Downton Abbey -- Season 3 on PBS

[victoriaheidi]

Sybil was one of the most likable people on the show, easily.

Jeez, Robert, you're constantly proving that--well, you've spent all of season three proving why we shouldn't trust you. Time to redeem yourself, man!

[centerstage01]

Has Jessica Brown Findley ever done any kind of interviews since this episode aired in Britain? Or since it's aired here? I was just curious to know what her thoughts were on the episode and her feelings about saying goodbye to the character and her "family".

[Latte]

Sybil was one of the most likable people on the show, easily.

Jeez, Robert, you're constantly proving that--well, you've spent all of season three proving why we shouldn't trust you. Time to redeem yourself, man!

Yes and I liked Him SO much the first season.

[victoriaheidi]

Has Jessica Brown Findley ever done any kind of interviews since this episode aired in Britain? Or since it's aired here? I was just curious to know what her thoughts were on the episode and her feelings about saying goodbye to the character and her "family".

My mom and I speculate that she may have chosen to leave, too.

[Artemis@BC]

Has Jessica Brown Findley ever done any kind of interviews since this episode aired in Britain? Or since it's aired here? I was just curious to know what her thoughts were on the episode and her feelings about saying goodbye to the character and her "family".

I just did a quick search on the tube of you and found one very brief one with Elizabeth McGovern, talking about it not being much of a surprise because of her already-launched Hollywood career.
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Haven't found any interviews with Findley herself though.

(But I did inadvertently find an end-of-season spoiler. Grrrr! Stupid me, no one to blame but myself. )

[IceAlisa]

I heard that the actress who played Sybil wanted out as she had something cooking in Hollywood.

[Japanfan]

I heard that the actress who played Sybil wanted out as she had something cooking in Hollywood.

What I heard was that she quit because she wanted to pursue a Hollywood career.

[Bostonfan]

Well at least last night's episode tied up the Cora/Robert issue. I liked that the Dowager was given more than just pithy comments in this episode. She saw that her son and DIL were in pain, and did what she had to do to get them to grieve together.

And finally the previews show that at last Bates is out of jail (did you ever notice that his limp is gone when he's walking in the prison yard? The jail must have awesome rehab facilities). Anna's got to be feeling pretty frisky since their wedding night, so I'm glad she's going to get some.

While I think Robert is out of touch and being a prig, I kinda agreed that it's a little ghoulish to name the baby Sybil.

Ivy is a complete yawn. Not much being developed there with the new characters in general. I did like the moment with Daisy and Jimmy when she referenced William used to playing the piano. I wonder if she'll follow through on Mr. Mason's offer to run the farm. On the one hand I think it's a good move for the character, but as a viewer it's hard to imagine the Downton kitchen without the dynamic duo of Mrs. Patmore and Daisy. They should develop their own line of jams and puddings.

Mrs. Hughes continues to be my sentimental favorite. Her handling of Mr. Carson was masterful, and I think she'll nudge him bit by bit into the modern world.

So with Bates back, there's the issue of who will be Earl G's valet. Is Mosely still Matthew's valet? While I'm sure Tom will be resentful of his return, I'm curious how Jimmy, Alfred and all the other newbies will react to Mr. Bates.

[Artemis@BC]

So with Bates back, there's the issue of who will be Earl G's valet. Is Mosely still Matthew's valet? While I'm sure Tom will be resentful of his return, I'm curious how Jimmy, Alfred and all the other newbies will react to Mr. Bates.

If I were running Downton, I'd redeploy Bates to work on the estate managment side of things under Matthew's new scheme, once that gets underway. Mind you I'm sure that will take a while, given Robert's reluctance to change anything. Of course Thomas (I assume you meant Thomas -- Tom is Branson) will be resentful whatever happens, the only thing he'd be satisfied with would be if Bates were to become 3rd footman so Thomas could lord it over him.

I too am glad things are back on track with Cora & Robert. I for Violet, yet again.

[IceAlisa]

What I heard was that she quit because she wanted to pursue a Hollywood career.

Right, which is what I meant. I think she had something in the works in Hollywood.

[skatesindreams]

I disliked the Dowager's "manipulations" in this episode.
We may find it "creepy" to name the baby after her dead mother; however, this was common at the time.

[Bostonfan]

I disliked the Dowager's "manipulations" in this episode.
We may find it "creepy" to name the baby after her dead mother; however, this was common at the time.

Common for boys to be named after their fathers, but I think less so for women.

I disagree that the Dowager was doing her usual manipulations. Manipulation is when she told Dr. Clarkson to have William be excluded from army service due to a non-existent medical condition. That's very different from what she did in this episode. She was quite correct in making Dr. Clarkson re-examine the evidence and evaluate the likely outcome had a C-section been done. Of course she approached Clarkson in order to mend the rift between her son and DIL, but in this case she was operating on a more solid foundation. Clarkson stated the other doctor was wrong to dismiss the signs that Sybil exhibited, but in no way was he lying or stretching the truth when he told them that her chances of living were infintesimally small if they had gone with his advice.

[IceAlisa]

I disliked the Dowager's "manipulations" in this episode.

I, OTOH, thought she did a very kind thing. It really is true that the C-section was a total crapshoot and the Doctor wasn't lying when he said she could have died anyway, but only after having suffered the procedure. The chances were small--the blood pressure normalizes usually after 2 weeks post delivery.

[Artemis@BC]

I, OTOH, thought she did a very kind thing. It really is true that the C-section was a total crapshoot and the Doctor wasn't lying when he said she could have died anyway, but only after having suffered the procedure. The chances were small--the blood pressure normalizes usually after 2 weeks post delivery.

ITA. Her motives may have been more for the sake of restoring marital harmony (which itself is hardly nefarious!), but the result was that both Robert and Cora are able to gain some peace of mind and move toward a healthy grieving process. It wasn't doing anyone any good to be thinking "oh, if only ..."

[kittyjake5]

It should be an interesting show next week after seeing the coming attractions. I suppose some changes may be made regarding the help. O'Brien is really trying to get Thomas fired. Thomas is so infatuated with the new footman he does not even question why O'Brien is suddenly being nice to him. I kind of feel sorry for Thomas, Sybil's death and being in love (although not reciprocated, but he does not know that) has humanized him a bit for me and who knows what is in store for him if evil O'Brien get her way. Leave it to the Dowager to fix things between Robert and Cora that was sweet. On the other hand I believe she is going to make trouble regarding baby Sybil, not so sweet.

[my little pony]

i havent forgiven thomas for locking isis in that shack

[Bostonfan]

Tom likes Mary and Matthew. The way Mary was holding the baby made me wonder if he'd leave the baby temporarily in their care while he looks for work. He has his pride, but I can't see that standing in the way of him allowing them to help with the baby while he settles in Liverpool or wherever he's looking. Then there's that whole conversation he had with Matthew. Something about raising sheep? I missed that part. But Tom did say he didn't hate it there. Matthew may try to finagle something to keep Tom at Downton if only to keep the baby close to the family. Tom's a common man, so maybe Matthew could use him to help with the tenament farmers? I can see it now: Daisy goes to run the Mason farm, gets close to Tom, and they hook up. I would pay money to see Daisy eating "upstairs" with the family (OK - that's not likely, but still fun to think about)

[Sylvia]

i havent forgiven thomas for locking isis in that shack

[Peaches LaTour]

Finally, an end to the prison drama!!!!

ITA that Robert has become ass this season - his refusal to move forward and accept the changes that are coming will be his undoing, and Downton's, too, if he doesn't change. Loved that fact that his attempt to disrupt the luncheon at Isobel's failed. Good for Mrs. Patmore in helping Ethel and defying Mr. Carson (another person who is resisting the changes all around him).

Love the friendship between Matthew and Tom. Tom would do well to nurture this friendship.

Hopefully, Lady Edith will take that job offer from the newspapers. You go girl! And I hope that the fact Edith and Mary were out walking together will be a step in the right direction of bringing a closer sister-relationship for these two characters.

Is James gay or not? I'm wondering, if he isn't gay, is he already married??? I don't think that either he nor Ivy will last very long.

Daisy, take your father-in-law's offer......

[nubka]

i havent forgiven thomas for locking isis in that shack

But I loved seeing him panic when he realized the dog wasn't there!