Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale review – Hebe M
To take a break from the recent flood of staff themed articles, this week I thought I’d turn to another source of entertainment: films. That said, I must add that few things can rival the joy of reading weekly Bubble articles.
During the summer holidays, with the nerves of exam results looming, my mind was far from thrilled by the idea of the new school year approaching. However the one thing that did excite me was the highly anticipated release of the new Downton Abbey movie.
A bit of background for those of you not aware of the Downton Abbey franchise. It is a beloved period drama set between 1912 and 1925, and focused around the wealthy (though often financially strained) Crawley family. The household is led by Lord Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Grantham along with their three daughters. The story also centres around the lives of the staff who work for them and their relationships with the family.
The series originally ran for five seasons, beginning in 2012, becoming a global success. Without spoiling the show too much (however I would not recommend reading this further if you do plan on watching the show as I will leak some crucial story lines), notable moments include: two significant deaths, the births of the Crawley grandchildren (which come with their own dramatic storylines) and the challenges of the changing world such as the horrific events of the titanic, and the First World War. Due to the heightened popularity of the show, the franchise rolled out two following up movies. The first, centred around a royal visit from the King and Queen. With the second whisking the family to the south of France after the dowager inherits a villa (the dream!) with a subplot about a movie being filmed at Downton itself. Each release was initially said to be the conclusive ending of the franchise so it came as quite a shock when news broke out that another instalment was to be released this year. The title, The grand finale, saddling suggests that this will be the final hurrah for the cast. However, I have discovered an interview with the director who offered a rather ambiguous answer when asked if this was the end. Could a spin-off be on the horizon?
The latest film continued to explore the shifting society of the early 20t century. A focal point being the scandalous discovery that Lady Mary is now divorced, causing a disgrace to the family name. This storyline gave us a glimpse into the harsh standards of the upper class, who were often quick to judge, despite any previous affiliations with the family. Personally, I found this storyline slightly harsh for Mary who, over the years, had suffered many hardships, therefore she deserved a more hopeful ending (though some may argue otherwise). With this idea of the evolving era, there was also an important focus on the how the aristocracy were developing, For the first time, viewers saw the Crawleys’ London residence and got a glimpse into ‘the season’ in the capital – a stark contras to life on their Yorkshire estate.
From a historical aspect a key issue that was discussed was the devastating ‘Wall Street Crash’ which similarly leads to great discussion surrounding the wealth of the family. Leading to a humorous scene depicting Lady Mary showing the very traditional Lord Grantham, the alien concept of a London flat. Much of this turmoil was created through the notorious Mr Sambrook who attempted to defraud the family as well as a fleeting love interest with Lady Mary (as if she hasn’t suffered enough). I’ll leave it to you to discover how that all played out… I will say that initially I was rather taken by his character but quickly began to detest him as his personality played out. Another cultural link I must mention is, the link to the character of Noel Coward (a real playwright) which the writers cleverly used the character of Lady Mary as the so called inspiration for the creation of the play ‘Private Lives’.
While the film nods to the historic events of the era, I noted some historical inaccuracies, particularly surrounding the future of the Downton estate. Spoiler alert! A major decision is made about the control of the house, however in truth the senior members of the family would have never relinquished full control at such a young age. Nevertheless, it felt like a fulfilling conclusion as Mary had spent so many years working towards the maintenance of the estate.
Of course, it would be impossible to discuss this franchise without mentioning the incredible Maggie Smith. This movie was a touching tribute and dedication to her incredible character whom she played for many years. This movie could never quite live up to Violet Crawley’s razor-sharp wit and impeccable timing, which were central to Downton’s charm. This films includes several touching nods to her character, including references to her classic one-liners – my favourite being ‘what is a weekend?’.
The final moments (I’m ashamed to say) did bring a tear to my eyes while flashbacks were shown of the late characters of the dowager, Matthew and Sybil. These reminded me of the emotional highs and lows that mad the series so hooking (yes, I did once watch all of season three in a single day! Big mistake as it happens to be the most heartbreaking season too).
If this truly is the final edition of the beloved franchise, I will admit it was a poignant farewell, tying up the storylines and solidifying the legacy of the Crawley family. As a devoted fan, this movie had a delightful mix of laughter and tears, and was the perfect film to enter into the autumn season.
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