Just finished the Season 3 finale with DD - a day late and a dollar short!
We got all 3 seasons on DVD, and we've only been watching since Christmas. Here are my thoughts:
I do love the show. In general, I think the entire world and stories about Downton are fantastic, but I have a few bones to pick with Jullian Fellowes, the writer.
I do think 2 major deaths in the same season was a bit much. I understand that the actors wanted to leave, but there must have been more creative ways to end a character than always having them kick the bucket. It just seems to be a bit lazy on the writer's part to use the same device twice, in such a short time.
Also, DD and I noted that he "borrows" themes and stories from other sources. For example, Ethyl's story sounds a lot like Fantine in Les Miserables, no? And Michael Gregson the newspaper editor/Edith's new boyfriend - I suppose he has read "Jane Eyre"? If the newspaper offices get burned down and he goes blind, I'll really be suspicious.
And a minor issue, but did he have to give the under-butler and the former chauffer such similar names - Thomas Barrow and Tom Branson? Completely different characters, but sometimes, in speech, we get them confused.
Now, as for Thomas, I am liking his story more and more. Yes, I did almost feel sorry for him when he was about to get fired without a reference, after being set up by that awful O'Brien. And bailing out drunk Jimmy at the fair only shows that he still loves him, even though he knows that love will never be reciprocated. The fact that he DOES love someone, other than himself, almost redeems his other badness - stealing the wine and locking poor Isis in the shed.
O'Brien, on the other hand, seems to have no discernable goodness. Zero. Other than being almost sorry for the soap incident - but that was only because she thought she would get in trouble, rather than any real remorse.
Not sure I like the new characters. It is getting hard to keep track of who likes who - I think Daisy likes Alfred, who likes Ivy, and Ivy likes Jimmy. Not sure who Jimmy likes, but we know it is not Thomas. But at least they are friends now - that was nice.
As for the "upstairs" folks, of course, I love Grand-mama. Loved Mrs. Levinson(Shirley MacLaine) too, but I was sad she was only in the first two episodes. I was hoping we would see her again at Sybil's funeral.
I also thought that Mary would be nicer to poor Edith after Sybil's death, but that only lasted a short while. Maybe she will be a little softer around the edges, now that she is both a mother and a widow. Edith needs to find just ONE boyfriend that will actually work out.
The major beef I have with Lord Grantham's character was his "where-did-that-come-from" affair with the maid Jane. That came completely out of left field and made me wonder why Fellowes put that in. Also, I'd like him to be a bit more remorseful about both the affair and his loss of their money and almost losing the estate. With Matthew gone, I hope Tom will keep Lord Grantham from making more bad decisions - did you all catch that reference to "Charles Ponzi"?
I used to like Cora, but she's getting a bit annoying - she always seems like she is talking to a kindergartener.
Anna and Bates seem almost boring now that all their dramatics are over. And a bit too lovey-dovey - I'd like to see their first fight!
And Carson - well, the scene with him holding baby Sybie was just too cute.
All in all, I still love the show and can't wait to see Season 4, but I do hope the writer stops with the cheap plot twists - Mrs. Hughes has cancer! No, she doesn't! - and comes up with more original story lines.
