True to form, the Abbey is showing its age. On the surface, it seems to be the same monument to class distinctions as seen in the beginning. But the place has aged along with its upstairs and downstairs occupants. Many promised character developments have been realized, but the big one remains in the air, dangling like a lure on a fishing line: the promise of a revitalized, reshaped aristocracy or class structure. The final episodes of the TV series indicated that such is inevitable, but in this film, it is forgotten. In its place is a curious notation about the new game in town: filmmaking. Warning: if you like "Singing in the Rain," you may cringe a little at one of the major plot points. Though not a waste of time, the film did not encourage me to return to the original series. That must wait for more of an invitation.
Review of Downton Abbey: A New Era
