Downton Abbey

[ZachnElli]

Are you freaking kidding me??

 

[Silver Queen]

I am heartbroken. I heard that Dan Stevens hadn't signed a contract for Season 4, but was hoping that it would get worked put. He had become such a pivotal character in the series this season. Don't know if they can fill the gap.

 

[Twende]

NOOOOOOOO!

 

[Family Fun Mom]

They better find a miraculous cure for auto-accident before next season, that's all I'm saying!

 

[MnMomtoboys]

They better find a miraculous cure for auto-accident before next season, that's all I'm saying!

There really isn't much hope since the actor decided to leave the show.

 

[Offsides]

I've not watched yet, but knew it was coming from reading the interview with the actor at the beginning of the season.

I think I could've handled Matthew dying better if they had not just lost Sybil. Does anyone know if that actress decided not to renew her contract as well? Seems strange that the writers would put 2 major deaths like that in the same season.

 

[bookgirl]

I love this series but the term jump the shark comes to mind. If he wanted to leave than they shouldn't have killed Sybil. By using the death card twice, so close together just felt angsty and too much. I couldnt even work up a gasp. as soon as the voice over started i knew and i was so dissapointed in the show. However this is actually common, the English seems to love a grandiose death scene. I have learned not to fall in love with characters in bbc shows. Now though it was maybe just too much and I don't feel any anticipation for a next season.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

There really isn't much hope since the actor decided to leave the show.

Don't ruin my dillusions... I'm not ready

 

[meggiebeth]

I love this series but the term jump the shark comes to mind. If he wanted to leave than they shouldn't have killed Sybil. By using the death card twice, so close together just felt angsty and too much. I couldnt even work up a gasp. as soon as the voice over started i knew and i was so dissapointed in the show. However this is actually common, the English seems to love a grandiose death scene. I have learned not to fall in love with characters in bbc shows. Now though it was maybe just too much and I don't feel any anticipation for a next season.

The actress who plays Sybil wanted to leave too. They really didn't have a choice, I guess, but to kill off both the characters. Actually, the English were terribly disappointed with this plot line too. I certainly was and the newspapers were going on about it too. I honestly am going to miss Matthew, he was one of my favourite characters! The series have all relied on him so I wonder what series 4 will be like.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jfranklyn]

It was bad enough watching it on a cold night in February - but from what I understand, this final episode was shown in the UK on CHRISTMAS DAY! Yikes!!! It really was SUCH a beautiful episode with the music and scenery and then BAM! Dead Matthew. NOT GOOD!!! And Mary was turning into SUCH a witch in recent episodes. I can't imagine what she's going to be like after this!

 

[bebelle]

I was planning on watching it tonight but after reading these posts.....I don't think I can. I was so upset when Sybil died. I just don't think I want that same sadness right now.

 

[meggiebeth]

It was bad enough watching it on a cold night in February - but from what I understand, this final episode was shown in the UK on CHRISTMAS DAY! Yikes!!! It really was SUCH a beautiful episode with the music and scenery and then BAM! Dead Matthew. NOT GOOD!!! And Mary was turning into SUCH a witch in recent episodes. I can't imagine what she's going to be like after this!

Yup, we saw it on Christmas Day. It left me depressed for the rest of the evening, that's for sure! I wonder how Mary will cope with it.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[meggiebeth]

I was planning on watching it tonight but after reading these posts.....I don't think I can. I was so upset when Sybil died. I just don't think I want that same sadness right now.

Do watch it, most of the episode is pretty happy. It's just the last minute or so that is so sad. As soon as Matthew leaves Mary with her baby at the hospital, turn it off, and you'll avoid seeing the accident.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[tink20]

Not happy at all

 

[Disney Ella]

I thought they should send Matthew to Australia to take care of a very important business matter. Since he'd have to travel by ship, the trip would be very long and he would be there for months. I really didn't like they killed off two new parents. I think they could have found a more creative way to handle one of the departures than killing the character. Sybil and Tom could have decided to make a new life in American with Shirley MacLaine's help.

 

[Geoff_M]

I think they could have found a more creative way to handle one of the departures than killing the character.

I agree, playing that card with TWO major characters in one season is a bit much. Tom & Sybil moving to America after Tom's legal troubles would have been believable and very period appropriate.

 

[ckay87]

Noooooooo!!!

Moral of the story: Don't get pregnant at Downton Abbey.

Didn't turn out well for Lady Cora, Lady Sybil, or Lady Mary (Matthew).

On the DA podcast I listen to, they described it as the Downton "one in, one out" policy.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I just watched the show.
Before this season aired I heard that Matthew would die but I didn't want to believe it. I do spoilers for daytime soaps but when it comes to my prime time shows I don't want to know. I loved being surprised! I can't believe it. No more new shows till 2014!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

I just watched the show.
Before this season aired I heard that Matthew would die but I didn't want to believe it. I do spoilers for daytime soaps but when it comes to my prime time shows I don't want to know. I loved being surprised! I can't believe it. No more new shows till 2014!

I had read it before, so I knew it was coming, but still didn't want to believe it. Just so so sad.

I am really disappointed that PBS couldn't get this show to the US any sooner. On top of the long wait, they have aired 3 episodes in 2-hour formats. So our "season" was even shorter. If I understand it correctly, the season starts in the UK in September and the finale is on Christmas...so roughly 3 months??? Yet ours is barely 2 months, and we have to wait 11 more for the next season.

I'm not really complaining. I love this show. I just want more of it!

 

[MomofKatie]

I thought they should send Matthew to Australia to take care of a very important business matter. Since he'd have to travel by ship, the trip would be very long and he would be there for months. I really didn't like they killed off two new parents. I think they could have found a more creative way to handle one of the departures than killing the character. Sybil and Tom could have decided to make a new life in American with Shirley MacLaine's help.

From what I heard, the problem was that the actor who plays Tom wanted to stay on the show, and Julian Fellowes (the creator and writer) wanted him to stay as well. So it really wouldn't make sense for Tom to be around Downton and Sybil to be absent unless she was killed off.

But I agree about 2 deaths being too much. They could have come up with something to take Matthew away from Downton for an extended period- heck, Lady Mary is pretty mean, maybe they could have had a major falling-out over something and he decided to live apart from her or something.

Oh, well- I will still impatiently for Season 4!! Even without Matthew and Sybil, I love the show.