Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale



Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:



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Movie
I feel somewhat like an outsider looking in on this situation. I’ve never been a massive fan of the TV show Downton Abbey, yet I have watched most of the series at one time or another over the last 15 years thanks to my wife’s addiction to it. I’ve caught a good number of episodes and have kept up with the Crawleys during their early 1900s ventures, but it never quite resonated with me as I had hoped it would. I can not deny the absolutely rabid fan base that has eagerly watched all 6 seasons of the hit PBS show, and the shockingly “low” PG rating that accompanies it. Usually, highly rated shows tend to lean more towards the “mature” end of the rating spectrum these days, but it’s always been a refreshing thing to see a PG-rated show garner this much fan and critical acclaim. But all things considered, I’ve kept up enough to enjoy the series mildly and have watched both feature films when they came out in 2019 and 2022 (again, thanks to my wife wanting a watching buddy), so when I saw this come across my desk, I realized just how final things were as the 15 year old series now gets one final send off.

Downton is adapting and changing to new times, as the 1930s are upon us, with a new generation rising up. For the very first time in their entire run, the show is going on without their matriarch, Countess Violet Crawley (the late Maggie Smith), after saying goodbye to her in the last film. Robert wants to hand over that role to his daughter, Mary, though Mary is struggling to deal with her life as a single woman after her divorce (which is kind of a social issue, considering how proper English life dealt with divorce in those days). Branson is slowly settling down into a life of maturity after a life of rebelliousness, and even Edith is having to make changes as her role morphs into a “lady”. Mrs. Patmore looks to retire soon, leaving Daisy to take her place, while Mr. Carson has to come to grips with losing all of the duty and purpose that his life has been given at Downton Abbey.

I won’t go into too much detail over the day-to-day shifts that happen, but needless to say, Downton Abbey is going through changes as they hand the baton off to a new generation who are having to take over from their predecessors. And like it or not, it is a change for the audience as well. Those who grew up watching the show evolve from 2010-2015 are now watching as a whole new generation of people are being introduced to the show. We “millennials” who watched the series during our 20s and early 30s are now watching as Gen Z gets to experience the series for the first time, and this finale really feels like a handoff. A changing of the guard, so to speak. The series is ending, and those fans who watched it rabidly are having to come to grips with the fact that time is moving on, and it’s played out on screen in a way that makes one wistfully long for the past, but still understand that nothing lasts forever.

6 seasons (which was cut off at the 6th season, not because studio heads wanted to, but series creator/writer Julian Fellowes felt that the show had reached its end and wanted to end the series before it started to go downhill), 3 movies, and 12 years in the life of the great hall, and it’s hard to say goodbye. Even I, who was never a massive fan of the show, feel kind of like we’re saying goodbye to an old friend. One who has been with us so long that we honestly didn’t feel like they were truly gone. But seeing the term “The Grand Finale” brings things to a close in a way that very similarly parallels the baton handing of the characters themselves.




Rating:

Rated PG for suggestive material, smoking, and some thematic elements.





Video:

IMDB doesn’t give us a whole lot of information to work with, but I’m guessing we’re looking at 4K digital intermediate shot on digital cameras as it looks eerily similar to the previous film, which WAS shot that way. That being said, the end result is what really matters, and this is a top-notch 1080p presentation in front of us. Bathed in luscious greens, reds, and vibrant shades of every major color in between, Downton Abbey is nothing if not a flashy affair. The period piece ambers and mahogany browns really stand out, but the 1930s colors really do stand out front and center. Fine details are exemplary all the way around, and while there are some distinctly soft shots due to the almost dreamlike quality of some shots, this is a very revealing and sumptuous Blu-ray release.









Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track is a definite treat, but not one that is going to blast you back in your seat. It takes a much more subdued and delicate approach to object-oriented sound design and focuses on subtle sound direction cues to make its presence known. The track has a few minor exciting moments, but a vast majority of the film is spent in very dialogue-heavy moments, and the surrounds and overheads mainly get used with the score, or with subtle creaks and groans in the old Abbey. It’s not going to blast you with discrete sounds, but the subtle ambiance mixed with the clarity of the track makes for a delightful mix that shows that you don’t need a massively dynamic or kinetic mix to make a great audio experience.









Extras:

• Feature Commentary with Director Simon Curtis and Actress Elizabeth McGovern
• Changing Times – Cast and filmmakers discuss how the changing times of the era helped lay the groundwork for the characters' happy endings while providing audiences with the optimism that they will continue on successfully into the modern world.
• Society Season – DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE takes audiences along as the Crawleys participate in the London season, a traditional period of prestigious events in British high society. Here, the cast and filmmakers explore the details of how these events come together throughout the film.
-- Lady Petersfield's Ball
-- Ascot Race
-- The County Show
• Authentic to the Core – The cast, filmmakers, and historical advisor Alastair Bruce reveal the work and details that went into bringing historical authenticity to the film.
• A Farewell to Fans – The cast and filmmakers share heartfelt messages expressing their immense gratitude for the fans' unwavering support and love for the franchise.
• DOWNTON ABBEY Celebrates THE GRAND FINALE – Hugh Bonneville invites the entire cast of DOWNTON ABBEY to a high-tea celebration of their global hit franchise. The beloved stars share stories, confessions, and music as they bring their DOWNTON journey to a close with a toast to the third and final film, including a world-exclusive scene.

Final Score:

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Fans of the show have been in for a massive roller coaster ride over the last 15 years, following the Crawley family as they live their lives in the early 1900s. It has spawned multiple seasons of the show, and now 3 follow-up films, as fans have effectively begged for more. As I mentioned above, I was never a devout follower of the show, but I have kept up enough to catch MOST of it. As a result, I can certainly appreciate the rabid devotion of their fans, as it is a stylish and fascinating drama that doesn’t need to push the TV-MA boundaries like so many other series feel the need to stand out. This may be the last movie we ever get, or we may get another one, considering how much fans have pushed for more stories. But whatever the outcome in that arena, this is a nice sendoff for the cast, and a fantastic Blu-ray disc to boot. Fans will love it.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Joely Richardson, Dominic West, Alessandro Nivola
Directed by: Simon Curtis
Written by: Julian Fellowes
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), French, Spanish DD+ 7.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Studio: Universal Pictures
Rated: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: November 11th, 2025

Recommendation: Fans Will Love It.

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