“Downton Abbey” (2019) is the first of three movie sequels to the television series. It is a chance to see how the Crawleys and their servants are faring and is basically only slightly longer than an average ninth episode. Set roughly one year after the last episode in 1927, the Grantham Estate must prepare for a visit from the King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) of England. Will they rise to the occasion?
The biggest surprise is which characters get more screentime than others. It felt like a race between Tom Branson (Allen Leech), an Irish republican and zero blue blood member of the Grantham family. He gets an action-packed storyline as suspicions about his loyalties arise because of his nationality and politics, and he is the only character who gets a romantic storyline. The prior plot point felt redundant since this issue was tackled before he married into the family, so it was annoying. “Downton Abbey” is really bent on defining what an acceptable form of dissent looks like, and it is virtually indistinguishable from anyone else. The movie could be called “Touched by Tom” since he exists to make everyone’s life better.
It should not be a surprise that Maggie Smith would be pushed front and center as she fights to ensure the family’s financial future so her son, Robert (Hugh Bonneville), can get an inheritance from an estranged family member. It took awhile for the dynamic between Dowager Countess of Granthem Violet Crawley to adjust with Isobel Merton (Penelope Wilton), formerly Crawley, Matthew’s mom. Initially it felt more caustic than usual, but over the course of the movie, it adjusted to the usual warmth with an edge. Naturally, Violet gets the best lines such as “I never argue. I explain,” and “I’ll be fine until I’m not.” (Same.) Near the end of “Downton Abbey,” there is a poignant moment between Violet and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) as she passes the baton to her granddaughter to preserve the estate, but for a moment, it feels as if Smith appears to bless Dockery and the franchise to prepare them and the audience for the day when she would no longer be around. At the time of this review, Smith has died, and this scene was an effective farewell akin to Tony Todd’s final onscreen appearance in “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (2025): great performers resuming a longstanding role, aware of their own mortality and knowing that their performance will be part of their grand, laudable legacy.
Coming in third with a rushed, but welcome thread is Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier), who keeps his pride as Lady Mary pushes him out as butler for the visit so Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) can come out of retirement during the royal visit. Barrow maintains his dignity, actually makes a new friend with Richard Ellis (Max Brown), the king’s valet, who takes him to Yorkshire to enjoy his time off. It felt like justice when things started to fall apart at the estate once he peaced out. Barrow is wise to dip out when he did because the estate’s servants are at war with the royal retinue who take over the place like they own it. It is basically a battle to serve royalty, and despite being a workaholic, I’m too American for this idea. “Downton Abbey” has always been a work propaganda show where the line between personal and public is completely blurred, but the movie takes it to huge levels by combining it with pro monarchist sentiment. Only Daisy (Sophie McShera) grumbles. Since Anglophiles are the target audience, it should not be a problem. It is a feature, not a flaw.
Another unexpected plot twist is Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith seizing the most nudity crown from Leech who wore it during the series. One of her big problems is getting fitted for a dress, so she often appears in her underwear or her robe on. It is not risqué based on contemporary standards, but for this franchise, it is scandalous. Lady Edith holds a greater rank than her mother, so her storyline is inextricably tied to her husband, Bertie Hexham (Harry Hadden Paton) whereas the other married characters are not as chained to their partners. It was the first time that Lady Mary’s past complaints about Edith being whiny actually felt valid because her position means that she is not in control of her life because of the demands of a being important. Smallest violin.
Lady Mary is more of a supporting character, which is a huge contrast to her prominent role in the series. “Downton Abbey” does a remixed version of Mary trying to save the pigs with other members of the family joining in help with the set up for the royal visit. The impact is less shocking. When she contemplates revamping the estate into an old people’s home, it may remind some of “The Thursday Murder Club” (2025).
The new characters mostly were connected to the King and Queen. “Downton Abbey” continues the fantasy of aristocrats who appreciate, are understanding and grateful to those who serve them. It is basically preserving class without any of the visible drawbacks of such a system. It is a fiction about preserving the old and somehow rendering it into a utopia. It is the Guy Ritchie ethos without the violence and profanity. The Queen’s lady in waiting, Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton, who is married to Carter in real life), is the one who is planning to not award her estate to Robert, but to Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton), Tom’s prospective love interest, whose backstory is interesting, but is otherwise as memorable as a stranger on the street. I incorrectly guessed the reason for Maud’s decision, and it felt redundant, a been there, done that twist that holds zero tension. Because life is not fair, a handsome plumber, Tony Sellick (James Cartwright), interacts with Daisy, but she cannot get a good storyline to save her life, and Sellick will never be seen again. Grand opening, grand closing, damn shame.
If you are a woman, do not take your love advice from “Downton Abbey.” Daisy is engaged to Andy (Michael Fox, not to be confused with the middle J initial), who apparently is jealous and acts on it, which improves his standing in Daisy’s eyes. Noooooo. Similarly, Princess Mary (Kate Phillips) has a stormy marriage with Lord Lascelles (Andrew Havill), but after one second with Tom, she is determined to make it work for the Crown. Princess Diana would not approve. Ugh. The establishment is going to establishment. All it takes to solve a marriage is for a wife to sternly set down the ground rules, and poof, everything is solved. Follow this movie for more helpful tips. The welcome exception is Miss Baxter (Raquel Cassidy), who finally gets the relationship ball started with Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle), who is unfortunately forced to revert to being the comedic relief after finally getting a hard-earned substantial amount of respect in the final seasons.
Visually “Downton Abbey” felt darker in terms of lighting than the series probably to add realism when translating it for the large screen. The production values are higher, especially in terms of more locations and the costumes. It is hilarious that the grand house is called “a minor provincial house.” Only this series could frame the Grantham Estate as an underdog considering in the imaginations of their fans, they are grander than the royal family. Fans will just be happy to get another dose regardless of how it compares to other movies. As another chapter, it does the job even if it feels as if they struggled to fill a little over two hours without running out of material.
