New designs for: Dowager Countess (two versions); Ladies Mary, Edith, and Sybil; The Carsons on their wedding day (set); Tom Branson; and WWI Matthew Crawley and Thomas Barrow.
i have never seen a single episode of the downton abbey tv show and i went to go see the movie with my best friend. and holy shit. it can stand alone, it’s beautiful, it’s sweet, it’s gay (i promise), and i sobbed. thanks for coming to my ted talk, im gonna be talking about this for while now.
Obviously SPOILERS!!!!!!! But I feel like people have seen it already.
Quick spoiler-free summary: it was worth going to see in theaters and I had fun. I also know if I ever became an actor, I would 9/10 times and would only ever want to do period films. Because that is the closest and safest way I could time travel, but without having to worry about…ya know…being a Jewish woman traveling through time. There is NO place in history safe for me. the 1/10 is on the off chance, I get cast as Bernie Rosenthal or Kitty Pryde.
But I digress. Overall It’s a solid movie, in which I could see even possible spinoffs, Like Tom and Lucy’s life is one. Or Edith, and being a Marquis and an editor. I could go on. Overall, I enjoyed it, even if I felt at times it was a bit choppy, and the ending felt a bit rushed and missing something. The reason, I think in part, is because it’s been so long since I’ve watched the previous film and I’m going through the series again now. I think they ultimately didn’t juggle things as well as they could have. But I understand why it ended up the way it did.
The film does feel like the end of one era and the start of another. And it feels like a complete part of the story. It feels like the end. But not in a bad way.
Now onto spoilers.
ALSO Side note: Michael C Fox who plays Andrew should be cast to play Alexander Pushkin if Hollywood or the UK ever decide to make a movie about him. With the right sideburns, he’s a dead ringer for Pushkin.
The film borrowed parts of the plot from Singin’ in the Rain. But I think they did their own spin on it and I appreciated it.
Thomas Barrow and character development. I would give anything to see a bit of the in-between movie time, where we can see Thomas being a good butler. And maybe it’s because I’m on season 2 again. But WOW the man learned to trust others, relax, and be a kind person. Speaking of spinoffs, this would be a fun one too of Thomas and his dashing, movie star beau. He really did deserve a bit of happiness. And I hope he got it.
We needed at least one comment of Mr. Bates being wowed at Anna’s outfit. I mean come on.
The movie did feel indeed like an end of an era, and the start of new beginnings. For a lot of people. It was the start of a new life for Tom, Thomas, and Mr. Mosely, primarily. But it was a lot of fun to watch. Mr. Mosely was really fun to watch, and he also deserved success. I’m glad they kept him around.
I would have loved at least one scene between Sybbie and Lucy. But I love that they established how important she is for their family and to Lucy. So that was great. And Sybbie is so grown up. And I love that. And then I remember she and George will be old enough to take part in WWII and I’m glad the show ended before that.
Mary. She and the Director man had good chemistry. But I’m glad that it didn’t become drama. I love the maturity. And I also love how much Edith and Mary have grown and become strong women and good sisters. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS REAL!
Cora saving that woman’s career by giving her an AMERICAN accent was hilarious. Loved it. IDK why we needed the side plot of Cora’s health scare though. That came out of nowhere…and didn’t add much of anything to the plot.
I wonder how Marigold is getting on?
Violet. Girl’s got game. That’s all I’m gonna say. And I hope I am as funny as that when I’m on my death bed, and hopefully surrounded by my children and grandchildren.
The whole thing with Robert not being a Crawley was kind of funny because as soon as I heard the thought, I went. Nope. No way. Didn’t happen.
But overall I had fun and I’m glad we got one more film. I think this, to me, felt like the real ending to the series.
IDK if Andrew being the Butler is something I can picture. But hey. I wish him luck. Carson will whip him into shape.
Daisy was less annoying in this and I think she’s also grown. So kudos to them.
‘Downton Abbey’ Recap: A Brawl Shakes Up Robert and Cora’s Marriage
In this episode of Downton Abbey, Robert finally fights for his marriage but possibly not in the way Cora would have hoped, Edith can’t figure out what to do with a problem like Marigold, Mary and Charles Blake stir up drama and we hopefully see the last of Sarah Bunting.
I’ve never been so happy to see the back of a character on Downton, and there have been a lot of real duds on this show. Sybil aside, Branson has truly terrible taste in women.
‘Downton Abbey’ Recap: An Explosive Dinner Party and More Police Questions
In this episode of Downton Abbey, Mary breaks up with Gillingham but he does not take it well, Violet tries to help her former flame, Thomas has another secret and the police are still hot on the trail of cheerful murderer Mr. Bates.
Robert yells at the dinner table after goading from Sarah Bunting, which, for an uptight Englishman, is the equivalent of setting the whole house on fire. “My god, emotions are so gross,” Mary says dryly and then continues sipping her claret.
‘Downton Abbey’ Recap: Are Mary and Gillingham Over?
In this episode of Downton Abbey, the women in Downton are finding their love lives ever more complicated.
A mysterious Russian from Violet’s past resurfaces, just as she’s trying to take the moral high ground with Mary. Meanwhile, it has taken Mary a whole week to realize Anthony Gillingham is the boring human equivalent of plain toast. While in London, Cora realizes there are people in the world who actually think she has a brain in her head. Imagine!
‘Downton Abbey’ Recap: Will Mary Spend the Night with Gillingham?
This week on Downton Abbey, Mary goes on a sex vacation with Gillingham, Carson and Mrs. Hughes flirt in the weirdest way possible, Edith continues creeping out local farmers and Baxter refuses to justify her thieving past. Also, everyone listens to the radio!
‘Downton Abbey’ Season 5 Premiere Recap: A Dangerous Fire Threatens the Abbey
Welcome back to the classy and soapy fun that is Downton Abbey.When we last left our above and below deck friends, Mary was fighting off suitors, Edith was finding a way to hide her illegitimate daughter, Rose was being an idiot and Mr. Bates was murdering rapists. All in a day’s work at the Abbey!
Late in the series, Leech explained to Cahill, Branson moves to Boston; after two episodes, he came back. “I found it difficult to understand why he would leave Boston,” where he could have “reignited his political views,” Leech said. But Fellowes convinced Leech that Branson’s ties to the aristocracy would have made him a “pariah,” so back he came, and in the movie, when King George V visits Downton, Branson bows to him. Leech had told Alastair Bruce, the show’s historian, and page to the Queen,“I don’t think Branson would bow.” Bruce disagreed. Leech settled on a peevish, head-scratching nod. In the movie, Branson also performs an act of monarchy-preserving heroism; when Leech told Cahill what it was, they laughed uproariously. Leech had told Fellowes, “Julian, I’m never going to be able to go home again! I’ll bring you, and you have to explain it at passport control.”
