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?

Oh maybe not then. I thought she was early 50s for some reason.

I enjoyed it. Total comfort viewing. I didn’t expect much of a plot though, to be fair!

I was glad when the older Bates child showed up at the fair as I was worried they'd forgotten about him! Like who looked after him when they were in London?! Ditto Edith's other kid who got a random mention at the end and Tom's actual wife. I'm guessing her actress was double booked! Ditto Matthew
Goode hence him becoming a villain.

I enjoyed it though even though the stakes were so bloody low. I think the batshitness is kind of part of the fun.

At times I felt like I was watching a French and Saunders spoof.

Yeah but it's been like that since season one 😂😂

Me too. I really enjoy looking at the costumes and the interiors also. It all provides such a wonderful escape.

I thought it was a bit dull but did enjoy being back in the Abbey and seeing everyone again. Another potentially iffy continuity question - didn't Harold mention showing off the della Francesca to his dodgy friend? I thought it had been sold to fund ... something or other after the Cora / Richard E Grant storyline?

Yes it had! I noticed that. They only had one I’m sure

Ooh good spot!

I always think films need to consult with the fans before they accidentally cock up on stuff like that.

I also noticed the mistake about the Della Francesco.

I really wanted to love the film but I found it dull and disappointing.
The entire storyline was focused on Mary being shamefully divorced in 1930. Yet the previous film was set only two years previous in 1928 when they were happily married. In two years he is supposed to have gone off Mary, met someone else and had strong enough feelings not only to want to leave but to get a divorce processed. As a main storyline that’s dismal and unrealistic. It would have been more likely that they would just agree to live separately.
Also a big deal was made previously of Carson not being able to continue working but there he was, back as head butler.
Mosely seemed to have already given up his dream career of teaching to become a miserable writer.
Daisy was supposed to have moved to run the farm but was back in the kitchen.
And such a huge deal was made of Robert and Cora moving out, when they could have sold the Dowager House and used the money. Also meaning Mary and the two kids were left living alone in that giant house!
I get it was supposed to be wrapping up into an ending but I feel they could have done better.

Why didn’t they decide to move into the dower house to start with ! Looking at flats seemed odd. Was it so he could deliver the like ‘layered families’ ?!

They need to have a London property for when they go "up to London" (surely it's down as they are in Yorkshire but that's the phrase they always use 😂).

A lot older. Sybbie looked at least 14, George 12/13.

Exactly this, but I saw the same confusion in an IMDB review. They were selling Grantham house which is their London house and downsizing to a flat to still have a base in the city. Selling the Dower House was never a consideration.

And yes as someone from Yorkshire ‘up to London’ has bugged me throughout! It’s down!!

It’s “up” to London because London is the capital. Not geographical.

Twas a bit shit. But it's not like they could do anything wild of leave on a cliffhanger.

They did look older but I went by the Wiki pages of the programme.
Sybbie born 1920, George 1921.

I know but it's one of those things.
Up North.
Down South.
It's like when people do the walk from John O'Grotes to Lands End it's always in that direction because it's "down hill" 😂😂

The children did look older but they are all played by the same actors as when they started, so they haven’t falsely aged. It must just be the fashion/hair.

Oh I meant to add that I was also disappointed that Tom Branson was in the film with Sybie but no appearance by his wife nor any mention of them having another child.

He did mention her - she was back at home.
I can't remember if there was anything about other children. If she'd recently had a baby then her not being there made sense.
(and an easy way of dealing with the actress obviously not being available)

It would have been nice to find out whatever happened to Cousin Rose.
Hopefully living happily ever after.

I'm sure Tuppence Middleton was on stage at the time of filming.

The boys who play George are now 15! No wonder they seemed tall for 9.