Downton Abbey's Final Chapter

Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) finally buries the hatchet

(Courtesy of Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Ltd. Copyright 2015)

    The last episode of Downton Abbey’s sixth season airs Sunday night, March 6, on PBS at 8 p.m. (ET).

    The Golden Globe-winning British series unfolded with Lord Grantham and his family reacting to the news of the sinking of the Titanic, and the story ends 13 years later with Grantham, his family, and their servants reflecting on changing times during the final hours of 1925. As the number of the abbey’s servants dwindles, Daisy takes a second look at her options, Barrow settles into a new job that bores him, and Mr. Molesley contemplates a new offer. Spratt and Denger, the butler and maid who work for the Dowager Countess of Grantham, continue to sling barbs at each other while their predictably unpredictable employer reacts to Spratt’s secret.

The hapless Lady Edith finally finds happiness—thanks to her sister and longtime nemesis, Lady Mary. “You’re such a paradox,” Edith says to her. “You’ve made me miserable for years, and then you give me my life back.” Yet Edith finds a new rival who calls her “damaged goods.” Meanwhile, Mary’s new husband, Henry, sits around Downton with little to do and becomes restless.

The visuals are stunning as always—including scenes filmed at a sprawling castle that makes the abbey look rather modest. It’s a busy send-off, with many stories to tie-up in 90 minutes. And maybe that’s why some of the conflicts introduced in this last episode are resolved faster than you can pop popcorn. Still, writer-creator Julian Fellowes knows what the show’s fans want and does not disappoint. There’s a birth (with another one the way), a wedding (with another one on the way), and hints of other matches being made.

(Left to right): Brendan Coyle as Bates, Hugh Bonneville as Lord 

Grantham, Allen Leech as Tom, and Kevin Doyle as Molesley

(Courtesy of  Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Ltd. Copyright 2015)