Downton Abbey: Season 4

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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Downton Abbey

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Season Details & Credits

PBS | ITV1 | ITV | INGTV | Season Premiere Date: September 22, 2013

Starring: Rob Collier, Phyllis Logan, Hugh Bonneville

Summary: The fourth season of the drama picks up six months after the end of the third season.

Creator: Julian Fellowes

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 4 Episodes

tbd
S4:E9. Christmas Special
Air Date: December 25, 2013
tbd
S4:E8. Episode 8
Air Date: November 10, 2013
tbd
S4:E7. Episode 7
Air Date: November 3, 2013

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Gail Pennington

Jan 9, 2014

The “Masterpiece” drama returns Sunday, recapturing some of the excitement that made America fall so hard for it three years ago. Read full review

David Hinckley

Jan 3, 2014

Much remains solid at the heart of rich Downton drama, and Fellowes has certainly shown in the past that he can bring it all back home. Read full review

Joanne Ostrow

Jan 6, 2014

Clearly, writer-creator Julian Fellowes knows how to keep fans hooked, cleverly playing out credible character traits across time, and knowing the breathless pace of change resonates with our current passage into another modern age. Read full review

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Chuck Barney

Jan 2, 2014

Viewers who look to Downton Abbey for loads of escapist splendor may want to temper their expectations when the wildly popular British drama returns for its fourth season on Sunday. Read full review

Alessandra Stanley

Jan 3, 2014

The narrative this time around is even more stretched, derivative and repetitive than Season 3’s, but almost ingeniously so: It is both utterly predictable and surprisingly addictive. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Jan 2, 2014

It's that very attraction--familiar characters acting with familiarity and only the slipperiest of soap schemes to throw them off course--that fuels this series. It's not particularly elite anymore, but it's incredibly efficient. Read full review

Willa Paskin

Jan 3, 2014

The show makes Granthams of all of us: content with what we have now (a middling costume soap opera) because we can still remember its glorious past (that first season). It’s safer and cozier than a show about open class warfare. Read full review

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User Score

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7.4

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User Reviews

ursomniac

Apr 24, 2014

As long as we have the Dowager Countess, there is no way that Downton Abbey can EVER disappoint.

Season 4 was a little dry, but FAR from a disappointment!

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

alejandro970

Nov 19, 2017

The addictive, remarkable british drama works as well as ever; the development is careful about the dillemas, the intrigues, the inner troubles of servants and the relatives. However, the epilogue episode fells a little unneedly long.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Felindie

Jul 15, 2019

The end of the season can be harsh, but still, 'Downton Abbey' season fourth is a good one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Justinavery7074

Oct 2, 2018

This season is the weakest of them so far. Without spoiling anything, they get rid of a character in the previous season and they chose to focus on another character that isn't nearly as interesting. Still good though

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nicholasbert

Jan 16, 2014

While still being a visual masterpiece for a tv-series, the fourth season lacked plot. I guess they thought they'd spiced things up with Mary's new suitors, but they actually didn't. I think this show needs to try harder to make the viewers perceive the passing of time and add a little bitWhile still being a visual masterpiece for a tv-series, the fourth season lacked plot. I guess they thought they'd spiced things up with Mary's new suitors, but they actually didn't. I think this show needs to try harder to make the viewers perceive the passing of time and add a little bit of action.

But Fellowes, being an aristocrat himself, is probably used to much slower, quieter, more upper-class paces than what we might be accustomed to. Let's see if season V grabs the bull by the horns and really transforms the Grantham family into something appealing.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

francisrgo

Jan 12, 2014

Not a great Season. Julian Fellows is basically rehashing old stories. No O'Brian but Thomas took over that job. I was happy when BBC announced Siobhan Finneran is leaving the show because she was just too cruel and wondered how they are going to deal with that. However, it was not good atNot a great Season. Julian Fellows is basically rehashing old stories. No O'Brian but Thomas took over that job. I was happy when BBC announced Siobhan Finneran is leaving the show because she was just too cruel and wondered how they are going to deal with that. However, it was not good at all. Some scenes and plots are completely unnecessary. I also feel that the Season could have done better in approaching the deaths of Lady Sybil and Matthew Crawley. I feel they just moved on too quickly.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Mimmi

Jan 13, 2014

Starting to loose its creative lure. Tragedy after tragedy does not make for good entertainment. It makes for a news show. There was more of an interesting story line in past. Hope it gets back to that soon. Last night's show was far too disturbing. I'll watch documentraries if I need aStarting to loose its creative lure. Tragedy after tragedy does not make for good entertainment. It makes for a news show. There was more of an interesting story line in past. Hope it gets back to that soon. Last night's show was far too disturbing. I'll watch documentraries if I need a heavy dose of that kind of reality.
Disappointed… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

80

Series Overview
Season 6

76
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: January 3, 2016
Season 5

75
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2014
Season 4

72
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E9. Christmas Special
  Air Date: December 25, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E8. Episode 8
  Air Date: November 10, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E7. Episode 7
  Air Date: November 3, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E6. Episode 6
  Air Date: October 27, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: October 20, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E4. Episode 4
  Air Date: October 13, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E3. Episode 3
  Air Date: October 6, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E2. Episode 2
  Air Date: September 29, 2013
- tbd
  S4:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: September 22, 2013
Season 3

83
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 16, 2012
Season 2

85
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 2011
Season 1

91
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2010