If there's one remarkable thing Julian Fellowes should be known for, it's the Downton Abbey series and movies. It started as a TV series that ran for six seasons with five Christmas specials from 2010 to 2016. I enjoyed watching them all and still re-watch them. Many fans including myself couldn't get enough of the upstairs-downstairs drama. I was excited when Fellowes announced the production of the feature movies. There are three of them, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) being the last and yet it feels like this saga should not end.
This movie is a historical drama based on a screenplay written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis. It stars some major actors from the TV show like Laura Carmichael, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt and others.
Set in 1930 in the UK where modern life is slowly creeping into their modest, old lifestyle, and with the passing of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the Crawley family are still struggling economically. After watching a play at the theatre, Lord and Lady Grantham, Edith and Bertie Pelham (Lord and Lady Hexham), return home. Then they receive news that Mr Talbot had filed for divorce from Lady Mary. They are concerned about how their society will take this change in Lady Mary's status.
They find out soon enough at Lady Petersfield's ball where Mary is asked to leave before the guests of honour arrive because of her divorcee status. She feels embarrassed, and returns home to meet her uncle, Harold Levinson, and his financial advisor. It turns out Harold had lost his mother's fortune on poor investment and wants more money. This leads to an argument where Lady Grantham reveals that the estate is struggling as well.
The family is anxious about it's continued survival as a leader in the community at a time when most estates are folding up. Does the Grantham family have what it takes to keep going?
My Review And Rating
One thing that always gives me a thrill is the opening scene of the show and it's movies. This finale begins with a fine skyview of the famous Crawley estate where most of the drama unfolds. It's like a signature of the show. There's no Downton Abbey without a grand glimpse of the big house.
I'm tempted to give spoilers but it's better to go into this movie blind. It essentially wraps up the entire saga. The original plot centers around the Crawley family and their estate. To understand this movie better, I'd recommend you watch all six seasons so you can get the layout of the show and how it all connects to this movie.
Downton Abbey is about the rich and royal versus the middle and lower class people and this includes their servants. With each season and feature movie, the Crawley family gets closer to their servants, creating a setting that is not common with many wealthy families in Britain. In Fellowes’ world, he makes the Crawley family experience the good, bad and ugly sides of life.
I enjoyed the focus on theatre in this movie especially the scene where Noël Coward plays and sings to the family, as a way to console Mary due to her divorce scandal. There are other dramas and each one is resolved very well. Also, the characters’ costumes are colourful as always but not extravagant.
The cast's performance has always been stellar from the first season of the show and that's why many fans love it. In this finale, they are outstanding. I love how Fellowes wraps up each characters' story and all you can do at the end is give a sigh of satisfaction as the credits roll.
Rating this finale, I will give it 8.5 stars out of 10. This saga is not one you forget in a hurry. The plot and acting are compelling and entertaining. I don't know what Fellowes puts into his screenplays, but this show and it's films will remain a favourite for many people.
All images above are screenshots from the movie
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