Downton Abbey -- Season 3 on PBS

[Wyliefan]

IMO a drama should obey the rules of its own world, not necessarily the rules of the outside world. Sybill's death was consistent with this world and IMO it had some meaning. There was all the discussion of the class differences, the political differences and religious conflict around the future baby's baptism and Sybill's death put all that in perspective in an effective way.

OTOH, if a couple like Mary and Matthew - the center of the whole story - are on-off-on-off and go through hell for something like eight years and finally get married, then spend the beginning of their marriage with financial problems, then try to conceive a child and then ONE HOUR after that child is born Matthew dies in a random accident- now that makes no sense at all in the world of Downton. They would have done better to end the series IMO.

Agreed.

[skatingfan5]

I think I'll be looking forward to next season's Downton Abbey discussion threads because Matthew's death seems like it will have cleared out a lot of people who have been whinging on about how much it has gone down-hill and how disappointed and disinterested they have been with it the past two seasons. More time for them to spend their leisure hours on more enjoyable past times, less grumbling/grousing posts to read/scroll past for those who still want to watch the show and are curious to see how it continues. Sounds like a win-win situation.

[znachki]

My first thought after the episode was a romantic match would occur between Mary and the Irish dude (see I don’t even know all their names) as they both have young children, dead spouses, and an interest in turning Downton around financially.

If it does, it won't be for a while. Just to be safe:

Spoiler

http://tvline.com/2013/01/23/downton...ers-lady-mary/

There are rumors today that they've cast an actor named Tom Ellis. But team Downton denies.

[IceAlisa]

I have nothing against angst and tragedy inliterature or drama. But everyone needs escapist television and that is what Downton should remain.

I get it, I get it. I was just teasing you. It was a bit below the belt.

[skatesindreams]

skatingfan5, you spoke for me.

[Wyliefan]

I think I'll be looking forward to next season's Downton Abbey discussion threads because Matthew's death seems like it will have cleared out a lot of people who have been whinging on about how much it has gone down-hill and how disappointed and disinterested they have been with it the past two seasons. More time for them to spend their leisure hours on more enjoyable past times, less grumbling/grousing posts to read/scroll past for those who still want to watch the show and are curious to see how it continues. Sounds like a win-win situation.

Because it's a dreadful thing to have to scroll past -- or heaven forbid, to read -- an opinion that's different from yours.

[skatesindreams]

No one forces the "disappointed" to watch; or anyone to read these threads.

[Wyliefan]

Precisely.

[znachki]

Anybody want to bet that the next Downton Abbey on Facebook recap features an exchange like this?

Mrs Crawley: Where r u?
Matthew Crawley: On my way home no....... :

[kittyjake5]

Well now that the season is over for us in the States, you betcha I will be waiting anxiously for season 4 to begin. Given most of the crap that
is aired on television lately Downton is still first rate in my book. Yes I did find some of the story lines weak like Bates endlessly shuffling around the
prison yard, Edith being jilted, the possible romance of Edith and her editor who to me looks like a younger version of the jilter.
But I thought there was a lot of good stuff too.

[Asli]

No one forces the "disappointed" to watch; or anyone to read these threads.

How could we have known we'd be disappointed before actually watching it?

Plus what's the fun if we're not even allowed to snark a bit? It's not sacred. It's just a TV show, not Michelle Kwan!

[Matryeshka]

Well now that the season is over for us in the States, you betcha I will be waiting anxiously for season 4 to begin. Given most of the crap that
is aired on television lately Downton is still first rate in my book. Yes I did find some of the story lines weak like Bates endlessly shuffling around the
prison yard, Edith being jilted, the possible romance of Edith and her editor who to me looks like a younger version of the jilter.
But I thought there was a lot of good stuff too.

I like that he looks (and acts) like a younger version of the jilter--it shows consistency in the character. Most of us have a type, whether we admit it or not.

In general, I really liked this season. Or maybe I just like it when devastating things happen to people richer and prettier than me.

[PRlady]

I like that he looks (and acts) like a younger version of the jilter--it shows consistency in the character. Most of us have a type, whether we admit it or not.

In general, I really liked this season. Or maybe I just like it when devastating things happen to people richer and prettier than me.

I thought that when a lot of wizards got killed off in the last Harry Potter books. Clearly magic doesn't make you immortal, and Rowling was smart enough not to bring Dumbledore or Sirius back just to make Harry or some readers happy. This muggle felt less disadvantaged.

Anyway, Fellowes has to make it up as he goes along and as his actors decide to stay or leave. Considering how popular the series is and the fact that they've already moved it along ten years, I can't wait to see who gets creamed in the blitz.

[zee703]

Snip
Anyway, Fellowes has to make it up as he goes along and as his actors decide to stay or leave. Considering how popular the series is and the fact that they've already moved it along ten years, I can't wait to see who gets creamed in the blitz.

I thought Fellowes said the DA storyline would not reach WWII? That this program would end for good following Season 4 (can't remember where I read that but I read it a few months ago). I do remember being upset by his comment. I hope it runs up through WWII and post war. So many events, people (spies, heroes, traitors, etc) to draw upon.

[Artemis@BC]

Anybody want to bet that the next Downton Abbey on Facebook recap features an exchange like this?

Mrs Crawley: Where r u?
Matthew Crawley: On my way home no....... :

Perhaps followed by someone posting a picture of a "Honk if you love Jesus, text while driving if you want to meet him now" bumper sticker.

[CoyoteChris]

LOL! I love it!!!!

The most successful PBS pledge drive ever

[AYS]

I don't see that happening. At all. Mary has come a long way in her attitudes, but she's still a snob. No way she'd hook up with an ex-chauffeur (his name is Tom Branson, btw), even though she has come to like and respect him. I just don't see Fellowes going that way.

I also think it would be, well, icky. Both of them lost the loves of their lives, and they were very, very different people. It would be disrespectful to the memories, and a cheap cop-out imo.

Admittedly, it would be very Harlequin Romance to hook those two up.

I would agree if it happened in the near future. However, over the course of time (talking years, not months), if written and developed a certain way, I could see this happening. For instance, in the shorter term, Mary gets involved with one or more new relationship(s) based on the same values she had in the past, finds this ultimately unfulfilling/unsuccessful, her love for Downton causes her to get more and more absorbed in the changes that Matthew's vision initiated..In the meantime, Tom also has not loved again since Sybil, has become more and more integral to Downton and the family, has gradually become in a way a replacement for Matthew in Robert's esteem, they come together over shared interest and love for the estate, etc, etc.

There is nothing like situation and shared interest to bring people together whom you might not think would belong together.

[Dave of the North]

^ "Relatively unscathed" still holds true. Given the real-life death toll of both the war and flu, to have a household that large only lose 2 is pretty remarkable.

The flu pandemic killed about 1% to 3 % worldwide so having only one death in the household is not that surprising.

WWI killed about 10% of the British forces (2/3 in combat, 1/3 from other causes, including flu). I can't remember how many of the household were in the forces (3 ? 4?) , but one death wouldn't be statistically too few.

[znachki]

Downton Abbey on Facebook: Season 3 Episode 7:

http://www.happyplace.com/21471/down...on-3-episode-7

"Lord Grantham and 20 others are listening to Evening Bagpipes on Spotify"

[my little pony]

"ghost lf lady sybil: srsly?"