Downton Abbey: A New Era

 

I finally had a chance to watch Downton Abbey: A New Era. What a great movie. There are two main plots: a producer/director wants to make a film at Downton, and the Dowager Countess inherits a villa in the south of France from a man she was acquainted with decades earlier. Alongside these two plots, are a variety of subplots:

• Tom starts life with Lucy.
• Cora is facing a health crisis.
• Thomas Barrow feels lonely despite having the role of butler he always desired.
• Andy and Daisy are finding Mr. Mason's farm a bit cramped.
• Edith misses her work at the magazine.
• Henry Talbot continues to be away from Downton as he focuses on cars.
• Talking movie pictures threaten the silent picture industry.

There are others, but these are some of the most important ones. In many ways, Downton Abbey: A New Era is all a fan could ask for, especially if this is the final movie. 

• Many of the regular characters are facing happy futures.
• Tom's daughter Sybbie's future is solidified.
• Mary embraces her role as the leader for the future of Downton.
• Robert learns the truth about his mother and this mysterious man who bequeathed Violet the villa.
• If they had to (spoiler ahead) allow Violet to die, they handled it in a wonderful way with her family around her.
• Edith and Mary getting along.

I like that even though we have hints at the future for some of these characters, not everything was wrapped up nice and tidy, so they have something to work with if a third movie is made. 

A few things I didn't care for:

• Lord Grantham, Dr. Clarkson, and Murray were so orange it looked like they had been tanning for weeks.
• Jack Barber's pursuit of Lady Mary. It was handled well, but it could have been a great film without this plotline.
• We didn't see much of Sybbie, George, Marigold or Johnnie Bates.
• (spoiler ahead) Thomas Barrow leaving Downton. 

Did you see this movie? What did you think? Would you like to see a third movie?