As reflected by the box office, Downton Abbey was a smash-hit on opening weekend! Of course, it was not without it's flaws, but overall it was a very well-made production that did not disappoint long time fans of the show.
The film, with its array of intriguing characters portrayed my marvelous actors and a script written by the incomparable Julian Fellowes, is a cinematic event that delivers, for the most part, satisfying continuations of the stories of characters we have not seen in quite a long time. However, the movie also has its share of problems, as all works of art do.
Rage Issues Are Sexy. Wait- what?
Daisy has never been a favorite character of mine. Her story lines were never terribly thrilling and I always found her annoying and whiny. Andrew is okay. I enjoyed the dynamic between him and Barrow in the final season and I have nothing against Michael Fox, Andrew has just never drawn my attention to him as much as other characters have. In the film, I found Daisy to be much more likable than she ever was throughout the series and Andrew was still pretty okay. Except for their final scenes. At first viewing, I did find Daisy's words to Andrew to be romantic- how she liked him because he was willing to lose his job for her, etc. Then, after conversing with fellow Downton fans and more closely inspecting the scene, I have realized that what Daisy should have gotten out of the truth of what Andrew had done was that he had anger management and jealously issues and was overly protective. Those are all major red flags to be on the lookout for in relationships. Of course, back during 1927, that was not so much the case, but I still found it a rather risky thing for Fellowes to include in the script in this era of flourishing feminism.
The Snubbing of Mr. Bates
It was obviously a struggle to give every character in a cast of 20+ adequate screen time and satisfactory plot development. A struggle that would have been too much for many writers to handle. Fellowes did a rather good job of handling the issue, creating one plot that involved the entirety of the downstairs and upstairs cast. Still, there were characters who were prominent figures in the television program that hardly had more than a line in the film. Mainly, Mr. Bates. For six years, we watched Bates' tireless effort to live a happy life. Sometimes, the struggles of he and his wife, Anna (who does get enough time in the film, either), went on for a bit too long and had some viewers wishing for Julian to get their problems over with. From one of the people we saw the most of in the series, occasionally to an excessive amount, I was expecting Bates to play more of a key role in the movie. By season 6, he was starting to fade into the background. That was probably because the problem of Mr. Green had dragged on so much in the previous season. Bates has been a fan favorite from episode 1 and though he made have needed a rest in season 6, we were all looking forward to see what life-crumbling issues the royal visit would bring him and were very disappointed.
Carson's Parkinson's
Carson left his position as butler at Downton Abbey because of a medical condition that caused his hands to shake uncontrollably. In the show, the condition was only ever referred to as 'the palsy'. Many fans, I among them, have come to assume that this disability is Parkinson's. There are many different sects of Parkinson's and it is possible, though not likely, that the disease would not have continued to disable Carson beyond him having hand tremors. I did note that Carson is never seen serving in the film but our first glimpse of Carson is him at his cottage working in his garden. How would one be able to tend to a garden with hands that could not hold still? I am by no means a medical expert, so there may be some explanation for this that I am not aware of. I would have liked there to at least have been a mention of Carson's condition or for there to have been a momentary shot of his hands shaking to allow the audience to know that Fellowes had not ignored the problem to write the story he wanted to, but that Carson was still plagued by Parkinson's but the disease had not further progressed (which is unlikely) and that he was still dealing with the condition.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," but it damn well should
Tom Branson received quite the story line in this film, as he well deserved since, next to Thomas Barrow, Branson's ending was the most dissatisfying to many fans. His relationship with Lucy was a sweet one that I endorse. There was a singular moment in the film, though, wherein I was angry at Tom for so easily brushing off his past with this first soulmate, Sybil. When Lucy inquired about Sybil, Tom curtly responded, "It doesn't hurt anymore." The television series made it clear that Tom and Sybil's love was something special, something true. Tom's brushing off of the death of Sybil in one quick line, that once again seemed like Fellowes was writing to continue the plot rather than express what the character should have been feeling, cheapened the incredible relationship Sybil and Tom had shared, something that did not sit well with me at all.
Bring on the Barrow!
Ever since I started the show, Thomas Barrow has been and always will be my absolute favorite Downton Abbey character. His storyline combined with Robert-James Collier's stellar acting make for the most understandable, raw, moving and complex character. To say I was dissatisfied with the ending Thomas was given in the show is an understatement. I was thrilled for the possibility this show opened up for him, all of the potential it held for his wounded soul. And it delivered! To see Thomas find people like him, to find happiness as his true self and to find love were the only things I wanted from this movie and I got them all!
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