Downton Abbey (2019)

"After all these years you still astonish me."

"Oh good, I'm glad I'm a revelation and not a disappointment."

In 1927, excitement comes to Downton Abbey with news that the king and queen will be visiting the estate during the royal tour.  King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) will stay at Downton Abbey, after a royal parade through town and a dinner.  The staff are thrilled to have royalty in their house, other than Daisy (McShera), and bring back Mr. Molesley (Doyle) to help.  But their dreams are dashed when they learn that the royal servants will handle all aspects of the visit.  The royal butler, Mr. Wilson (David Haig), takes control of the house, causing Lady Mary Talbot (Dockery) to ask Mr. Carson (Carter) to come back and oversee the royal visit.

The Dowager Countess of Grantham (Smith) is gearing up for a fight with Lady Bagshaw (Staunton), the Queen's Lady in Waiting.  Lady Bagshaw is a close cousin who has been feuding with the Dowager for years over who will inherit her estate.  Robert (Bonneville) does not condone the feud and wants the visit to go well.

Everyone is worried about what Tom Branson (Leech) will do, and he is tailed by Major Chetwode (Stephen Campbell Moore).  And the staff are trying to find a way around the royal servants.  Will the royal visit go off without a hitch?


After the Downton Abbey series ended, fans have been asking for more.  The cast and creator Julian Fellowes were eager to return to the story / characters.

The Good:
Almost all of the original cast are back for the movie.  It feels like a natural progression for the characters and it felt like returning to an old friend.  The new characters are good and add to the story.

The Bad:
There was one side plot that kept halting the main story and was unnecessary.  Without it, the film would have been better.

Other Comments:
-As always, Maggie Smith gets the best lines.  She gets to command the screen and the other characters, and still have time to argue with Penelope Wilton's Isobel.
-I wish Matthew Goode was in more of the film.
-The film ends with potential for a sequel.  Apparently the creator and cast are interested in a potential sequel.

Downton Abbey (2019) 122 minutes
Director: Julian Fellowes
Starring: Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Laura Carmichael as Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham
Jim Carter as Mr. Carson
Raquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter
Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot
Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley
Michael C. Fox as Andy Parker
Joanna Froggatt as Anna Bates
Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot
Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham
Rob James-Collier as Mr. Barrow
Allen Leech as Tom Branson
Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Carson
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Sophie McShera as Daisy
Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore
Douglas Reith as Dickie Grey, Baron Merton
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton
Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Smith
Imedla Staunton as Lady Maud Bagshaw