world ahead.
Shotgun Commentary: a lovely break from reality.
Review
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is, as its title hints, the last of the Downton Abbey content. The story that began in 2010 with the series Downton Abbey (2010-2015) finished 15 years later for the sake of making it a round temporal figure. At least, one can only assume that is the reason, since Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) pretty much wrapped the whole thing up already.
Nothing in a pretty bow
The feature picks up where the 2022 film left off, with a happy, rich family in the late 20s getting ready for the arrival of the 30s. This latest adventure brings yet more examples of the typical social struggles of the era: divorce, the loss and gain of fortunes, hypocrisy, letting go of your legacy in favour of the next generation, etc. Overall, no issue seems to be too devastating, and no damage is permanent.
This absolute nothingness in terms of stakes makes the film both perfect and completely pointless. On the one hand, the show had the perfect ending when Maggie Smith’s character, Lady Violet Grantham, dies. There is a scene in particular that makes the 2022 film a much better “cherry on top” than this film. A conversation between Lady Violet and Lady Mary Grantham (Michelle Dockery), her granddaughter and future matriarch of the family, where she passes the torch to her, so to speak. This full-circle moment is absolutely perfect in every way. It is empowering, emotional, heartbreaking and exciting all at once. Not to mention that both Smith and Dockery are insanely talented, making the gravitas of the moment undoubtable.
With Smith gone, it is hard to imagine a Downton Abbey, and, indeed, the film is both visually and textually haunted by her despite the very veiled and scarce references or appearances of her character. The film itself acknowledges that its own existence must be confusing for the audiences who have watched the previous film. Its justification comes in the form of a conversation between Lady Mary and her father, in which they talk about how the end of a family member is not the end of the family itself. Sure, that is all well and good, but is that a strong enough reason? The jury is still out on that one.
A fix of nostalgia
On the other hand, when one takes into consideration the state of the world we live in, it is not ludicrous to want to play ostrich and dunk your head into harmless nostalgia and an idealised version of a better past. Ideally, one in which all troubles are soft and cosy, one in which you know that everything will be okay. Downton Abbey has always known how to provide that comforting feeling, and its great success is proof of that, so is a pointless ending for a franchise that had already ended such a bad thing? No, not really.
While most of the technical details of the film are just as good as they have been for all Downton Abbey content, there is one significant aspect of the film that, as usual with the saga, stands out greatly: wardrobe. To say that every single outfit is a masterpiece would not be an exaggeration at all. In fact, if you watch the bonus features of the movie (more info on that after the review), you will be able to see just how much detail, effort, and passion goes into each of the pieces worn both by the cast and the extras.
All in all, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is a must-watch for all fans of the saga and a completely skippable movie for everybody else. Unless you have a particular interest in the late 20s or cosy romantic dramas, this film won’t say much to you. Still, it is a good choice if you happen to want some harmless entertainment.
Advice to take from this movie:
- You never know where life will take you, so don’t worry too much.
- Some parties are not worth going to.
- Never underestimate the power of having siblings.
What’s your take? Have you watched Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀