The final chapter in the Downton Abbey franchise once again finds its ensemble cast facing a variety of dramatic challenges. One character is enduring a scandalous divorce. Two men are in a secret relationship. There’s a bit of drinking. But the story overall continues to emphasize perseverance and enduring relationships.
In 1912, the world faced a tragedy with the sinking of the Titanic. The Crawley family, headed by Robert, the Earl of Grantham, was particularly devastated by this event. Robert’s heir (and the fiancé of his eldest daughter, Mary) had gone down with the ship, leaving the future of Downton Abbey, their family estate, in question.
Well, the Crawleys managed to weather that storm, along with many others. For two decades, together with their household staff, the residents of Downton Abbey have faced scandals, financial ruin and even murder accusations. They’ve lost loved ones but also welcomed new members into their family. Yet through perseverance of character, adoption of new technologies, family loyalty, friendship and a willingness to embrace the future, Downton still stands.
But now that future is changing once again.
Lady Mary Talbot has just finalized her divorce. Robert was already struggling with the decision to pass Downton Abbey into Mary’s care, but this latest scandal has made Mary an outcast in polite society. And frankly, Robert’s just not sure she’s up to the task of managing an earldom and a highly publicized divorce.
But Robert isn’t the only one who’s unwilling to step down.
Mr. Carson, the faithful butler, and Mrs. Patmore, the dutiful cook, are both retiring. Their replacements, Andy and Daisy Parker, are eager to take on their new roles. But Mr. Carson and Mrs. Patmore are doubtful that the young couple is up to the task—especially with everything happening to Lady Mary.
Meanwhile, Mary’s sister (Edith) and mother (Cora) are determined to restore Mary’s good name—as are Mary and Cora’s loyal maids, Anna and Baxter. But Anna is pregnant with her second child, limiting her capacity to help Mary through this next stage of life. Edith is preparing to return to her own home in the north of England. And Cora has her own troubles to navigate with her brother, Harold.
Harold has just informed Cora that he lost their inheritance in the stock market crash of 1929. A financial expert, Gus Sambrook, has managed to help Harold recoup some of those losses, but he needs more capital to restore their fortune.
Unfortunately, the Crawleys don’t have any money to give. They used what little money Cora had in her possession to fund some repairs and improvements to their estate and the surrounding county, and doing that pushed them into debt.
Will Mary succumb to social ruin? Will Downton Abbey become a ruin? Or will the 1930s provide the Crawleys with yet another opportunity to embrace the ever-changing world?
Change is a natural part of life. Sometimes we choose change, such as accepting a new job or getting married. Other times, change is thrust upon us, whether we like it or not. Paradoxically, in both cases, there can be a period of grief that follows. We might mourn the things, the people we left behind, or we might even feel left behind ourselves as other people move on with their lives. And that seems to be the theme of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.
Robert, Cora, Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Carson are each feeling a bit left behind as they make way for the next generation at Downton. They’re anxious about the next stage of life and what it may (or may not) hold for them. Mary is similarly fearful, worried that she may not be able to face the challenges ahead—and, admittedly, perhaps grieving her divorce, too.
The film also deals with more traditional grief: Robert and Cora each recently lost their mothers. We hear references to Matthew (Mary’s first husband, who died in a car crash) and Sybil (the Crawley’s youngest daughter, who succumbed to eclampsia shortly after giving birth).
But, as always at Downton, the Crawleys and their household staff are there to support one another. Each maid, cook, footman and butler is loyal to the family they serve. And that’s partially because the Crawleys take their social responsibilities seriously. They treat their staff with fairness and kindness, developing true friendships. And they provide for the people living in their county, often making sacrifices for the good of everyone.
The Crawleys have also grown with regard to how they treat each other. Once upon a time, Edith would have used Mary’s divorce to embarrass and torture her sister even further. Instead, she embraces her sister, offering love and support through a clearly difficult time. Similarly, Cora once would have ridiculed and berated her brother for losing their money. Now, though she’s still upset, she acts with sympathy and understanding.
All around, we see how the family and staff have come to love and support one another.
We hear several earnest exclamations of “Thank God!” and “Thank heavens!”
Thomas Barrow, a former footman and butler at Downton, is gay. He’s in a relationship with his new employer, film star Guy Dexter. We see the pair exchange affectionate touches, such as rubbing each other’s backs. But they otherwise keep their relationship hidden, since homosexual acts are considered criminal at this point in British history. Some of their friends are aware and keep their secret. However, dialogue pokes fun at Robert and Cora, who are ignorant.
Mary, as mentioned, is recently divorced. Some people shrug this off, not seeing the big deal. Others treat it as scandalous. She’s even asked to leave a party that a princess is attending, since Mary’s mere presence would allegedly “compromise” the young royal. Both reactions are a bit extreme, but Mary finds a way to bear her disgrace, ironically, with grace.
Mary is the one who filed for divorce, but it doesn’t seem to have been her fault. Mr. Carson describes Mary’s husband, Henry, as a “bully and feckless playboy.” Indeed, we learn Henry traveled for work a lot (neglecting Mary) and that he had an affair with another woman.
We’re told that Henry hired someone to pretend to be his mistress for the court proceedings so as not to embarrass his real mistress. A reference is made to the multiple divorces of Henry VIII.
Mary and Gus Sambrook kiss. It’s implied that they then have sex after a night of heavy drinking, which we don’t see onscreen. The next morning, Mary is ashamed, covering herself with sheets and urging Gus to leave before anyone finds out. Gus tries to kiss and cuddle Mary, but she’s having none of it, so he leaves. Later, a reference is made to another unwed dalliance that Mary had when she was young.
Mrs. Patmore, who is technically a newlywed, tells Mrs. Hughes that she hasn’t had sex with her new husband yet. Mrs. Hughes (who is married herself) then tells her not to be nervous, since sex is “terrific fun.” A few married couples kiss.
Several actresses lounge in lingerie backstage. When Robert sees them, he’s clearly uncomfortable and respectfully averts his eyes (as much as he can since they’re standing in his path), and the women laugh at him after he passes by. Elsewhere, Edith undresses to her bra and underwear while changing for bed. Women frequently wear formfitting, backless evening gowns.
We hear that some men took their own lives after the stock market crash.
God’s name is misused a handful of times. We also hear “h—” and the British profanity “bloody.”
Mary and Gus drink heavily in one scene (eventually going to bed together). Anna tries to dissuade Mary from this decision, but she’s unsuccessful, so she cheekily puts some aspirin on Mary’s breakfast tray the next morning.
People drink alcohol at meals and special events. Several characters smoke cigarettes. Neon lights advertise alcohol in a busy street.
Folks are quite rude to Mary after her divorce, treating her as a social pariah. And Mary is deeply hurt by the rejection she receives from a few people she had considered friends. Reporters ask impertinent questions about her divorce. And photographers swarm her as she leaves a party.
Mr. Molesly, Miss Baxter’s husband, is a screenwriter who has become quite arrogant about the film industry after some minor success. However, it becomes clear that he’s insecure, and he even grovels to Guy Dexter, hoping the actor will introduce him to a popular director. And, quite humorously, Molesly is knocked down a few pegs.
Isobel, the mother of Mary’s late husband, Matthew, purposely baits the head of a committee; she’s trying to get the man to let go of his elitist attitude.
People gamble. Some politely worded insults are exchanged.
[Spoiler Warning] It turns out that Gus Sambrook is a con artist. He manipulated Harold into giving him control of his and Cora’s finances and then stole the money.
Audiences were first introduced to the residents of Downton Abbey way back in 2010. For six seasons of television, fans of this PBS series were entranced by the characters of Downton Abbey—both the posh members of the prominent Crawley family and their working-class household staff. And two movies followed that successful run, Downton Abbey and Downton Abbey: A New Era.
The Grand Finale marks the final chapter in this decades-long saga. But as Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes) states in a recap of the series, “Through wars, pandemics and bankruptcies, as well as small celebrations to grand pageantries, the house still stands proudly.”
Downton Abbey isn’t perfect. It never was. Even The Grand Finale has some tricky waters for discerning families to navigate.
Depending on which character you ask, Mary’s divorce is either a complete scandal or something to be shrugged off. Alcohol is the catalyst for a one-night stand between two characters. Thomas Barrow, a main character throughout the series who makes a smaller reappearance here, is gay. And the residents of Downton are still fighting the battle against elitism in a society that is resistant to change.
Like I said, it’s not perfect. But The Grand Finale—as much as any other entry to this franchise—reminds us that we should treat people with respect and dignity, regardless of what walk of life they come from. As Anna puts it, “We all depend on each other, the way people should.”
And in today’s entertainment landscape, that’s pretty nice to hear.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
