For legions of devoted fans, the final curtain call on the Downton Abbey universe in 2025 left a gaping hole in their Sunday night viewing. With the saga's grand finale, including series, films, and the September 2025 release of 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale', many have been searching for a new historical fixation. The answer, it seems, has been waiting for them since 2020 in the form of ITV's sumptuous series, Belgravia.
A Fellowes Creation with a Distinct Flavour
Crafted by the same mastermind behind Downton, Julian Fellowes, and based on his 2016 novel, Belgravia offers a familiar yet distinct allure. It inherits a prestigious pedigree, sharing executive producers Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant from its blockbuster predecessor. However, producer Neame is keen to highlight the difference, describing Belgravia as a self-contained story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, contrasting with Downton's expansive, ongoing saga.
The drama launches at the real-life Duchess of Richmond's ball in Brussels in 1815. Here, we meet James and Anne Trenchard, a wealthy couple portrayed by Philip Glenister and Tamsin Greig, whose fortune is built on trade rather than title. Their daughter, Sophia, captures the heart of Edmund Bellasis, heir to a powerful aristocratic family, setting in motion a secret with repercussions that unravel over two decades later in the elite, newly-built London district of Belgravia.
Class Conflict and Critical Acclaim
At its core, Belgravia masterfully explores the fierce friction between the old aristocracy and the nouveau riche. As one IMDb reviewer succinctly put it, the series depicts "the war of the classes." This tension is embodied by the stellar cast, which includes the late Tom Wilkinson and Harriet Walter as the Earl and Countess of Brockenhurst, representing the established order looking down upon the socially ambitious Trenchards.
The series has been a hit with critics, securing a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and described as "delightfully soapy." It compensates for its narrower scope compared to Downton with a more focused, mystery-driven plot that had viewers hooked. Visually, it is a feast for the eyes, delivering the opulent sets and meticulously detailed Victorian costumes that period drama enthusiasts crave.
The Verdict for Downton Devotees
For those mourning the end of Downton Abbey, Belgravia presents the perfect remedy. It delivers the same high-quality production, intricate social commentary, and absorbing narrative twists, all wrapped up in a complete, six-episode package. It proves that while the Downton saga may have concluded, the appetite for sophisticated, Fellowes-penned drama is far from satisfied. As one satisfied viewer noted, it's all about "Tea and scandal, great for Sunday nights."
