Thescreescore – Downton Abbey’s creator, Julian Fellowes, has revealed how Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will honor the late Dame Maggie Smith’s iconic Violet Crawley. The third (and potentially final) film plunges the Crawleys and their staff into the tumultuous 1930s, a period marked by global economic instability. The film’s trailer even hints at Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) bidding farewell to Downton Abbey itself, raising questions about the family’s future. However, the most poignant absence is that of the Dowager Countess, who passed away in Downton Abbey: A New Era. Fellowes, in an interview with Deadline, shed light on how Violet’s death will impact the narrative.
"There’s a clear sense that the family remains, in essence, dominated by Violet," Fellowes explained. "Her death is merely a detail. It’s her beliefs, her demands, her vision of the Crawleys’ role and purpose that endure. We’ve strived to make this palpable. Of course, we miss Maggie in the film—we should miss Maggie. That’s intentional. We don’t want to avoid that feeling; we want the audience to feel her absence. She created a truly remarkable character, one I’ll be forever grateful for."
Fellowes’ words confirm that the Crawleys haven’t fully processed Violet’s death, and perhaps never will. She was a formidable presence, a staunch defender of the Crawley family and Downton Abbey itself. Her fierce love and guidance, particularly for her son, the Earl of Grantham, and his daughter, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), will be deeply felt. Any financial difficulties facing Downton will undoubtedly be viewed through the lens of Violet’s unwavering belief in the estate’s preservation. The family’s struggle to maintain Downton will intertwine with their grief, shaping their destinies in profound ways.
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The question of whether The Grand Finale truly marks the end of the Downton Abbey saga remains unanswered. Fellowes, in his Deadline interview, playfully admitted, "I never say never anymore." However, the film’s exploration of life without Violet and Maggie Smith’s indelible performance might provide a fitting conclusion. While the possibility of future installments focusing on subsequent generations exists, the undeniable truth is that Downton will never be the same without its formidable matriarch. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale could thus serve as a poignant farewell not just to Violet Crawley and Dame Maggie Smith, but to the entire beloved story.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale opens in cinemas on September 12. Source: Deadline
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