DOWNTON ABBEY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL {SEASON 6, EPISODE 9} {SERIES FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The final episode in this dramatic British series about the aristocrats and servants who dwell at the Downton Abbey estate in post-Edwardian Yorkshire.
In this episode, in September 1925, Edith adjusts to her "spinster" life as Henry admits that Charlie's death has "taken all the fun out" of racing for him, prompting him to rethink his career path. Thomas thanks Anna, Andy, and Baxter for saving his life, and soon learns that he has finally landed a new position. Violet urges Isobel to "snoop" when the Mertons suddenly cancel on her, and Andy, nursing a crush on Daisy, worries that he is not good enough for her. Mr. Dawes offers Mr. Molesley a full-time position and use of a retiring teacher's cottage, and Edith visits Mr. Spratt, a.k.a. "Cassandra Jones," to discuss expanding his column, naturally piquing Miss Denker's interest. Violet tries to swallow her annoyance as Cora's hospital president duties expand, and Mrs. Hughes grows suspicious as she notices Mr. Carson's hands shaking. Isobel is heartbroken to learn that Dickie has been diagnosed with pernicious anemia, and Anna orders a newfangled hairdryer for Mary.
Edith is shocked to find that Mary and Rosamund have conspired to reunite her with Bertie at the Ritz in London; he passionately declares that he cannot live without her, regardless of his mother's potential reaction to the Marigold secret. Thomas, resolving to "be someone else" in the future, advises Miss Baxter to let go of Peter Coyle once and for all, and he bids kindly farewells to his fellow servants and the Crawleys, particularly his pal Master George. Mrs. Patmore points out Daisy's fickle attitude toward her suitors, and Cora and Robert, overjoyed by news of Edith's engagement, travel to Brancaster Castle to meet Bertie's imperious mother Mirada. Mirada makes clear her firm belief in "morals," hinting that Bertie's late cousin Peter, the former Marquess, was lacking in that department due to his relationships with men. After repeated incidents at mealtimes, Mr. Carson finally confesses to Mrs. Hughes that his father and grandfather were both afflicted with a mysterious "palsy" that eventually put an end to their service careers. Henry ponders his new path, and when Dr. Clarkson confirms Dickie's diagnosis, Larry and Amelia turn their backs on Isobel again, no longer interested in exploiting her nursing abilities now that he has been given a speedy death sentence. As the engagement dinner approaches, an anxious Edith decides to tell Mirada the truth, prompting Mirada to complain to Bertie that his intended is "damaged goods."
Thomas tries to adjust to a much quieter life as one of only three servants to Sir Mark Stiles, and Mr. Mason informs a conflicted Daisy that she "could do worse" than the industrious Andy. Isobel and Violet are shocked to find that Dickie has become Amelia and Larry's "captive," and Mr. Carson's worries are compounded when Mr. Molesley accepts the teaching position, thus leaving only himself and Andy as the full-time male servants. Edith and Bertie are greatly relieved when Mirada, having decided that Edith's "unimpeachable honesty" supersedes her scandalous past, signals approval by publicly toasting their engagement. With Violet's help, Isobel barges into the Mertons' home and stuns Amelia and Larry by announcing that she is taking Dickie home with her – and marrying him – to care for him in his final months, much to his delight. Edith returns home with Bertie and thanks Mary for her help in reuniting them; elsewhere, Daisy finally sees Andy in a new light.
Three months later, at Christmas, Rose, Atticus, and Shrimpie arrive for Edith's wedding and Mr. Molesley returns to Downton to assist with the big event; meanwhile, Miss Denker finally uncovers Mr. Spratt's secret talent. Mr. Carson confesses the truth of his ailment to Robert and Mary, gravely conceding that he will hire a new butler and resign; Henry and Tom proudly inform Mary that they have "reinvented" themselves as businessmen and will sell secondhand cars at "Talbot and Branson Motors," gradually moving toward production of their own vehicles. Pleased, Mary informs Henry of another exciting development. Robert, growing exasperated with Cora's preoccupation with the hospital, changes his mind when he observes her friendly and efficient manner with patients. Miss Denker's scheme to get Mr. Spratt fired falls apart when Violet is merely amused to learn of his "double life" as a popular advice columnist; when Daisy's attempts to give herself an interesting new look go awry, Anna assists her in fixing it with the hairdryer. Andy is charmed by her new look, declaring that they have been "out of step" with one another for too long.
Dr. Clarkson, having performed additional tests, informs Dickie that his case is not fatal after all, and Mary opts to avoid stealing Edith's thunder and opts to announce her pregnancy well after the wedding. Robert praises his wife's new career, and when Mr. Carson finds himself again unable to serve drinks, Robert kindly suggests that he retire and become Downton's "elder statesmen." Thomas, in attendance as a wedding guest and unhappy in his new job, is chosen to return to the home as head butler. Anna goes into labor – in Mary's bedroom – and Daisy decides to move onto Mr. Mason's farm and take a new step with Andy. Edith and Bertie depart for their honeymoon, and Tom notices when Laura catches Edith's bouquet. Mr. Carson agrees that Downton, too, must change with the times, and Anna, having given birth to a healthy son, resolves to go on working for the family. Violet compliments Cora's skills as hospital president, and all the Downton residents happily toast the arrival of 1926.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:43
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 129566
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Families; England
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 2011-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Susanne Simpson … Executive Producer, Senior Series Producer
- Julian Fellowes … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Gareth Neame … Executive Producer
- Nigel Marchant … Executive Producer
- Liz Trubridge … Executive Producer
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Steven Ashley … Senior Producer
- Chris Croucher … Producer
- Erin Delaney … Producer
- Joanne Crowther … Line Producer
- Michael Engler … Director
- John Lunn … Music by
- Man Made Music … Theme Music by
- Laura Linney … Host
- Hugh Bonneville … Cast, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
- Laura Carmichael … Cast, Lady Edith Crawley
- Jim Carter … Cast, Mr. Charles Carson
- Raquel Cassidy … Cast, Phyllis Baxter
- Brendan Coyle … Cast, John Bates
- Michelle Dockery … Cast, Lady Mary Talbot
- Kevin Doyle … Cast, Joseph Molesley
- Michael Fox … Cast, Andy Parker
- Joanne Froggatt … Cast, Anna Bates
- Matthew Goode … Cast, Henry Talbot
- Robert James-Collier … Cast, Thomas Barrow
- Harry Hadden-Paton … Cast, Bertie Pelham
- Lily James … Cast, Lady Rose Aldridge
- Allen Leech … Cast, Tom Branson
- Phyllis Logan … Cast, Mrs. Elsie Hughes
- Elizabeth McGovern … Cast, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
- Sophie McShera … Cast, Daisy Mason
- Lesley Nicol … Cast, Mrs. Beryl Patmore
- Maggie Smith … Cast, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
- David Robb … Cast, Dr. Richard Clarkson
- Penelope Wilton … Cast, Isobel Crawley
- Sue Johnston … Cast, Gladys Denker
- Jeremy Swift … Cast, Septimus Spratt
- Patrick Brennan … Cast, Mr. Dawes
- Douglas Reith … Cast, Lord Dickie Merton
- Samantha Bond … Cast, Lady Rosamund Painswick
- Patricia Hodge … Cast, Mirada Pelham
- Phoebe Sparrow … Cast, Amelia Grey
- James Greene … Cast, Sir Mark Stiles
- Paul Copley … Cast, Mr. Albert Mason
- Charlie Anson … Cast, Larry Grey
- Matt Barber … Cast, Atticus Aldridge
- Peter Egan … Cast, Hugh "Shrimpie" Flintshire
- Antonia Bernath … Cast, Laura Edmunds
- Michael Cochrane … Cast, Reverend Travis
- Alastair Bruce … Cast, Brancaster Butler
- Amir Heath … Cast, Waiter at The Ritz
- Paul Prescott … Cast, Hospital Meeting Attendee
- Alice Shuttleworth … Cast, Hospital Meeting Attendee
- Kyra Williams … Cast, Hospital Meeting Attendee