*Warning: this is a semi-spoiler alert. I won’t name specific
characters, but if you haven’t made it through Season 3 of Downton Abbey and you plan to in the future and want to be surprised, you should probably stop
reading right about… NOW.
characters, but if you haven’t made it through Season 3 of Downton Abbey and you plan to in the future and want to be surprised, you should probably stop
reading right about… NOW.
-So Season 3 ended with yet another death. Ugh.
-Can I just say I knew it was going to happen? The first
second they showed that aerial shot of the car driving down the lane, I knew
something was wrong. The scenery was hauntingly beautiful, and whenever it gets
“hauntingly” anything around Downton, you know someone is probably about to
bite the dust.
second they showed that aerial shot of the car driving down the lane, I knew
something was wrong. The scenery was hauntingly beautiful, and whenever it gets
“hauntingly” anything around Downton, you know someone is probably about to
bite the dust.
-But on this specific scene, I just knew. Long before it
showed how carelessly he was driving. Long before it showed the truck coming
from the opposite direction. Because if they were going to give us a happy
ending to Season Three, there never would have been a car scene. There would
have been a hospital scene where the family rushes in to admire the newborn and
the babe is held up victoriously as the long awaited heir of the Abbey. That, my
friends, is how it should have happened. But then they had to show that stupid
car and the melancholy dirt road and they dashed our dreams of ever being happy
watching Downton Abbey again.
showed how carelessly he was driving. Long before it showed the truck coming
from the opposite direction. Because if they were going to give us a happy
ending to Season Three, there never would have been a car scene. There would
have been a hospital scene where the family rushes in to admire the newborn and
the babe is held up victoriously as the long awaited heir of the Abbey. That, my
friends, is how it should have happened. But then they had to show that stupid
car and the melancholy dirt road and they dashed our dreams of ever being happy
watching Downton Abbey again.
-So what’s up with British actors anyway? Where is their
longevity? Their steadfastness? Their commitment? Where are the Jennifer
Anistons and the Kelsey Grammers of the UK? Who wants out of a popular,
award-winning show after three seasons? Get with the program, people. Ten
seasons or bust… at the very least.
longevity? Their steadfastness? Their commitment? Where are the Jennifer
Anistons and the Kelsey Grammers of the UK? Who wants out of a popular,
award-winning show after three seasons? Get with the program, people. Ten
seasons or bust… at the very least.
-Speaking of steadfastness, were Jessica and Dan so
overwhelmed with the filming of Downton that they had to get out? The seasons
are SIX episodes long! Did this give them no other time on the side to pursue
other projects? I realize they are long episodes, but I have to imagine that it
is less demanding to film six 1-2 hour episodes than twenty-five {or more} 42 minute episodes of
an American season of television. I mean in the history of Downton Abbey, Dan
appeared in 25 episodes {over THREE seasons!} and Jessica appeared in only 20.
Sounds like an overwhelming amount of work. Good thing you got out when you
did.
overwhelmed with the filming of Downton that they had to get out? The seasons
are SIX episodes long! Did this give them no other time on the side to pursue
other projects? I realize they are long episodes, but I have to imagine that it
is less demanding to film six 1-2 hour episodes than twenty-five {or more} 42 minute episodes of
an American season of television. I mean in the history of Downton Abbey, Dan
appeared in 25 episodes {over THREE seasons!} and Jessica appeared in only 20.
Sounds like an overwhelming amount of work. Good thing you got out when you
did.
-I was pretty mad about the ending. So mad, in fact, that
when those annoying PBS people came on screen and started to ask for my money,
I couldn’t even get myself up off the couch to turn off the TV. This turned out
to be a blessing in disguise, because after about five minutes of the annoying
fundraising pitch, sweet little Angela Lansbury’s face popped up on the screen and
cheered me up instantly. How can you be mad or sad when Angela is smiling at
you? Answer: you can’t. This lady rocks. Think about… Murder She Wrote. Mrs.
Potts on Beauty and the Beast. Bedknobs and Broomsticks. PBS knew I would need
encouragement and they provided it in perfect form. Angela Lansbury for life.
when those annoying PBS people came on screen and started to ask for my money,
I couldn’t even get myself up off the couch to turn off the TV. This turned out
to be a blessing in disguise, because after about five minutes of the annoying
fundraising pitch, sweet little Angela Lansbury’s face popped up on the screen and
cheered me up instantly. How can you be mad or sad when Angela is smiling at
you? Answer: you can’t. This lady rocks. Think about… Murder She Wrote. Mrs.
Potts on Beauty and the Beast. Bedknobs and Broomsticks. PBS knew I would need
encouragement and they provided it in perfect form. Angela Lansbury for life.
-Then I tweeted something about Angela cheering me up and
she retweeted me! I mean it’s
technically her PR account, and I doubt she actually did it herself, but it was
her official Twitter account nonetheless. This is what I wrote in
response:
she retweeted me! I mean it’s
technically her PR account, and I doubt she actually did it herself, but it was
her official Twitter account nonetheless. This is what I wrote in
response:
The end.
Haha, great post. Like you, I knew what was coming the moment they showed him in that car.
Why couldn't they just live happily ever after??
Yep, the car was a giveaway. Everything was too good to be true. I get so emotional over fictional characters!
I was googling something several months ago and saw the spoiler that Matthew died. I was CRUSHED. But thankfully I had the whole season to emotionally prepare. But when Sybil died?! All bets were off. I did not handle that well!! And from what I've heard and read, they got super famous really fast from Downton, and they wanted to leave so they could take advantage of the fame and get better roles. It makes me SICK. I agree 100% with what you said about longevity and commitment. Plus, they were 2 main characters and 2 of the most well liked characters. I know the writer had no choice but to kill them off, but it's so sad. And I read that Dan refused to appear in any scenes again, so they couldn't even write a less tragic ending like him working in another country. Ugh! Way to disappoint the fans. And seriously, if I were an actor on that show, I would NEVER want to leave! The dialogue! The setting! The costumes! COME ON!!!
I think I'm still in denial that he's actually dead. But then when I think about the fact that the only option for him to be alive is to be paralyzed (AGAIN!), then I want him dead. I don't think I could deal with injured Matthew again. But seriously, our household is in mourning. We love(d) Matthew!
Lol! You're crackin' me up. So cool that she retweeted you! Yes, I'm sad about the end, too. I think that no more Crawleys should have babies, because every time they do one of the parents die!
It was so sad! I'm so glad you had Angela to console you. I watched on Hulu the next day and there was no after-show like on PBS. Ugh!
But you are so right, what is up with British actors being too taxed to continue with an internationally successful show for more than three seasons?!
Obviously the moral of the story is there is no happy ending at Downton! I was furious that they chose such a tragic ending.
This is totally different than when Denny died on Grey's Anatomy because although it was heart-wrenching, he was a peripheral character! Matthew and Sybil? Seriously?? WAH.
I knew something bad was going to happen at the hospital when Lady Mary stated that Downton Abbey now had an Heir. Just didn't know what until the car scene. I love, love your tweet. Who doesn't like Angela?