Downton Abbey (TV Series) Christmas Special (2015) User Reviews

A perfect ending

[rocknrelics · 10/10 · 26 July 2020]

I don't care if people find it schmaltzy, to end the series on a series of high notes was the right thing to do, it made you feel you'd invested your time wisely watching the whole series to get to this point.

Utterly wonderful TV.

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

[jpismyname · 10/10 · 11 January 2018]

I hope so. But of course in real life, there's no such thing as a fairytale ending. But I'm happy that the characters all got what they want. Lady Edith is finally happy, not only did she marry the man she loves but she is also a marchioness now, a rank higher than her parents. Mary is also happy with Henry, who becomes best friends with Tom as they start a new business. The two sisters also reconcile.

It's New Year's Eve, Edith's wedding party, and Anna gives birth in Mary's room...indeed, probably the happiest day in their lives. Mr. Carson also resigns, but Robert and Mary offer him to have the cottage as his and Mrs. Hughes' home. Very touching. And guess who the new butler is? Thomas Barrow of course. Because of surviving his suicide attempt, Barrow is now a changed man, and he truly realizes what kindness means. Hopefully he will stay that way.

A magical ending indeed. This is how you end a great series.

TV Perfection!!!

[ohlabtechguy · 9/10 · 11 March 2016]

Already have watched the finale 4 times this week as PBS keeps airing all week here in the States. The show never gets boring and you notice more and more upon each reviewing.

The absolute BEST thing about this series is that it shows the best side of human nature. All of its many primary characters are likable. The scripts are wonderful and the acting is superb. There's always charming comic relief.

The ending is filled with lots of grateful, heartfelt moments and a teary eyed parting by Thomas Barrow. There are lots of happy closures, happening at break neck speed and all at once. But it's obvious that it won't be "happily ever after" since the future brings change and is unknowable. Still, Julian was trying to end on a happy note in case we never see these characters again.

Too complete

[firefalcoln · 9/10 · 26 December 2015]

Overall the finale was very enjoyable and left the viewer very pleased. My only real complaint was that everything almost ended too happily and firmly.

After the previous episode I was unsure if there would be time to funny wrap up enough for the finale. I was therefore rather surprised to see that the show if anything concluded too much. I wasn't hoping or expecting there to be any tragedy at the end of any character's arch. But I was expecting Thomas to end up as Butler or for Mrs. Patmore and Daisy to both have promising love interest for the future. Denker and, to a smaller extent, Carson might have been the only characters to not be completely happy at the end of the series. And Denker isn't too likable in the first place.

All the conclusions individually seemed pretty plausibly. It just seemed too fortunate that virtually everything turned out great for everyone at one moment.

I think Isabell's new husband didn't have to end up recovering from his disease, and Thomas didn't have to take over for Carson. Thomas was already given a very nice and poignant send off when he left the Abbey. I would have preferred him get along at the new position and have Carson keep his health and Butler status. I also thought the hints of Mrs. Patmore and Branson finding love interest for the future was too much to cram into one final episode. Patmore was supposed to have her B and B. And it was kind of ignored in the finale. I also would have preferred a scene of Baxter telling off the criminal of her past instead of just hiding from him.

Still, overall the finale was very enjoyable and a success. It's difficult to end a show in a way which pleases everyone in the perfect way. Overall they did a great job. I already miss Downton.

A perfect finale

[meyersjl-959-179336 · 10/10 · 29 November 2021]

A perfect finale. Several characters returned for the final season and final episode. I appreciate when a series wraps up all storylines. All endings made sense.

Too Many Solutions

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 25 September 2020]

I'm reminded of a Shakespeare comedy, where, in the 5th Act, everyone ends up married and there is a solution to all the problems. While I enjoyed the finale, I thought that too many story lines were finished off. Life just isn't like that. There was room for some pain and there was none, except for Carson. See if you agree. Thomas finds himself in purgatory. Bates is happy. Bertie's mom turns out to be less than I thought. All in all, the whole series was marvelous and I am so glad I made it through for the second time.

Couldn't be better !

[danamomen · 10/10 · 20 December 2021]

This episode was a perfect ending of the many events that has occurred during the whole season...

I'll definitely miss it too, beautiful ending to a beautiful series!

A Perfect Finale

[laurenbrooks-80066 · 10/10 · 3 April 2022]

I absolutely loved the series finale. I watched the last few seasons well after they were first broadcast. I am completely fine with every single character ending up happy and all of the loose ends being tied up (except for Mr. Branson's future love, perhaps). A modern day fairy tale. Well done!

Utter class

[Christmasmoviewatcher · 9/10 · 11 January 2022]

I've just binge watched the entire series stuck at home in isolation and its just lovely. Perfection. This final special finishes every single story line off to total perfection - not a plot hole in sight. And so beautifully done.

I first started watching Downton back when it was first odd, but its timing was then not ideal for me and I let it slide although I did enjoy it. Truthfully I think I prefer my series binged watched like this as my attention is held so much better.

A heart stopper episode

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 14 May 2022]

Cora keeps ducking out of family obligations for meetings at the hospital, and Robert doesn't bally well like it. But when Lady Rose (visiting from New York and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies") takes him to secretly watch her running one of those meetings, Robert swells with pride at her accomplishment. It's odd to use Rose for this, as she's one of the few who have not been subjected to this never-ending hospital plotline. Later on, Violet tells Cora that she has fully accepted that fact that it's now Cora's hospital and Cora's village to take of. It's one of many torches passed. Then Dr. Clarkson brings the news that Merton was misdiagnosed, his illness is treatable and he will live many more years. I get that a series finale can mean happy endings for everyone, but I can't help feel that the episode would have been better off using some of the time spent on this story in other places that got short shrift. Is Lord Merton really the person we want to spend so much of this last episode with? Age eventually catches up to everyone, and now it's Carson's turn. He develops a tremor in his hands which renders him unable to pour wine without spilling it everywhere. Carson tries to hide it for as long as he can, but it quickly becomes clear that it's a major problem. He confesses that it's a hereditary condition that ended the careers of both his father and grandfather, and that there's no cure. The only thing to do is offer his resignation and offer to train the next butler. Robert and Mary are horrified at the idea of life without Carson - Mary is particularly upset - and they float the idea of having Carson stay on to "supervise" the new butler. But Carson doesn't believe anybody would take the job under those conditions. Denker tells Violet the truth about Spratt's side job as an advice columnist, trying to get him fired. But Violet dissolves into laughter, and later tells Spratt that she will consult him in all matters about fashion from now on. Spratt tells Denker she forgot the most important thing about the Dowager Countess - she never likes to be predictable.

Happy endings all round, but should they have been?

[jglillis-1 · 7/10 · 29 June 2016]

All sorts of happy endings for everyone, almost too many. Denker deserved far worse than she got, as did Barrow. He created too much pain for so many people over the years for him to come out smelling like a rose and be rewarded by succeeding Carson as butler.

For me, Mary was always a tiresome character - petty and self-centered, languid, and oh so superior. My wife said she's beautiful. I didn't think so, either her person or her character (her soul, if you will). She didn't deserve a happy marriage and another kid - after all, she ignored the first one from the time she had him! I also must admit that Cora's simper got a little tiresome over six years, as did her annoying habit of turning her face 30 degrees to the left of the person she was speaking to. But she "manned up" at the right time several times.

The series displayed considerable courage in two respects: 1. The only gay character (Thomas Barrow) was absolutely despicable until near the very end, and 2. the head aristocrat (Robert) was a decent sort. Not politically correct at all, and the show's to be congratulated.