After 52 episodes and three motion pictures, the world of “Downton Abbey” is coming to a heartwarming conclusion — for now, at the least. The sequence and the earlier two movies, 2019’s “Downton Abbey” and 2022’s “Downton Abbey: A New Period,” have adopted a number of characters over an 18-year interval, each from the upstairs and downstairs of the grand home. Whereas viewers already mentioned goodbye to the imperious Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith), within the final movie when she tragically died onscreen surrounded by her household, there are nonetheless many extra farewells to come back. Right here is the place we left among the key characters as “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” arrives in theaters Sept. 12.
Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery)
Michelle Dockery in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
Woman Mary wasn’t all the time in line to take over Downton Abbey, however her ill-fated marriage to Matthew Crawley and the delivery of their son George ensured that she could possibly be on the helm of the property, at the least till George got here of age. Mary finally remarried towards the tip of the sequence, to race automobile driver Henry Talbot, however “The Grand Finale” sees the couple divorced and Mary on the outs from society. Nonetheless, she has intelligent concepts about how one can hold Downton Abbey afloat and to push it into the fashionable age as she lastly takes the reins from her father. “From the beginning, she all the time had a robust character,” creator Julian Fellowes informed The Instances in 2022. “And I believe what we’ve watched over time is how she has come to harness her power, grasp it and use it to attain what she needs.”
Edith Pelham (Laura Carmichael)
Laura Carmichael, proper, and Elizabeth McGovern in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
For a few years Woman Edith was the passed-over second daughter, however by the tip of the sequence she was firmly ensconced because the formidable Marchioness of Hexham. She and her husband Herbert “Bertie” Pelham are fortunately elevating two youngsters and she or he has grow to be a voice of cause for Mary, providing counsel to the sister who as soon as overshadowed her. “The Grand Finale” even provides Edith a satisfying second of fortitude when she stands up for the household. “By the point we go away her, Edith is a robust girl and able to large choices,” Fellowes says.
Robert and Cora Crawley (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern)
Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
The Crawley clan’s patriarch and matriarch have gone by way of quite a bit since “Downton Abbey” premiered, together with the lack of their daughter Sybil and a number of monetary challenges. Cora handled a well being scare in “A New Period” whereas each grieved the demise of Violet, whose presence nonetheless looms in “The Grand Finale.” Though he technically left Mary accountable for Downton Abbey on the finish of “A New Period,” Robert is struggling to settle into the following chapter of his life. It’s as much as Cora, his always-steady companion, to assist him transfer ahead.
Tom Branson (Allen Leech)
Allen Leech in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
After heroically saving the day within the first “Downton Abbey” movie, the widowed Tom married Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) in “Downtown Abbey: A New Period,” giving his daughter Sybbie a mom as soon as once more. By the tip of the second movie, Tom and Lucy have a child of their very own and live away from Downton. The character already received his much-deserved fortunately ever after and now reveals as much as dole out sage recommendation and assist for the household. “I felt Tom Branson was the one one we hadn’t actually settled within the sequence,” Leech informed me in 2019. Now, he’s.
Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera) and Andrew Parker (Michael Fox)
Sophie McShera, second from left, in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options )
Daisy started her journey at Downton Abbey as a belabored kitchen maid, however finally the property’s revered prepare dinner Mrs. Patmore took her underneath her wing. She married the dying William Mason in the course of the sequence and later settled down with Andrew Parker, a footman in the home who has now taken over for Mr. Carson. Within the spirit of the youthful technology stepping ahead, Daisy takes over the kitchen in “The Grand Finale,” an essential second of progress for the character.
Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton)
From left, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Michelle Dockery and Paul Giamatti in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
It took a while for Isobel to ascertain herself at Downton Abbey, however her friendship with the Dowager Countess and her relationship to the household grew to become invaluable all through the sequence. She married Richard Gray after her son Matthew’s demise and continued her good work with the group’s hospital all through the episodes. Following Violet’s passing, Isobel has taken up the mantle to prepare the county honest — a job that comes with some challenges.
Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt) and John Bates (Brendan Coyle)
Joanne Froggatt in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
Anna Bates has all the time been one in all Downton Abbey’s most loyal servants and a considerate buddy to Woman Mary. She married valet John Bates initially of Season 3 and the couple went by way of quite a few ups and downs within the years that adopted, together with a number of miscarriages. They received a much-deserved glad finish within the sequence finale when Anna gave delivery to their first youngster. The movies haven’t shaken their contentment and “The Grand Finale” brings one other uplifting arrival for the pair.
Joseph Molesley (Kevin Doyle)
Kevin Doyle, left, and Michael Fox in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
(Rory Mulvey / Focus Options)
Mr. Molesley endeared audiences along with his hapless however well-meaning misadventures within the sequence, finally transitioning from footman to native schoolteacher. He received his due in “A New Period” when he proved himself to be a talented screenwriter and charmed Phyllis Baxter. In “The Grand Finale,” the couple are married and Mr. Molesley is endeavoring to spice up his movie profession, though he hasn’t left his time at Downtown Abbey prior to now.
