Downton Abbey Deserved A Better Ending Than 'The Grand Finale' |
Instead of the crowning chapter of a much-loved, award-winning series, what Downton fans get is a perfunctory epilogue, writes Laura O'Flanagan.
|
AFTER 15 YEARS ON SCREEN, Downton Abbey limps to its conclusion with The Grand Finale. Directed by Simon Curtis and billed as the ultimate farewell, it reunites the ensemble cast for one last bow. Marketed as the crowning chapter of a much-loved, award-winning series, the film carries a weight of expectation. What audiences have been given, however, is a perfunctory epilogue, as though everyone involved knew something had to be delivered but couldn’t quite summon the spark to make it worthwhile.
At the film’s centre lies the long-anticipated moment when Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) prepares to hand the reins of Downton Abbey to Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). This plot is further complicated by Mary’s divorce, a scandal rippling through society as she assumes leadership of the estate. |
This culmination of a story where responsibility is passed on, continuity is assured and change is accepted ought to feel momentous, but it is bogged down by dozens of minor storylines, quickly raised and neatly resolved. The slack pacing and uneven tone reduce it to a carousel of passing titbits. The Grand Finale seems determined to include all of the characters at once, and in doing so, loses its way. With such a sprawling cast, there is no room to dig deeply. Scenes are crowded with so many characters that the effect often resembles a curtain call – each actor stepping forward for a line or two, then retreating again. It keeps faces in circulation, but it does not serve the audience. Stream all six seasons of Downton Abbey on OTTplay for Rs 199! This lack of focus highlights how far the films have drifted from what once made Downton Abbey irresistible. The television series thrived on a delicate balance of upstairs-downstairs drama. Modest conflicts, such as who might inherit, who might marry and whether a servant’s job was secure, were magnified through sharp writing and careful pacing into something greater than the sum of their parts. It was a series about character, rhythm and mood as much as Edwardian glamour. It allowed tensions to simmer, mysteries to unfold, and gave its ensemble cast space to shine without overwhelming the story. |
In sharp contrast, The Grand Finale may barely hold your attention for its two-hour running time. Still, there is some pleasure in seeing the actors again. Michelle Dockery settles effortlessly back into Mary, and her warm exchanges with Laura Carmichael’s Edith highlight the positive development of the sisters’ relationship. Joanne Froggatt has a gentle and kind presence as Anna, and there are glimmers of the magic of the series in the scenes with Daisy (Sophie McShera) and Mrs Patmore (Leslie Nicol). Maggie Smith’s absence is deeply felt; without the dowager countess’s sharp wit and perfectly timed barbs, the film misses the comedy of her character and veers too far towards sweetness and politeness. Watch the Downton Abbey Movie on OTTplay for Rs 199! Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale should have been the story’s crowning achievement, a chapter that tied its themes together and gave long-time viewers reason to cherish the journey one last time. Instead, it is a poor imitation of past glories. A series that once made the smallest stakes feel monumental ends with an instalment that is both thin and tedious. Lord Grantham, resorting to cliche, remarks: “So this is how the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.” This whimper of a finale plays out in orchestral swells, becoming glossy and hollow, with a sentimental montage at the end which resembles a Christmas advert. On the other hand, if you have found yourself invested in Downton over the years, how can you not take this chance to wave off old friends and find out how it ends? Just don’t expect a bang. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is currently playing in select theatres. Laura O'Flanagan is a PhD candidate at the School of English, Dublin City University. This review originally appeared in The Conversation and has been republished under the Creative Commons Licence. |
Like what you read? Get more of what you like. Visit the OTTplay website or download the app to stay up-to-date with news, recommendations and special offers on streaming content. Plus: always get the latest reviews. Sign up for our newsletters. Already a subscriber? Forward this email to a friend, or use the share buttons below. |
| | This weekly newsletter compiles a list of the latest (and most important) reviews from OTTplay so you can figure what to watch or ditch over the weekend ahead. |
| Each week, our editors pick one long-form, writerly piece that they think it worthy of your attention, and dice it into easily digestible bits for you to mull over. |
| In which we invite a scholar of cinema, devotee of the moving image, to write a prose poem dedicated to their poison of choice. Expect to spend an
hour on this. |
| | Hindustan Media Ventures Limited,
Hindustan Times House, 18-20,
Second Floor, Kasturba Gandhi
Marg, New Delhi - 110 001, India |
DOWNLOAD THE OTTPLAY APP ▼ |
| | If you need any guidance or support along the way, please send an email to ottplay@htmedialabs.com . We’re here to help! |
©️2025 OTTplay, HT Media Labs. All rights reserved. |
| | |
