Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery Revealed An Alternate Ending For The Grand Finale, And I Agree With Her On Why The Final Version Is Better

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Warning: SPOILERS for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale are ahead!

While the second *Downton Abbey* film was titled *A New Era*, the release of *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* in 2025 truly delivered on that idea of a fresh start. The movie concluded with Lady Mary Talbot, played by Michelle Dockery, officially becoming the head of the family estate. As she stood in the main hall, she reflected on cherished memories of loved ones who had passed away. Dockery recently shared a different possible ending to *The Grand Finale*, but she, like me, believes the final version was the stronger choice.

Michelle Dockery told THR that the hardest part of filming the final scene was keeping herself from crying, as Mary’s character is known for being strong and reserved. She imagined Mary remembering loved ones who had passed away, and the crew even played music to help Dockery connect with those emotions and portray the scene authentically.

There were a few different ideas for how the show could end. One version showed Mary returning to her job at the library. Ultimately, they chose to finish with the scene honoring Maggie, which I believe was the strongest choice. I always thought it was the perfect way to conclude the story. The final scene, with Mary, Cora, and Robert saying goodbye, really captured the feeling of moving forward and saying farewell – and that’s what I think the audience needed.

More About Downton Abbey

As a total Downton Abbey fanatic, I recently had the chance to chat with the cast about the series finale. I asked them to pick their *favorite* Maggie Smith moment – seriously, trying to choose just one is impossible! Now, I’m on a mission to find some behind-the-scenes tidbits or Easter eggs that I might have missed. It’s amazing how much detail they packed into that show!

“Wink Murder” is a playful game the cast of *Downton Abbey*, including Maggie Smith, often played on set. It became such a habit that it sometimes accidentally appeared in the final filmed scenes!

After Mary took over Downton Abbey, her parents, Robert and Cora, moved into the house where Mary’s grandmother, Violet Crawley, had lived in her final years. While a scene of Mary at the desk would have clearly shown the shift in leadership, Michelle Dockery believes the scene in the main hall was more emotionally impactful. For fans of the series, seeing the archive footage of Violet, Matthew, and Sybil was likely a touching moment.

Michelle Dockery discussed how the alternate ending of *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* could have been misinterpreted, potentially giving viewers the wrong idea about Mary’s current situation as the estate’s new owner. She explained that, in her opinion:

Mary isn’t actually isolated; she’s surrounded by the house staff and will soon be joined by family. The story feels optimistic and suggests a positive future for her. I especially appreciate that Mary ultimately finds happiness and independence. While this part of her life is concluding, it’s also a fresh start, and she’s ready to embrace her role as the head of the household. It feels less like a definitive ending and more like the beginning of something new.

Both previous *Downton Abbey* movies felt like they could have been the end of the story that began with the TV series (2010-2015), but this one truly feels like the final chapter. While the world of Downton Abbey could be revisited in the future with a story set many years later, Michelle Dockery says this feels like a definitive ending for Mary and the other characters we’ve followed. The movie concludes with a glimpse of all the main characters happily living their lives, including Mary with her two children.

See the last installment of the *Downton Abbey* story in movie theaters now! Don’t miss TopMob’s review of *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale*. You can stream the original series and the first two films with a Peacock subscription.

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2025-09-17 03:38