Yes No Maybe So: "Downton Abbey"
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 8:00AM 
Welcome to Downton Abbey
The new trailer for Downton Abbey has arrived. Or two new trailers. Or perhaps one of them is older... well, we lose track these days as films have so many promos and so many versions of each trailer. At any rate it's officially time to get excited about the big screen union of everyone's favourite early 20th century posh costume drama. Let's do the Yes No Maybe So thing after the jump...
THE TRAILER(s) IN QUESTION
YES
Oh here we go...
• The "cast" card says it all really. Instead of actors names, an ingenous touch -- just the character names: Lord Grantham, Lady Grantham, Lady Mary Talbot, Henry Talbot, The Dowager Countess of Grantham, Tom Branson, Lady Pelham, Lord Pelham, Lady Merton, Lord Merton, Thomas Barrow, Mr Carson, Mrs Patmore, Mrs Hughes, Mr Bates, Mrs Bates, Daisy Mason, Andy Parker, Mr Molesley, Miss Baxter. Iconic characters, well some of them at least, at this point after six seasons and a decade in the public consciousness.
• As per usual peaks at Dame Maggie Smith getting the best lines at the Dowager Countess. Especially love that bit where she needs help to get up after a curtsy. Or in the other trailer where she and Lady Merton (the former Isabel Crawley, played by Penelope Wilton) square off.
• Part of the joy of Downton Abbey (and all posh costume dramas, really) is the clothes and environments and they're definitely aware of that, showing off in the trailers.
• About half of the beloved characters get their own little visual intros in the trailers, but Carson (Jim Carter) gets pride of place with his own roping-back-in to the narrative "I'll be there in the morning" since he had been forced to retire at the end of Season 6.
• The plot appears to involve a kind of turf war between royal staff, and the familiar Downton staff which could be lots of fun in an upstairs/downstairs/uppity-downstairs kind of way.
I never argue. I explain.
• New characters! The great Imelda Staunton has arrived to face off with Maggie Smith. We will take one feature film spin-off with just the two of them, please. (Trivia note: Imelda Staunton is actually married to Jim Carter who played "Carson" all throughout the series)
• Tom Branson looks to be getting yet another class-inappropriate romance. But we love to look longingly at Allen Leech so that's alright by us. Speaking of drool-worthy couples: Michelle Dockery & Matthew Goode was such a great match of ridiculously uppercrust hotness in that final season that it'll be nice to see it more fleshed out with one more go-round.
NO
What?
• Look, we hate to support the full-blown death of cinema by "brands" but this is Downton Abbey so we have to cry uncle, or at least ring the bell for uncle politely. But we might feel crappy about doing it, if the movie isn't at least as good as the worst season of the show.
• Wait where is Spratt, the Dowager Countess's butler? He was always great with Maggie Smith. It's already sad that not every character who ever appeared in that wonderful show will be included in the movie. No zombie Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) or zombie Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay).
• Please note that there seems to be no plot whatsoever apart from the King & Queen coming for a visit and everyone getting really anxious about it. It is entirely posible that this is all there is as plot goes since this might just be Fan-Service: The Movie and consist of nothing more than 37 character re-introductions before the curtain call.
MAYBE SO
• Ohmygod. They're giving Thomas a romance? Is there going to be so much fan-service that they give even the formal beloved villains redemption arcs?
• This will be a very difficult balancing act to pull off. On the one hand they do need to do fan-service and give each character their due. On the other hand if there was one painfully true valid critique of the series it's that it was endlessly repetitive (What horrible thing will happen to Mr & Mrs Bates this time? What scheme will nearly backfire on Thomas and yet somehow he will manage to keep his job? In what way will icy Lady Mary's heart show itself? What humiliating thing will happen to ?
Regardless of worries that this will be fun fanservice at best and a giant commercial for its past glory at worst, I'm not even going to pretend I won't be there on opening night. A total yes for me.
How about you? Are you ready for a very modern 1927 in movie theaters this fall?!? Will you be there with your entire entourage (maids, cooks, underbutlers, and footmen) in September?
Reader Comments (22)
I need this shit in my life ASAP
I don't get why not making another season instead of a movie?! Even a miniseries, like Treme's last season. This is going to be so rushed
I'm pleased that at least it appears to be a simple story that can be told in two hours, as opposed to the Sex And the City movie, which was basically a season masquerading as a (terribly overlong) movie. The costumes OF COURSE are to die for, there are some absolutely gorgeous shots of Downton (hopefully they will use the big screen to its fullest), and the humor and warmth appear to be just as they were on the show. I couldn't be more of a YES for this - if all the trailer had to offer was Dames Imelda and Maggie sharing the screen I would be a yes!
Well yeah, obvs, but I my expectations aren't very high that this will be a great film. But if we get some great one-liners from the Dowager Countess it will be worth the investment.
I'm going to see the movie but I hate the poster. Mainly: Look at Carson's legs!
I am THERE on opening weekend. Allen Leech in a suit alone is reason enough.
Meh...I remember losing interest in the show after about 3 seasons (as it started to, you know, suck), so I'm not all that into the movie. Maybe if it gets good responses I'll rent it later on.
I'm dubious of the energy of this trailer being "Downton is just one big happy team! Isn't aristocracy glamourous!" I recall there being at least mild critique of the rigid class system to go along with all the wealth fantasy escapism. Am I remembering that wrong?
I told them I would only do it if I could go full bohemian, and really live it up in London.
But... I did have a lovely time and got some new outfits.
A big, bored meh from me, too. Carson's leg is just another oy to the vey.
I'm a definite yes but I don't love the poster....poor Edith pushed into the background again!!
Can we be glad that Happy Hogan is now alive just so he can watch this film?
Not even if they cast me.
Joel -- LOL. it's true. She's almost back there with "the help"
Yes. Absolutely, completely, totally, utterly, perfectly, entirely, wholly, thoroughly, unreservedly yes.
Maybe so from me.
With Bells On!
If there can be 7,000 superhero movie remakes with similar plot lines then, by god, there can be one random Downton Abbey film - even if it is just fan service. I'll love every second of it, just like the theater full of 60-something white women that will surround me. I only hope we get a Viking River Cruise commercial before the opening credits.
i'm a little disappointed it's not downton abbey: edith's revenge but i'll be there so see barrow polishing the hardwood...
Maggie is off to the Oscars again 😍
i mean the whole plot is going to be a dinner party? er.... No.
I need more of Downton Abbey. It has to continue into the '30's, at least.