Downton Abbey - Season 3

[SBETigg]

Maybe with so much time passing for us, too, we'll be over Matthew by then and ready for Mary to step out again. But I don't know. It seems like they're missing a key chance to show us some very fine acting and help us to move on by moving out six months from the big last scene. We'll never really see the impact of the loss on the family to the fullest. That is my one complaint with the show, that they drop all these bombs on us and then move on and never deal with the full dramatic impact. So I was glad to see Tom crying over Sybil again. It seemed fitting. But sometimes, they gloss over and let time pass too fast.

[TheDuckRocks]

Read this today from an interview with Julian Fellows, creator of Downton Abbey.

"I had hoped that we would have one episode of this fourth season that I'm writing now, so we could have ended the Christmas episode on a happy note, and then kill him in the first episode of the next series. But he didn't want to do that," Fellowes tells The New York Times of star Dan Stevens' desire to leave the show. "I didn't want his death to dominate the Christmas special, so that's why we killed him at the very, very end. In a way I think it works quite well because we begin Series 4 six months later. We don't have to do funerals and all that stuff. That's all in the past by then."

"When an actor playing a servant wants to leave, there isn't really a problem -- [that character gets] another job," he says. "With members of the family, once they're not prepared to come back for any episodes at all, then it means death. Because how believable would it be that Matthew never wanted to see the baby, never wanted to see his wife? And was never seen again at the estate that he was the heir to? So we didn't have any option, really. I was as sorry as everyone else."

[NotaGeek]

I can't believe how invested in this show I have become -- when Matthew was driving down the lane I KNEW it was coming and I still started yelling NO NO NO ... LOL! I was completely sad and just hope Mary doesn't turn sour again -- her character was just becoming awesome.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

Maybe with so much time passing for us, too, we'll be over Matthew by then and ready for Mary to step out again. But I don't know. It seems like they're missing a key chance to show us some very fine acting and help us to move on by moving out six months from the big last scene. We'll never really see the impact of the loss on the family to the fullest. That is my one complaint with the show, that they drop all these bombs on us and then move on and never deal with the full dramatic impact. So I was glad to see Tom crying over Sybil again. It seemed fitting. But sometimes, they gloss over and let time pass too fast.

Unfortunately that's the inherent problem with a series that only has 7 episodes in a season. While in a 25 episode season you can dedicate one or two episodes to dealing with the tragedy, and still have plenty of time to develop new story arcs, in a 6-8 episode season you just don't have that luxury, not if you have new stories to tell.

I wasn't particularly crazy about Matthew's character this season anyway, and his death seemed more fitting than Sybil's anyway, and it opens to door for new characters or additional character growth (like Robert taking Downton over again).

It will be a long wait.

[SBETigg]

Unfortunately that's the inherent problem with a series that only has 7 episodes in a season. While in a 25 episode season you can dedicate one or two episodes to dealing with the tragedy, and still have plenty of time to develop new story arcs, in a 6-8 episode season you just don't have that luxury, not if you have new stories to tell.

I wasn't particularly crazy about Matthew's character this season anyway, and his death seemed more fitting than Sybil's anyway, and it opens to door for new characters or additional character growth (like Robert taking Downton over again).

It will be a long wait.

Yes, I think I know a thing or two about story development, but thanks. They do have the luxury to explore more than they do, to pare focus down to a a few key storylines and even some minor ones without introducing big new issues and resolving them/forgetting them in the blink of an eye. They're spreading it thin to fit more in, perhaps. I know more than a few writers who would love to have a talk with Julian Fellowes about plotting. But... he has a successful thing going so we'll trust he knows his way, save for a few disappointments over character deaths that weren't really a fault of his.

[PirateLover]

Yes, I think I know a thing or two about story development, but thanks. .

Maybe it's because I watched the entire season over the course of 2 days, but I wasn't as dissapointed in it as many of you are. I was sad/shocked when I heard about the deaths of Sybil and especially Matthew(simply because the whole storyline had been built around him), which is why I watched ahead of time since I had already been so spoiled, but what can you do when the actors want to leave the series and have no intention of coming back? They originally signed on for 3 seasons. NO ONE foresaw the juggarnaut it would become. Still, Dan Stevens did a real disservice to the show that "made" him by making his decision so late in the game. Any way you slice it, he had to be killed off since he would not return for any episodes. It would make zero sense to have him leave Mary after a season of professing how in love they were. When I was first spoiled about his death I was pretty upset, but when push comes to shove I think the series can live on. I just wish he had told Julian Fellows from the start that he was done. I think the whole season may have played out differently, but, it is what it is now.

I am not a fan of the cousin either, an obvious attempt to replace Sybil, but I'll give her anotherr try. At the end of the day this is a fancy, glorified soap opera if we are being honest with our selves. All soap operas tend to ask you to suspend belief. Downton Abbey just does it in a more sophisticated kind of way

[c&d]

I can't say I'm disappointed that Matthew is gone. I think the storyline will be better with Mary being free again. I just didn't see her character being as good with her married with a child. She needs to be a free spirit.

[SBETigg]

I can't say I'm disappointed that Matthew is gone. I think the storyline will be better with Mary being free again. I just didn't see her character being as good with her married with a child. She needs to be a free spirit.

I can get over him, too. He really wasn't well suited to Mary from the start, though I think he did begin to make her a better person. I would like to see her with someone who will really stand up to her and challenge her. Also, maybe more sparks between her and Edith again. I like them to be happy but it does get dull.

[Melanie]

I'm okay with Matthew's demise as well. I was much more struck by Sybil's death, but now it's time to move on. I'm actually excited for new storylines.

[Aurora]

Okay, I'm resurrecting this thread because I finally got around to watching the entire season and I somehow managed NOT to read any spoilers or behind-the-scenes drama, and I have to tell you...

I was SHOCKED by Matthew's death. I too knew what would happen when he was driving (duh, kinda obvious, especially with the back and forth in the house), but I HATED that it actually happened. And after reading all of your comments now, and finding out that the next season will start six months later, I do feel cheated that we don't get to see the immediate aftermath (call me horrible).

BUT I absolutely loved the scenery, costumes, plotline setting, etc. of the final episode. Yes, it is a glorified soap opera, but how glorious!

And I can't believe no one mentioned Mrs. Patmore's subplot. Good for her!

[magicofdisney]

I was SHOCKED by Matthew's death. I too knew what would happen when he was driving (duh, kinda obvious, especially with the back and forth in the house), but I HATED that it actually happened. And after reading all of your comments now, and finding out that the next season will start six months later, I do feel cheated that we don't get to see the immediate aftermath (call me horrible).

This. ^

I too managed to avoid any and all spoilers so I was completely unprepared. I'm better now, through the passage of time, but it was difficult to digest in the beginning.

[SBETigg]

PBS had the option of switching airing dates to coincide with the British airing and cut down on spoilers, but they opted against it. They feel that the "buzz" from the UK airing drives us to it more. That might have been the case for the first and second season but now that we're all hooked, I wish they would curtail the potential for spoilers. Oh well. January 5th it is.

[Melanie]

PBS had the option of switching airing dates to coincide with the British airing and cut down on spoilers, but they opted against it. They feel that the "buzz" from the UK airing drives us to it more. That might have been the case for the first and second season but now that we're all hooked, I wish they would curtail the potential for spoilers. Oh well. January 5th it is.

Boo.

I've been seeing a few pics from the set. Toddler Sybil is a cutie!