Hi Neighbor!
All good things eventually come to an end, and like it’s predecessor Sex and the City, Downton Abbey is on the big screen (again) before taking what we presume will be its final bow. Delighting viewers since 2010 for six season comprised of fifty-two shows including five Christmas specials and two previous film adaptations, it seems this is the end for the Crawley clan.
It has been a historical, scandalous ride watching this post-Edwardian drama, set between 1912 and 1926, captivate viewers with the finery of a dwindling aristocratic society. Black tie attire for dinner at home? Check. Servants polishing silver and shoes with equal vigor? Check. Lady’s maid to assist one’s Lady in dressing, right down to jewelry and gloves? Yes, check.
While I have not seen the latest installment yet, I am certain one of the ladies will be wearing pearls and one footman will be double-crossing a valet. We wouldn’t tune in otherwise. However, a friend who did purchase a ticket to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute said the film tied up loose ends and story lines. Was she satisfied with the production? I can’t say for sure as we were simultaneously talking tennis strategies, but I know there was satisfaction in viewing the final good-bye to the Crawley family.
Don’t fear. There are a plethora of shows to satisfy us in Downton’s absence. While we have to wait until 2026 for the fourth season of Netflix’s Bridgerton, The Morning Show started its fourth season on September 17, and like most Apple TV series, one episode will be released each week like traditional programming from a few decades past. Additionally, the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things on Netflix will begin on Thanksgiving. Netflix is also introducing loyal viewers to a new Jason Bateman thriller (remember Ozark?) called Black Rabbit where two brothers, the other played by Jude Law, find themselves in some heated situations.
Grab the remote, get some popcorn, and buckle up for a new season of old favorites and new releases as we bid a fond adieu to the Yorkshire family from Downton Abbey.
Happy streaming,
Jackie
