Even a decade after its final episode, Downton Abbey remains one of the greatest historical dramas to grace our screens. Starring a host of talented British and Irish actors, including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Allen Leech, and the late Dame Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey premiered in 2010 and followed the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in early 20th-century England, set against the backdrop of historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and World War I.
Every great television show understands the power of a strong season finale, and across the series’ six-season run, Downton gave us season finales that delivered everything from high-stakes drama and heart-stopping cliffhangers to heartfelt emotional payoffs. But which Downton Abbey season finale stands above the rest? Whether you’re a longtime fan or a recent viewer, this list will help you relive the best (and worst!) of Downton Abbey’s memorable finales.
6
“A Journey to the Highlands”
Season 3, Episode 9 (2012)
Season 3’s finale episode is infamous only for its ending — the sudden, heart-breaking death of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens). After lulling us into a false sense of security with a plot that revolved around a relatively quiet trip to Scotland, where we meet new characters who don’t have much long-term significance, the episode’s final moments cement themselves as the most shocking in Downton Abbey history. Matthew’s death, just after welcoming his son and heir into the world—which one could argue Downton had spent its entire run building to—left fans in tears and set up a major shift for Season 4 (and the series as a whole).
The third season was already devastating, having surprised viewers mid-season with the horrifying death of Sybil Crawley (Jessica Brown Findlay), and Matthew’s sudden death seemed to only add insult to injury. After two seasons of rooting for Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Matthew, plus another season spent awaiting the birth of their child, it felt cruel to tear apart the hard-won couple. Of course, Matthew’s death was due to actor Dan Stevens’ desire to leave the show in order to diversify his acting career, and not a part of Downton‘s original plan, but it was frustratingly abrupt and left viewers wishing more care had been put into Stevens’ departure.
5
“A Moorland Holiday”
Season 5, Episode 9 (2014)
Season 5’s finale had its moments, but it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of any truly dramatic stakes. The highlight of the episode is Mr. Carson’s (Jim Carter) much-anticipated proposal to Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan), which is undeniably heartwarming. Edith’s (Laura Carmichael) slow-burn story begins to wrap up, as Robert (Hugh Bonneville) finally learns the truth about her daughter, Marigold (Karina Samms), but it lacks a satisfying dramatic punch after the arc’s frustrating, seasons-long melodrama. The moorland hunting trip at Brancaster Castle provides a truly gorgeous scenic change of pace, but overall, this episode doesn’t measure up to Downton’s more powerful finales.
What further drags this finale down is the ongoing drama with the Bateses, who—after getting together in Season 2—are a source of never-ending frustration for viewers. Between Anna’s (Joanne Froggatt) arrest for Green’s (Nigel Harman) murder, Mr. Bates’ (Brendan Coyle) prima donna confession letter, and Anna’s eventual absolution, we were happy to see the back of the Bateses’ most substantial plot line. This, combined with the exit of fan-favorite character Tom Branson (Allen Leech), marks the end of Season 5 as nothing to write home about. A solid but ultimately unspectacular finale.
4
“The London Season”
Season 4, Episode 9 (2013)
Season 4’s “The London Season” had some fun, enjoyable moments, but it felt relatively lightweight compared to our next three finales. It centers around Rose’s (Lily James) debutante season in London, and, while it’s always great to spend some time outside of Yorkshire and the iconic Abbey, there’s no real emotional weight here. The subplot involving the Prince of Wales’ (Oliver Dimsdale) missing love letter adds some intrigue, but it doesn’t feel urgent or even particularly relevant to Downton.
The episode is not without its highlights, however. The fires of the ongoing Mr. Bates/Anna/Mr. Green drama are fanned when Mrs. Hughes and Mary find an incriminating train ticket in Bates’ coat pocket and agree to keep it a secret, signaling that we are mercifully nearing the end of this truly horrendous plotline. Mary is courted by multiple suitors, and we love to see it, even if Matthew’s death still stings (although this doesn’t really progress in her storyline in any meaningful way). There are some sweet moments, like Edith’s decision to keep her baby (though this plot point eventually becomes a real thorn in the side of Downton Abbey viewers) and the burgeoning romance between Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes (the episode ends with a lovely beach scene that highlights this), but Season 4’s finale lacked high stakes and lasting consequences.
3
“Christmas at Downton Abbey”
Season 2, Episode 9 (2011)
The Season 2 finale was the series’ first Christmas special, and perhaps the last time Downton Abbey viewers knew true joy before the series finale. While setting up future arcs—Mr. Bates’ conviction for the alleged murder of his ex-wife, Sybil’s elopement with Branson and news that the couple are expecting a baby, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and Mary revealing the truth about Mr. Pamuk (Theo James) to Robert and Matthew respectively—the episode begins the tradition of Christmas-themed season finales and the Crawleys’ Christmas traditions provide some lovely, cozy moments. With World War I in the rearview, Season 2’s finale foreshadows the upcoming social changes that will go on to test Downton Abbey.
“Christmas at Downton Abbey” also wraps up Downton’s worst relationship arc—Mary’s engagement under duress to Sir Richard Carlisle (Iain Glen)—and closes with one of the series’ most iconic moments: Matthew’s beautiful, snowy proposal to Mary, after a season of emotional turmoil for the couple. Seeing Matthew and Mary so blissfully happy is enough to make your heart swell, even though we know the couple’s fate. This finale is a gorgeous episode that expertly balances romance, drama, and much-needed resolution.
2
“The Finale”
Season 6, Episode 9 (2015)
What a beautiful, feel-good ending to a beloved show. Downton Abbey’s series finale does right by its characters, giving viewers a deeply satisfying conclusion that is still grounded in realism. Everyone gets a happy ending — what’s not to love? Mary finds her happily ever after (until the Downton Abbey movies, at least), Edith finally gets her dream wedding and a happy ending, Anna and Bates have their baby, and the ever-dutiful Mr. Carson is given the chance to retire with dignity.
The episode drives home one of Downton Abbey’s central themes: while Downton may evolve with the times, its legacy endures, and the series’ final scene—a beautiful New Year’s Eve celebration complete with our favourite characters singing Auld Lang Syne—manages to make the end feel like a new beginning. While predictable, it gives much-deserved closure to almost every character without any eleventh-hour silliness to upend a wonderful send-off. “The Finale” was the perfect way to say goodbye to one of television’s greatest historical dramas.
1
“Episode Seven”
Season 1, Episode 7 (2010)
Downton Abbey’s first season finale is simply a masterclass in dramatic storytelling and emotional stakes. Throughout Season 1, tensions have been building: from the Crawleys’ inheritance crisis, to Matthew and Mary’s evolving relationship amidst the Mr. Pamuk scandal. Cora’s surprise pregnancy and heartbreaking miscarriage at the hands of O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran) is one of the series’ most devastating moments, and the rivalry between Mary and Edith becomes even more dire when Edith is revealed to have originated the rumors about her sister and Mr. Pamuk.
Then, as the personal dramas of the Crawley family reach their peak, Downton hits us with yet another dramatic blow. Even though the episode opens with news of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand reaching Downton, they still manage to make Robert receiving the news that Britain is at war with Germany feel like a surprise. The final seconds of Season 1’s finale do wonders to establish the grand scope of Downton Abbey’s storytelling, leaving viewers desperate to see what happens next.
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