After 15 years, six television series and two feature films, Downton Abbey has finally come to an end.
The movie hit cinemas on September 12 and fans can expect all the elegant drama and emotional goodbyes the franchise has become famous for.
It is dedicated to Dame Maggie Smith. Her character, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, died at the end of the last picture and now, sadly, she has followed suit.
There has been mixed reviews from critics, with some feeling the show was ‘comforting’ for fans, while other critics gave it a lower two star rating.
The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner was impressed by what he saw and gave it a four star rating.
He said: ‘It’s corny and formulaic, sometimes even preposterous, but two hours immersed in Downton is fundamentally the same as it’s always been, like luxuriating in a warm bath. And hurrah for that. I’ll rather miss it.’
After 15 years, six television series and two feature films, Downton Abbey has finally come to an end
The movie hit cinemas on September 12 and fans can expect all the elegant drama and emotional goodbyes the franchise has become famous for
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale has earned an 88% ‘fresh’ rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 59 reviews.
The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, ‘Soothing as a cup of tea while providing a satisfying amount of closure, The Grand Finale is a worthy sendoff for Downton Abbey.’
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale also earned a 98% ‘fresh’ score on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 100-plus verified user ratings.
Meanwhile, The Irish Times’ Tara Brady gave it a disappointing 2 star rating. She wrote: ‘Downton once possessed the charm to transform Allen Leech’s republican rebel into a lord of the manor. It dwindling appeal could now turn an ardent monarchist into a Kneecap fan.’
Hello! Magazine’s Nicky Morris gave it a glowing 4 star review and said it was a ‘beautiful farewell’ to the show.
‘The film is a brilliant and beautiful farewell to the well-loved saga and delivers everything Downton fans want and love: a blend of humour, drama and a tinge of sadness with stunning cinematography and heartwarming moments between beloved characters,’ Nicky wrote.
Empire’s James Dyer gave it three stars and penned: ‘Just like the previous film, this is a solid send-off for the whole Downton saga, with everyone — upstairs and downstairs — getting their moment to shine, leaving you with a tear in your eye and a warmth in your cockles.
‘But, enjoyable as it undoubtedly is, let’s hope this latest ending sticks. Anything else just wouldn’t be cricket.’
There has been mixed reviews from critics, with some feeling the show was ‘comforting’ for fans, while other critics gave it a lower two star rating
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale has earned an 88% ‘fresh’ rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 59 reviews
The Sun also opted for a three star review, explaining: ‘While it all feels a little dusty and overly sweetened, the sleek glamour of the outfits, the rich scenery, the top cast and that beloved theme tune sees it through.
‘One for the fans, who will find it as comforting as a big serving of Mum’s Sunday roast.’
Radio Times offered another three star review, sharing: ‘It would be unfair to claim this closing film concludes on a whimper. But neither is it quite the grand finale the title would have us believe. More like a pleasant stroll with characters you know and love.’
Set in the early 1930s, the Crawley family and their ever-loyal staff face shifting social norms, mounting financial pressures, and the unwelcome glare of scandal.
At the heart of the turmoil is Lady Mary’s sudden divorce, bringing both public disgrace and personal upheaval to the grand halls of Downton.
It will also see the return of stars Elizabeth McGovern, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, as well as new additions, Paul Giamatti, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola and Simon Russell Beale.
Hugh Bonneville also teased that one moment in the film left him ‘completely floored’ when he saw it for the first time.
He said: ‘I went to a screening with Michelle and there’s a bit, without spoiling it, towards the end that wasn’t in the script and it completely floored me.
‘I reached across and grabbed Michelle’s hand. So it was very cathartic and moving for all of us.’
The legendary star played the family matriarch Lady Violet Crawley (pictured) in all six series of the period drama and two films, with her character dying in the 2022’s A New Era
Appearing on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show with Scott Mills, he appeared alongside his castmates Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Joanne Froggart to discuss Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Meanwhile Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley, gushed over how the cast had ‘really become like a family’ as she admitted ‘so much joy has come out of the show’ for her in particular, after meeting her husband on set.
She and Michael C. Fox – who plays Andrew Parker – recently revealed they had married in secret after meeting while filming the fifth series of the ITV show and welcomed their first child in 2021.
Scott quipped to her: ‘This show has given you so much, you met your husband on set and you had a son together. Thanks Downton!’
Laura agreed, saying: ‘I know, it’s mad. It has been so much of our lives and so much joy has come out of this show for us, it’s amazing.’
It comes only a day after Michael, 36, first confirmed they had tied the knot while appearing on NBC special Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale.
The actor admitted: ‘I owe a lot to this show. I think so much of my life has been shaped around this show.’
Meanwhile Laura, who plays Lady Edith Crawley, gushed over how the cast had ‘really become like a family’ as she admitted ‘so much joy has come out of the show’ for her in particular, after meeting her husband on set (pictured together last week)
Co-star Lesley Nicol then asked the couple: ‘What if someone said you’re actually going to find your wife and have a child? Life-changing stuff.’
Michael gushed: ‘I know. It’s incredible.’
However, Michael and Laura – who started dating in 2014 – haven’t said anything further about their marriage.
The couple are typically very private and it only emerged in May 2022 that they had become parents to son Luca 14 months previously.
Although the couple keep their romance under wraps, Laura gushed over how lucky she felt to have met Michael on the set of Downton Abbey.
In 2019, she told Town and Country: ‘I’ve fallen in love and made wonderful friends – how lucky am I?’
She said: ‘I think we’re lucky, and support and understand each other. It’s tough, so to have someone who’s got your back…
‘It can be really beautiful when you’re working together and chatting about stuff that’s hard and they get it.’
Laura tries to ‘have a normal life and play extraordinary lives’ and she’s been able to live by that philosophy thanks to the example set by other members of the Downton cast.
She said: ‘I feel like I’ve learnt that from a lot of Downton actors. Everyone prioritises their family and their friends and their home life. That’s why, when they get to go and do incredible things, they’re in a good place to work hard and be disciplined and be grateful.’
Michael has also addressed their relationship in the past, saying they liked to keep their romance separate from their jobs on Downton.
He told the Sunday PostL ‘We’d go to work and we didn’t want it to be a thing in any way when we were working together. It was great, though, to go to work with your best pal.’
