It was going to be epic as soon as the advert for the final episode aired with the tagline; “A world at peace. A house at war.”
So, we’ve been abandoned in a world without Downton Abbey and there are that many loose ends left it would be near-enough impossible to tie them all up. Yet a sense of satisfaction hangs in the air. We’ve devoured everything Downton Abbey has offered, but still want more.
Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) is determined to marry Branson (Allen Leech), despite trying to be persuaded otherwise; “I am sure. How many times do I have to say it?” Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) bellows and rages, even offering Branson money to disappear, but it seems as though he has fallen from the moral high ground.
As this episode continues Spanish flu grips the house. Downstairs, Carson (Jim Carter) is infected by the illness and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) – who had been told to leave – fills in for his duties. It seems as though the house will never be rid of that troublemaker. Upstairs, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and Lavinia (Zoe Boyle) are bed-ridden by the disease.
Cora recovers. Lavinia doesn’t.
Lying on her deathbed, Lavinia tells Matthew (Dan Stevens) that it is easier this way. Her death means that he is free to marry Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). Having seen them kissing, Lavinia tells him; “Don’t ever let me get in the way”. The strikingly angelic scene sees Lavinia somehow take herself out the picture through dying.
And yet, Mary and Matthew are further apart than ever before. He blames the pair of them for Lavinia’s death. “I know it’s a cliché but I believed she died of a broken heart because of that kiss.”
There are some classic one-liners from the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) to relieve the doom and gloom, including; “Don’t be defeatist, dear, it’s very middle class.” Others should leave us quietly grinning until the next series; “I do hope I’m interrupting something.”
At last, Anna (Joanna Froggatt) and Bates (Brendan Coyle) wed.
“I will be your next of kin and you can’t deny me that.” Anna tells Bates that she will not standby while the police interfere in their lives. She wants to be kept informed and that means being his wife. There will have been many viewers with tear-tracked cheeks after that ceremony.
The last scene of the whole series is of Anna. Her chin shaking in an effort not to cry, she watches her handcuffed husband be taken away by a pair of policemen. Not only is it emotionally shattering, it is beautifully poetic. It says ‘this is not over’. The meaning is clear. Her relationship is not over, and neither is the programme. This is so much more than a ‘to be continued’.
And so the fast-paced, riveting second series ends. What will series three of Downton Abbey bring? Does that happy-ever-after await?
Related posts: