By Suzy Castillo

Downton Abbey: A New Era (UK, 2022): Full disclosure, I’m a Downton Abbey and Hugh Dancy fan so this will not be an unbiased review. When Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture was about to be released in 2019, I posted on Facebook that I was probably the only Indigenous person who was excited to see it. My post was quickly flooded by comments from friends who were also Indigenous and fans of the TV show.

The thing is, Downton Abbey as a franchise is about as pro-colonialism as you can get, yet it’s hard not to be delighted by this idealized world. Even the Indigenous satirical news site “The Walking Eagle” couldn’t help but be amazed by Downton’s production values, yet wary of accidental colonialism.

I’d describe Downton Abbey as a soap opera that will appeal to those who do not like soap operas. It follows the aristocratic Crowley family and their servants at their stately home, where afternoon tea and drama flow freely.

The good news is that even if you are unfamiliar with the television show, you may still be able to enjoy this film. If you are a fan of British productions or period dramas, this will be right up your alley. If none of those things appeal to you, then you better stock-up on popcorn before the film starts because this will be a long ride.

Downton Abbey: A New Era picks up from where The Motion Picture left off. For fans of the show, this film—like the first—is like watching a whole season in one go. The basic plot of A New Era has half the Crowleys staying at Downton while a silent film crew takes over the estate. The other half of the family heads off on an adventure in the south of France. This section is a spoiler minefield. All you need to know is that the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) inherited a villa in the French Riviera.

The two divergent plots work and is probably as close to a novel approach as the franchise will get. We even get to see one or two actors who are not British and not white!

I was at first wary of the Sex and the City 2 vibes of having Downton hit the road. After all, the whole point of the franchise is about the family’s life in the English countryside. However, the Downton Abbey abroad plot works and adds new opportunities for drama and period costumes. In terms of the silent film plot, The director of the silent film is the charming Hugh Dancy and probably one of the few British actors who has yet to be featured by the franchise. The silent film plot takes a lot of cues from the plot of Singing in the Rain but is entertaining, nonetheless.

4/5 cups of tea. Downton Abbey: A New Era is now playing.