Written by Julian Fellowes
Directed by Simon Curtis
Violet: "Stop that noise. I can't hear myself die."
The not surprising success of Downton Abbey (2019) meant that a sequel had to happen and after setting up a major storyline, this would be the movie to pay off that story in particular.
Yes, I'm talking about the imminent death of Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith). Between movies, Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) was no longer the only person who knew. Everyone did and there's moments where both Robert Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Isobel Grey (Penelope Wilton) confessed to their spouses about their feelings of losing Violet.
However there was also the issue of a villa in France. Violet was left one y a former paramour and she felt that Sybbie deserved it, much to the delight of the newly married Tom (Allen Leech) and Lucy Branson (Tuppence Middleton). Tom and Lucy along with Robert, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), Edith Pelham (Laura Carmichael ), Bertie (Harry Hadden-Paton), Maud (Imelda Staunton), Mr Bates (Brendan Coyle), Miss Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) and Carson (Jim Carter) head to France to inspect the property.
While in France, they met up with the deceased Marquis de Montmirail's wife (Nathalie Baye) and son, Edouard (Jonathan Zaccaï). For a large portion of the movie, Robert feared that he might be half French (he wasn't) while also worrying about Cora's health (her symptoms were curable). Then there was the event itself.
We've had shocking deaths in the past like with Sybil and Matthew but Violet's was sweet, with her family and even Denker (Sue Johnston) by her side. I also think that Violet's death added more poignancy to the subtitle of this movie along with a few characters pointing out that Mary would be her natural successor.
Speaking of Mary, she might not have gone to France but she had her own adventure at home. Downton became the set of a movie named The Gambler and despite being a married woman, Mary was very tempted by charming director Jack Barton (Hugh Dancy). Is it bad that I wanted Mary to cheat on her absent husband?
The movie plot was a lot of fun. You had both Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and Daisy (Sophie McShera) fangirling actress Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock). Myrna turned out to be a nightmare who had to have her lines dubbed by Mary when the movie had to retooled into a talking picture. This part of the story also had Molesley (Kevin Doyle) become a screenwriter.
However the best thing to come out of the movie - Thomas Barrow (Robert James Collier) found love with closeted leading man, Guy Dexter (Dominic West). In fact, he hit the romantic jackpot that he handed his notice in so he could be Guy's right hand man in Hollywood. After all he's been through, Thomas deserved his shot at love here. Oh and it meant that Andy (Michael C. Fox) would be his successor at Downton.
- The movie started with Tom and Lucy getting married and having a baby by the end of the movie. Edith and Bertie's son was called Peter.
- Andy and Daisy married offscreen and set up Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol) and Mr Mason (Paul Copley). Molesley also proposed to Miss Baxter. Mrs Carson (Phyllis Logan) had a nice scene with Thomas before the Guy plot kicked off.
- At one point, both Carson and Maud were mistook for a married couple. Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton are married in real life. Elizabeth McGovern's husband also directed this movie and the next one.
- With this film, Robert and Cora now have six grandchildren, although Sybbie was the only one who got any lines in the movie.
- Standout music: Guy, The Handsome Mr Barber, Am I Blue? and Next Generation.
- Chronology: 1928 at both Downton Abbey and in France.
Although I did prefer the first movie, there's a lot to enjoy with Downton Abbey: A New Era. I'll admit the movie plot was more fun than the France story. I definitely would've given that more screen time. Violet's passing was handled well and this felt like a good note to end her formidable character on.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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