What’s it about?

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale resumes the story of the Crawley family and their loyal staff as they confront changing social norms, financial pressures, and personal scandals in the very modern 1930s. When Lady Mary’s high-society world is rocked by news of a public divorce, the Crawleys must find a way to safeguard their reputation and the estate’s future. Meanwhile, family members and staff alike wrestle with what it means to adapt to time passing, generations shifting, and a legacy that must somehow evolve. 

What’d we think?

Elizabeth Best says: There’s something wonderfully soothing about Downton Abbey—its dramas feel distant from our modern worries, wrapped up in aristocratic squabbles and inherited wealth that never really seems at risk. Watching these impeccably dressed Crawleys glide through candlelit halls is a delicious escape to another time and place. Visually, it’s as gorgeous as ever, from the sweeping estate shots to the lush costumes, and there’s a wholesome warmth to it all that makes you wish the series could go on forever. As a farewell, The Grand Finale is both satisfying and sentimental. It doesn’t try to reinvent itself or win over newcomers—after six seasons and two previous films, this was always meant for the devoted. It’s less a standalone story than a final, affectionate chapter, and that’s perfectly fine. For longtime fans, it’s a fond goodbye wrapped in exactly the kind of elegance and heart we came for.