Warning: This post contains spoilers for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale!Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is here, and it’s time to say goodbye to the Crawley family. The latest installment in the long-running period franchise has been marketed as its last, and the ending certainly cements the notion that this is really the end of the line. Virtually every character finds a happy ending.
Much of The Grand Finale revolves around Lady Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) divorce and Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) financial woes, though there’s plenty going on downstairs as well. For example, Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) and Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) both retire – for good this time, in the case of the latter – leaving Downton’s kitchen and household in the hands of Daisy (Sophie McShera) and Andy (Michael Fox).
Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Carson aren’t the only ones leaving the Abbey behind. The overarching throughline of the film is the household’s uncertain future, with Robert (Hugh Bonneville) waffling over whether to officially pᴀss the reins over to Mary. In the end, though, he makes a big decision, one that begins a brand-new era for the family.
What Happens To Downton Abbey And Its Inhabitants?
Mary’s divorce put her social standing at risk, but the Noël Coward-attended dinner party and the county fair, where much of the community came to her support, restored her status considerably. With that settled, Robert finally admits it is time to move forward – in more ways than one.
The death of Violet (Maggie Smith) at the end of Downton Abbey: A New Era means the Dower House has been lacking an occupant. In a rather symbolic gesture, Robert takes his mother’s place and agrees to move into the Dower House with Cora, leaving Mary as the true mistress of the Abbey.
This is something the franchise has been gearing up to for some time, particularly through the previous movies. As Violet herself once said, Mary is the future of Downton, and Robert’s decision to leave his home and ᴀssume the role previously inhabited by his mother – essentially moving into retirement and only visiting the Abbey – makes this long-standing sentiment a reality.
Robert and Cora’s departure is a bittersweet occasion, one that sees all the past and present members of the household gather to see them off. It’s also something of a goodbye for Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and Bates (Brendan Coyle), as they’re also moving to the Dower House. Bates gets to continue his employment with Robert, while Anna is stepping up as Cora’s lady’s maid to stay with her husband.
With Cora and Robert moving out, and Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Tom (Allen Leech) living elsewhere with their spouses, Mary is the last Crawley at the Abbey, along with her two children. After a sweet goodbye with Edith – the two sisters finally on good terms after years of troubles – Mary stands alone in the great hall under the shadow of Violet’s portrait. And that’s when the real waterworks begin.
Breaking Down Mary’s Nostalgic Final Scene
What first seems like a rather sad sight morphs into a beautiful look into the past as Mary recalls all those who left Downton in far less pleasant ways. First, she thinks of her late husband Matthew (Dan Stevens), with the movie itself flashing back to the private moments they shared in that very hall.
Then the flashback evolves to show one of the many parties the Crawleys have thrown over the years, thus allowing the late Smith to appear onscreen again as Violet. Those who watched the original show will remember these scenes fondly, as they offered a different side of the old-fashioned, haughty Dowager Countess.
Finally, through the swirling crowd, the last figure is shown. Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay), the youngest Crawley daughter who died in season 3, appears at the edge of the room, just as vibrant and beautiful as she was in life.
Downton Abbey had more than a few characters die during its run, but Matthew, Sybil, and Violet are by far the most prominent. This ending sequence gives both Mary and viewers the chance to look back on the history of the franchise and remember the characters who helped build it up. It’s an especially poignant moment due to Smith’s pᴀssing in late 2024; The Grand Finale ends with a tribute to her specifically.
Though the movie largely closes out with the flashback sequence, the credits feature glimpses of several key couples, such as Carson and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan), and Thomas (Robert James-Collier) and Guy Dexter (Dominic West). It concludes with Mary curled up with her children, highlighting both the peace everyone has found and the notion that their lives will continue on, even if we aren’t there to witness it.
The True Meaning Of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
The ultimate ending of Downton Abbey as a franchise isn’t that dissimilar from its ending as a television show. Many characters find new beginnings, while others continue on as they are, perfectly content. The only difference here is that this has a stronger impression of it truly being the end.
Though it covered a world war, more than one murder trial, and numerous scandals, Downton Abbey was always, at its core, a story of two families: the upstairs Crawleys and the downstairs staff. Viewers tuned in season after season to see what would happen to them, and they’ve stuck around simply because any moment spent together is a joy.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale seeks to offer more of the same – pleasant, low-stakes drama and heartwarming interpersonal relationships – while tying it all up in a neat bow. By ending the franchise in this way, with the estate now firmly in Mary’s hands and several members of the staff moving to new positions (or retirement), the film reaffirms this is a universe that lives on.
Much like us today, the characters of Downton Abbey live and grow. They encounter tragedy and success, and their livelihoods are constantly evolving. Saying goodbye to this ensemble does feel like saying goodbye to friends, for those who have been there every step of the way, and the closing moments of The Grand Finale pay tribute to all of that in the sweetest way possible.
