Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Parent Guide

It’s 1930 and the winds of change are blowing across England. Even the Granthams of Downton Abbey aren’t immune from the gusts of the day. Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and his daughter Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) are both committed to doing their duty to their heritage, but the best options aren’t always clear. And things are about to get more difficult.

Post-war taxation has reduced incomes for England’s aristocratic families, but Lady Mary is still determined to add plumbing to the tenants’ cottages. Her American grandmother’s estate should soon be settled and Lord Grantham plans to use the money to cover the costs. Then Lady Grantham’s (Elizabeth McGovern) brother, Harold (Paul Giamatti), sails from America with bad news and a suspiciously charming financial advisor, Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola).

At the same time, Lady Mary’s divorce from her adulterous husband has just finalized, but her freedom comes at a cost: she’s now a social pariah and is not welcome in the homes of London’s social elite. She might not even be welcomed by her neighbors in Yorkshire – but her sister, Lady Edith Hexham (Laura Carmichael) starts strategizing a social battle plan.

These two issues make up the bulk of what passes for drama and suspense in this film. There are also plot lines involving Lady Merton’s (Penelope Wilton) attempts to add working class members to the committee planning the Yorkshire County Fair. And some of the theatrical characters from the second film reappear. In addition, older members of the Downton family struggle to relinquish their positions to the younger generation…

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is one of the most boring films I have ever watched. I never succumbed to the charms of the television series, but I didn’t mind the first film. Downton Abbey was a pleasant bit of fluff with gorgeous clothes and a multiplicity of trivial story lines. Downton Abbey: A New Era had more gorgeous clothes and was burdened with ridiculous plots, but at least it managed to fill its runtime. As for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, I have no idea how such an insubstantial story manages to fill two excruciating hours. Yes, the clothes are still gorgeous, and the English scenery is lovely, but there’s nothing here except nostalgia – and predictable plots, clumsy dialogue, and a cringe-y one-night stand that doesn’t fit the rest of the movie’s vibe. Fans of the series may well enjoy a leisurely two-hour stroll through the beloved sets with their favorite characters, but there’s no reason for anyone else to watch this film. Seriously, without Maggie Smith’s vinegar-tongued Dowager Countess is there any reason to tune into Downton at all?

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.