‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ Review: The Beloved Franchise Bows Out on a Confident Parting Note

All good things must come to an end. Even “Downton Abbey,” the beloved historical drama that launched an instant fandom in 2010 when it started off as a lavish TV series about the inner workings of an aristocratic post-Edwardian family, the Crawleys, and their devoted staff.

Since then, writer-creator Julian Fellowes has gracefully transformed the series into an equally alluring three-film trilogy. And with the elegant and sharply humorous final edition, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” he proves yet again that he knows exactly how to harness the elements that made the show so steadily captivating, beyond its gorgeous costumes and detailed production design: a commitment to consistent character work across the era’s social class lines, as well as a handsomely sober portrayal of the past with a steady gaze toward the future.

In that, many hardcore “Downton” devotees will know that one of the mainstay themes of the franchise…