I Rather Enjoyed Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, But One Thing Kept Pulling Me Out

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Overall, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale provided a fitting conclusion to a much-loved series when it was released in 2025. It retained all the delightful qualities, elegance, and familiar characters from the six seasons and previous films, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, one particular element of the movie repeatedly distracted me, despite my best efforts to ignore it.

It wasn’t how Robert Crawley was portrayed, or the drama surrounding Lady Mary, that felt off. The problem was the constant reminders of Violet Crawley’s (Dame Maggie Smith’s) death. While the film is a lovely way to honor both the actress and her iconic character, it mentioned her passing too frequently, which unfortunately disrupted the flow of the story.

The Movie Is A Fitting Tribute To Dame Maggie Smith

The third and final Downton Abbey movie picks up a couple of years after the events of Downton Abbey: A New Era and serves as a heartfelt, two-hour farewell to Dame Maggie Smith and her iconic character, the Dowager Countess, who passed away at the end of the previous film. Creator Julian Fellowes cleverly weaves in numerous ways to celebrate both the actress and the character, resulting in a touching and satisfying tribute.

As a huge Downton Abbey fan, I have to say, even though Violet Crawley is gone, you still feel her absence. Every scene, every interaction… it’s like a piece of the show is missing. Maggie Smith was so crucial to the series – she was Violet – so it’s totally understandable that her character’s presence, even when she’s not physically there, is so strong.

It’s Just That The Characters Mentioned The Dowager Countess’ Death Pretty Much Every Scene

The tributes to Dame Maggie Smith and her character, Violet Crawley, were sweet, but the show kept mentioning her too often. Almost every scene in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale featured characters talking about how Violet would have reacted to things, like Lady Mary’s divorce or Cora’s family issues. While Maggie Smith was a brilliant actress and Violet was a central figure in Downton Abbey for many years, it felt a bit repetitive.

The early references to Violet and her passing felt appropriate, and the scene at the end – where Lady Mary reflects on all the family members she’s lost – was particularly moving. That final sequence before the credits was surprisingly emotional, and I found myself trying not to cry several times.

Honestly, while I loved seeing the Crawley family’s story come to a close, a lot of what happened in the middle felt like it just pulled me out of the moment. It didn’t ruin the movie, and I definitely enjoyed the drama, but I did get a little frustrated a few times. It almost felt like they were reminding us about the Dowager Countess, instead of celebrating her – though trust me, nobody could forget her! I certainly didn’t!

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I don’t mean to criticize Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, especially its heartfelt tribute to Dame Maggie Smith and her wonderful character. I’m even thinking of rewatching it now that it’s available on Peacock. However, that particular part of the movie felt a little overdone and could have been more subtle.

Stream Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale on Peacock.

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2025-11-08 22:10