Warning: spoilers are being served in the study, so you may want to steer clear. 

Before we get too comfortable here, I’d just like to say that yes, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale does end the series as we know it. Arriving at the end of Julian Fellowes’ swan song for his hit ITV drama turned cinematic franchise, there is a true sense of closure. As someone who’s a fan of this universe, I can respect that decision and enjoy the results.

Simultaneously, I can also take comfort in the fact that this threequel appears to be opening the door to some new possibilities. If you haven’t seen the latest Crawley family reunion, don’t fret. You can read our Downton Abbey 3 review while booking tickets at your convenience. However, if you’re like me and would like to chat out some feelings left in the wake of The Grand Finale, then let’s go through to the spoiler room and do just that.

How Downton Abbey 3 Wraps The Iconic Series’ Story

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale brought the story of that iconic location to a moving conclusion that felt very full circle. Potential financial ruin and the public image of Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) were once again threatened, thanks to her uncle Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti) failing to realize that an eager investor (Alessandro Nivola) was actually a con artist. After avoiding one final blackmail plot, her family’s iconic estate remains in good hands, as the divorcee has become the official minder of Downton Abbey.

Previous overseers Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and Robert (Hugh Bonneville) move into the Dower house to enjoy retirement, assistant cook Daisy (Sophie McShera) becomes the head of the kitchen, and all is right with the world. Through the end credits, we see snapshots of other characters in their happily ever afters, which will definitely bring a tear to your eye. However, that’s only the beginning of how The Grand Finale honors the spirit of those who came before.

The Dowager Countess’ Spirit Lives On 

At the end of the previous installment, Downton Abbey: A New Era, the death of Violet Crawley (Dame Maggie Smith) left the family understandably in mourning. Though this fan favorite character’s departure had been set up since the first continuation film, it still hit our hearts like a missile that seeks out emotions. Save for a portrait hung in the hall of Downton Abbey, as well as being spotted in a touching final montage, the Dowager Countess’ presence in The Grand Finale is present through those she taught – and taunted.

More specifically, Downton Abbey’s trilogy gave some major screen time to some characters we normally wouldn’t expect at the forefront. In their own plotlines, Edith (Laura Carmichael), Cora, Isobel Gray (Penelope Wilton), and Daisy all stand up for things they truly believe in. And in The Grand Finale, each of those women stands on their own two feet, and doesn’t take no for an answer.

Isobel Grey is particularly satisfying to see in this regard, as she was Violet’s favorite frenemy/sparring partner. So to have her defending Lady Mary Crawley from a societal shadow cast by her recent divorce feels like a great tribute to a dear friend. That plot point is all the more bittersweet after she visits the grave of her departed son/Mary’s late husband Matthew Crawley. A scene that’s quite the easter egg for long-time Downton Abbey viewers, it’s also a way of closing that story up once and for all – freeing everyone for the future ahead.

Lady Mary Crawley Is Only The Beginning Of Downton Abbey’s Potential Future

Now this is where the potential future of Downton Abbey could come into play. Starting off with a little bit of speculation, I think it’s safe to say that if Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern do return to this hallowed home – it’ll be in guest appearances. Fitting in with the message of The Grand Finale, I wouldn’t totally write off the potential to see the younger members of the family coming into their own. 

Lady Mary Crawley’s trials raising her children while keeping Downton up and running would be a marvelous foundation. Also, the families of her sister Edith and brother-in-law Thomas (Allen Leech) would be able to help maintain the multi-plot stories that have made Downton Abbey the hit it’s been for over a decade of existence. 

Not to mention as the children in these families grow, that’s even more fuel to keep the story going for as long as Julian Fellowes (or his potential successors) have in mind. Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) did say that he foresaw a century of Downton being in the Crawley family line at the end of Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture – and that very well could be true. Then again, the future isn’t the only direction one could travel with a story such as this.

Two Rumored Projects Could Continue To Flesh Out Downton Abbey’s Past

In the run-up to Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’s release, one oft-cited fantasy spinoff was brought up once more by Elizabeth McGovern. The series fixture told Deadline that the popular rumor about a young Violet Crawley series would be a fun possibility. It’s far from confirmed, but you can’t deny that it’s a viable option – especially with the tantalizing threads left throughout the Dowager Countess’ Downton history. 

Also, seeing as The Gilded Age was renewed for Season 4, we could see Cora’s American relatives living their lives in New York City. Julian Fellowes himself spoke with TV Insider at the Season 3 premiere event, noting that the only real hurdle is the presence of two network homes for his shows. So theoretically, a Gilded Age/Downton Abbey crossover could take place. 

While these thoughts continue to keep my imagination busy, I’m also not in too much of a rush to get an answer. Now that The Grand Finale is out in the open, it’s time to say a fond farewell and honor Mr. Fellowes’ new (and improved) ending to the current era of the Crawley legacy.