The Grand Finale' Is Fan Service Done Right Actorsvaultpro

It’s certainly not the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It doesn’t take viewers to the far-flung worlds of Middle-earth, Tatooine, Pandora, Westeros, or Arrakis. There are no genetically modified dinosaurs, nor any sentient toys or yellow minions. Frankly, it isn’t made for the coveted demographics of kids or males ages 18 to 45. There’s little to no sex, violence, or offensive language. In fact, the plot of its latest installment revolves almost entirely around minor disagreements that arise in the planning of a county farm show. Yet it’s arguably one of the most successful franchises in film and TV history, with a fan base that has remained loyal and delighted until the very end.

Downton Abbey — the prim and proper costume drama about the early 20th-century British aristocracy, created by real-life Baron Julian Fellowes — has managed not just to survive but to thrive in a pop culture environment that’s otherwise overwhelmed by excess and extremity. The only excess in the world of Downton is the relatively little generational wealth its lords and ladies are holding onto, which does, to be fair, afford them some pretty spectacular dresses (and, famously, one pair of pants).

Somehow, Fellowes has been able to satisfy critics and audiences, navigate the giant leap from the small screen to the big screen, and avoid the many pitfalls that have plagued other creators, all while keeping his intellectual property profitable. If only Lord Grantham managed the estate so well. Here’s how the franchise and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale stayed true to itself and its fans, while so many other franchises have lost their way.

‘Downton Abbey’ Catered to an Underserved Audience

ITV

Downton Abbey opened its grand doors to viewers in the UK in 2010, and aired the following year in the US as part of PBS’s Masterpiece Classic series. It was a hit across the pond from the start, and steadily gained fans in the US. By the time its pivotal third season concluded, Downton was a phenomenon. The show ran for a total of 52 episodes over six seasons, including five Christmas specials. It then transitioned from TV to movies with three feature-length films, the last of which premiered in theaters on September 13.

Each season and each film received critical and audience praise (its Rotten Tomatoes scores range from 84 to 100%). And although we don’t know what the final numbers will reveal about Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the franchise has generated approximately $300 million at the box office, in addition to $300 million in streaming revenue.

Much like Robert’s marriage to Cora, Downton Abbey was a restrained piece of historical fiction wedded to a soap opera. For every subplot about arcane legal contracts and pig farming, there were twists having to do with mistaken identities, medical miracles, and murder mysteries. The story follows the Crawley family and their live-in staff, and begins in 1912 with the sinking of the Titanic, which serves as the inciting incident. From there, the series wades into World War I, the Spanish Flu outbreak, the fight for women’s suffrage, Irish political resistance, the Teapot Dome Scandal, and the rise of German fascism.

Most of those historical markers, however, happen in the background as Robert, Cora, Mary, Edith, Sybil, and Violet dress, dine, and dance. Even fans who would disagree with the show’s small-c conservative politics still enjoyed escaping into its rarified world of evening gloves and polished silver candlesticks. That’s entirely due to Fellowes’ deft worldbuilding and character development. Downton isn’t sci-fi or fantasy, but it is as richly detailed and particular, and Fellowes — who wrote every episode — was able to immerse viewers in its rules and customs in no time. The show started with an unusually large cast of regular characters and only expanded its social circle as the years went on. From the Dowager to Daisy, Fellowes made each character human enough to make audiences care.

Perhaps the key to Downton‘s persistence is Fellowes’ ability to weather storms. When two actors wanted to exit the series to pursue film careers, Fellowes had to write off two fan-favorite characters. When viewers expressed discomfort with a subplot involving an assault, Fellowes didn’t abandon it, but resolved it and avoided that tone going forward. Downton never really jumped the shark. Fans were generally happy with the series finale (which is no small feat), but the conclusion of the sixth season was open-ended enough to allow for the three films that followed… which brings us to Downton‘s actual final bow.

‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ Gives Fans What They Want Without Patronizing Them

The cast of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

While Downton Abbey has given its characters (and its viewers) multiple gratifying endings, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is the end of the franchise as we know it (though audiences who’ve kept up with Fellowes’ work on The Gilded Age are hoping for a crossover). Interestingly, the third film is the least grand of the trilogy. 2019’s Downton Abbey sees the Crawleys hosting the royal family. 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era is a fitting send-off to Dame Maggie Smith, revolving around Violet’s mysterious past and a trip to France. Those films are still in keeping with Downton‘s purview, but they’re slightly sillier and more dramatic. Of the three, The Grand Finale most closely matches the scope and feel of the original series.

Fellowes held back from imposing a gimmicky A-plot onto The Grand Finale. Instead, he turned his attention back to what Downton did best. Lady Mary has always been the real star of the show. She’s a complicated and sometimes unlikable protagonist, and Fellowes gives her the resolution she deserves. The third film begins as news of her divorce breaks, tarnishing her and her family’s reputation. Cora, Edith, and Isobel conspire to rehabilitate it by way of hosting a dinner party and having Mary present an award at the fair.

When Cora’s brother brings an American financier with him to Downton, it looks like Mary may have found a new love interest. But Fellowes knows as well as fans, Mary’s not a romantic at heart. The finale is ultimately about Robert finally handing over power to Mary, which has been the issue driving Downton since its premiere episode.

Similarly, Fellowes hands power from one generation of dutiful servants to another. Carson reluctantly retires so Andy can be promoted to butler. Mrs. Patmore relinquishes her kitchen to Daisy. Relationships have progressed, as have politics and the world around them, but only to a certain extent. Nothing monumental happens, yet Fellowes provides every character with some fitting business (Molesley especially), and he leaves them all in a place that suggests how their stories might continue.

The show neatly wraps up what it has to say about its real topic of interest, the waning aristocracy, but it isn’t heavy-handed otherwise. It would’ve been fan service in the worst way had Fellowes crammed in a last-minute and unearned wedding, birth, death, or other plot twists. Thankfully, he respected his characters and his audience more than that. Those big franchises could learn a lesson from how things are done at Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is in theaters now.