MovieChat Forums > The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) Discussion > Maggie Smith's storyline and resolution ...

Maggie Smith's storyline and resolution confusing (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by hellogoodbyechloe
29 replies | jump to latest

Help please! I am so confused about the whole storyline and resolution with Maggie Smith's character. I don't know if I blinked and missed something really important, but there were so many hints to her leaving and then nothing seemed to actually come of it. Did she leave? Did she die? What happened?! And if she left, why did she? I understood she didn't want a fuss but no reasons were mentioned (that I saw anyway).

Help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[–] wrlord2001 9 years ago

Was it really too subtle for you?

[–] hellogoodbyechloe 9 years ago

Well, I guess so, seeing as I asked...

[–] cpoet 9 years ago

It was very subtle.

She looked quite shaken when she emerged from her doctor appointment, leading us to consider she might have received a terminal prognosis--an assumption that was supported by all her later references to being "gone" and Jay's premonition that he needed to leave his reception and race off to find Mrs. Donnelly.

I got a little bit tired of Maggie Smith's primary storyline being "dying." She had such a terrific arc in the first movie and her last scene with David Strathairn was meaty and could have been expanded.

[–] zocolofishing 8 years ago

What was confusing to us was. If the buying of the new hotel was funded by Kushal's father. We thought they didn't even use the American company's investment anymore. So how did that ending even make any sense, with David (Ty)? Explain...

It almost seemed more like she was doing an under-handed deal with him or something, to us, leading to a 3rd movie.

[–] disneyed 9 years ago

wrlord was a pi$$y a$$! It was "too subtle" for me also.

I could not decide if she left the hotel, never to be seen again, or if she was saying simply she was sorry she could not see them off on their honeymoon. I thought it was sweet how they had Sonny sense something was wrong and go to her. And I am really glad she was not dead when he got there! I guess it's one of those choose your ending movies, and mine ALWAYS end happily!

"You find a glimmer of happiness in this world, there's always someone who wants to destroy it." JD

[–] wrlord2001 9 years ago

I submit that you should put down your video games and actually pay attention when people are acting.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hellogoodbyechloe 9 years ago

Ah thanks very much guys! I must have missed the hospital appointment bit, so it all makes much more sense now. :)

Thank you both for taking the time to respond so thoroughly and politely! :)

[–] francefirstclass 9 years ago

The ending of the movie re Maggie Smith was the only part of the movie I didn't enjoy. The rest of the movie was so heartwarming that, to me, that ending was a real downer.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

it's hinted that she is going tp die, but nothing is explained about what of, or why she isn't receiving medical treatment for whatever mystery ailment she has got, like everything else in this film, it doesn't make much sense. her character doesn't appear like the type who would just give up.

[–] irishhone 9 years ago

It was subtle -- so much in fact I came in here to find out what I missed ... What the hell happened to her --- I hope in part 3 it's explained by her leaving with David straithern

[–] fanaticita 9 years ago

I especially liked her last line about.. . .."there is no time like the present. . .. no present like time"

[–] ricky_says_hi 8 years ago

There are a couple of hints early on that don't really make much sense until the final scene. She comes from the doctor looking a little troubled, and she makes a comment to Sonny about being able to do things when she's no longer around. So it seems to be that she's got bad news from the doctor and doesn't have too long to live. So while she doesn't die at the end, she's accepted that she will die soon and that's why she makes sure everything is in order with the second hotel before resigning to enjoy the rest of the time she has.

[–] SataiDelen 8 years ago

Yeah, this is the only thing I could figure. It was very obvious that something was very wrong when she emerged from the doctor's, and she kept dropping hints to anyone who would listen, but no one (aside from Sonny, apparently) seemed to really want to listen. I can only imagine she has/had some form of cancer, perhaps inoperable. Thing is, as others have said, considering her character in the first movie, it really doesn't make sense that she's simply giving up in this one. She of all of them is, or rather was, the fighter.

While this movie was definitely better than I was expecting, I found the ending with things being so up in the air with her, highly disappointing. And I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with those seeking a third movie. Unless it resolves Muriel's storyline, there is no need for a third.

EMOTICONS ARE BACK! YAY!   

[–] Howlin Wolf 8 years ago

I wish they'd been slightly more specific about what the diagnosis was - after all, every one of us is going to be 'not around' at some point, regardless of age... It just comes sooner for some than for others!



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] michaeljburnside 8 years ago

Ok if you remember the first movie when she is invited to the maids family shack she tells her the story of how she used to nanny for a family and did the finances,raised the kids as her own and then the children grew up and she was found no longer of any use she passed on the torch so to speak and was no goodbyes or anything.
Well this story is basically mirrored in the marigold hotel saga. She takes over running the family (the residents) affairs and raises the kids (sonny and sunena) as if they were her own. Towards the end of the movie Sonny has come into his own and Mrs Donelly is no longer of use.

[–] monstermayhem32 8 years ago

I got the impression was dying why she was resigning from the hotel or maybe she realized it was time to live her own life.