Downton Abbey 3rd Movie: The Grand Finale

[HeavensWhatASnappyCharriot]

Thoughts please…
I’m a huge Downton fan and I’ve just watched the final film. I’m not entirely sure how I feel as I really built it up in my head and the film was so… different. It did feel a bit warm and fuzzy in places but also quite disappointing. What did you think?

I was responding to your comment that you didn't know who looked after him while his parents were working

Yes I thought it was weird that Mary was left in the house on her own. I don’t know if it was meant that way, but it just looked like her life would be incredibly lonely and a bit sad. She also lost her constant ladies maid - replaced by that Mary Poppins type woman.

I liked seeing Barrow happy. I enjoyed the bit where Noel Coward asked if he was happy when working at Downton and his beaming smile when he said he was happier now.

That's what I meant.
He didn't seem to b looked after by the Nanny with the other children.
He's presumably at school in the daytime but where who looks after him in the evening?

Thought it started off absolutely rubbish, none of the characters were their normal selves. It did improve though, not sure I was worth the tears my neighbours were shedding though.

I’ve booked to see it next week using the Sky VIP Vue cinema codes.Looking forward to it.

He would be in the nursery. If he not showing as being there then maybe one of the Bates’ is at home with him. But if they are both at their servant jobs, then maybe there is a continuity problem that the makers of DA3 have forgotten about.

I thought Mary took over in the early series. It was do repetitive. Servants would still not have been treated as equals even in the 30’s.

I just googled the children's ages.
Sybbie is meant to be 10 and George 9.
But they both looked older though 🤔

I enjoyed it, good nostalgia fest. Thinking about it I agree the children’s ages must be a bit off - in 1930 it’s 18 years since the story started, so Sybbie probably would be about 16, but George was born after the war so would only be a max of around 10 I think, and the others all younger. In terms of actual time passed, it’s 13 years since that fateful Christmas Day episode, so if they wanted to keep everyone’s ageing in line that might explain it, since none of the children had a storyline. Nothing much happened but it was like a couple of episodes of the tv show - and the loss of the money being immediately forgotten was typical Downton!

There’s a great thread posted years ago about how ridiculous the storylines i Downton Abbey are and one that kept popping up was the friendliness with the staff. Anna is Mary’s best friend, it’s so weird! And Daisy sneaking into Lady Mary’s room to borrow her hairdryer - like I said in a PP you just can’t take Downton seriously it’s such a silly show

I live near Harewood House and for a few days last year they closed it to the public (I have an annual pass and had planned to visit on the day it was closed) because they were filming Downton. But it never made it into the end film, what a shame

@RaspberryRipple2 Google tells me Sybbie was born 1920, George 21 and Marigold in 22 or 23.
So ages 10, 9 and 8/7 in the new film.
Caroline - it's vague when she was born.

It was a bit meh.
but finished it off even though it was a bit silly.
I did have a tear in my eye at the end.

I do find it odd that divorce was such a scandal - especially saying it might offend some random member of the royal family when the whole reason the royals are Church of England is because their old relative invented the CofE in order to get a divorce.
The rich families of that era were the celebrity gossip that we (society) still seem to love today so the divorce will have been gossip - but I really wonder if many people did actually care that much if someone got divorced.

The divorce issue was also explored in the Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes other offering.

I had been looking forward to this since it was announced
I’m a total die hard fan having seen the series and films several times and loved them all.
They are my feel good Space but….,
I was disappointed
there were a few laughs but I found it all a bit of a downer…
SPOILERS
Harold lost his money
Mary got divorced (which sort of ruined the feel good , romantic story of Henry and Mary getting together )
They divorced because he was travelling/ racing aboard - something he’d gone off , when his friend died.
Also because he got fed up of being ‘the husband’ despite saying that wouldn’t bother him as he and Tom made a big thing of starting their car business - which they have now sold.
So what is Tom doing for money ?
Being the ‘husband ‘ ti his rich wife Lucy?
The only shining light was Edith.
She’s finally come into own, and speech she gave to Gus was the only real high light.
Sad ti think of her rattling around that great big house with just the kids.
I did feel very emotional at the end when she saw Matthew as a memory- one of my favourite episode was the Christmas Proposal….

I only started watching it 6 months ago but have burned through all the series and the previous two films. Saw the Grand Finale today and I loved it, but I don’t think any of the films have been as good as the series.

I’m pleased that Thomas finally found happiness, and would love a Gus & Thomas spin off. Set in 1930s Hollywood, glitz and glamour and scandal of course.

I did feel a bit sad for Mary left rattling around that house with just the children and Nannies. None of the key staff live in anymore do they? Just some unnamed kitchen and housemaids I suppose.

I thought it would have made more sense for Anna to stay with Mary and Mrs Moseley to go with Cora. But then I suppose it would in reality make sense for Mr & Mrs Bates to stay working together, and he had to go with Lord Grantham.

A friend is still on series 3 and I’ll watch it again with her when she gets there. In fact I’m sure I’ll watch all of it again in time, but for now I’ve got series 3 of the Gilded Age lined up!

Cough. Mary having another ONS, I’m sure the first one counts even though the man didn’t live to tell the tale.

I loved every minute of it, I’m giving it a ten out of ten.

I enjoyed the "was he Turkish" comment.

Has anyone watched the documentary on ITVX yet? The composer John Lunn played "Such good luck" on the piano and I proper cried.

I've just watched the documentary. It's so lovely how they are all such good friends!

Made me laugh when she said she didn’t sleep with strangers. And Edith’s Turkish comment.

The whole Henry story line doesn’t add up. But I presume they weren’t expecting the actor to quit and she couldn’t be a widow twice.

Leslie and Phyllis made me emotional and when the credits are rolling Jim gives Phyllis the most wonderful kiss on her head. They all clearly absolutely adore each other.

Have been watching soo many reels from the press tour and Hugh always gets so emotional and it bloody gets me! 🤣

I watched it yesterday on a massive screen and really enjoyed it for what it was which was fluffy nonsense . It was so much better than the last film which was dire. The costumes were incredible and LOVED Cole Porter singing to Mary ❤️