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Dishing on Downton – Season 3 Finale

downton abbey season finale

Well, I certainly didn’t think I would be busting out the mourning shroud again so soon. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS NONSENSE.

Can you believe this happened? CAN YOU? Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

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23 comments
  1. Haley @ Cardigan Junkie

    February 17, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    Oh lord, I just read that we have to wait until January 2014 for season 4.

    Although, I’m so ticked right now I don’t want to watch it! I agree Dan Stevens may get the hot British male lead in a few rom coms now that Hugh Grant is getting older, but he walked away from what was probably his biggest role ever. I hope for his sake he gets to be in lots of edgy indie films or something. However, Huffington Post did hit the nail on the head when they pointed out that his story lines have been pretty ridiculous and Julian Fellowes could have done a much better job giving him the kind of material that would keep him around. Sad day, nonetheless.

  2. whoorl

    February 17, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    2014??? LAME.

    Agreed on all points about Dan Stevens.

  3. Christina

    February 18, 2013 at 1:44 am

    I was so pissed at the end! I just did a crazy marathon and started watching this show 3 weeks ago (all 3 seasons) so to have it end like this tonight was maddening. I wanted to say that I agree in your video that Isobel knew Dr. Clarkson’s intentions but I believe she turned him down because she enjoys a certain amount of freedom as a widow that she isn’t ready to give up. Not all marriages during that time allowed women to be free to do what they wanted and although I don’t think Dr. Clarkson seems like a tyrant or anything I think Isobel is comfortable enjoying the friendship without having the strings attached. She is pretty progressive after all, so I don’t see her wanting to tie herself into marriage.

    • whoorl

      February 18, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      I agree completely…she knew! And she’s totally progressive. I really enjoyed her during this episode.

  4. AlisonC

    February 18, 2013 at 2:26 am

    I refer you back to my comment about Branson that I made on your review of episode 1 because I am breaking out the “I told you so”‘s!.

    Branson was amazing in this final episode especially when he was talking to Mrs Hughes after she sent that maid away. When he broke down and told her how he was still missing Sybil – sob!

    Apparently Dan Stevens got rave reviews in Broadway where he was in that recent run with Jessica Chastain. He has been cast in a few movies as well with one or two being action type so lets watch this space.

    I read a comment on the internet where someone asked if this move would turn Dan Stevens into George Clooney or David Caruso!

  5. Heather B.

    February 18, 2013 at 10:28 am

    After I felt horrible seeing Mary with her baby and happy while her husband was lying dead in a ditch – and I really, really felt horrible and feared up a bit – then I realized how insufferable she will be next season. I mean more insufferable and mean than she usually is. Matthew was the only person who loved every part of her and knew her best and knew that behind the cold exterior was a loving woman and now?!? Now what??? I wonder how close she and Edith will become. I want for Edith to get some happiness and have a relationship with her sister.

    I also read somewhere – Rolling Stone I think – that the reason Julian Fellowes killed of Sybil and Matthew as opposed to just having them move somewhere is because he spent the first two seasons making them integral, meaningful parts of the family with lives and loved so it wouldn’t make sense to have them just pack up and move to America. Fellowes wanted to show just how loved they were I their families as by the audience and wanted all to feel devestated. And it worked!

    I know I’ve said this many times but I have really enjoyed this series and hope for you and Kristen to do it next season as well.

    • whoorl

      February 18, 2013 at 12:16 pm

      I’m totally reading all these interviews right now. And yes, Mary is either going to be insufferable OR she will have deep change of heart and ease up a bit. All I know is that I CAN’T WAIT.

      It’s on, Season 4!

  6. GreenInOC

    February 18, 2013 at 10:33 am

    When I was reading about Jessica Brown Findley’s departure from the show I unfortunately came across a headline that the Matthew character was going to die in the finale. Wish I hadn’t known.

    If you think about the writing for the characters of Sybil and Matthew, neither were used to their full potential and I think that is what pushed the actors to their decisions. I had read that it’s one more season and that’s it.

    What was up with Mrs. O’Brien? Did she ask Lady Shrimpie (can’t remember her name!) for a job so she could go to India? She had mentioned to Lady Shrimpie’s maid that she thought the travel would be exciting. Perhaps Mrs. O’Brien has left the show as well.

    I think that Mrs. Crawley has way more power to do as she pleases as a widow and mother of soon to be Lord than she would as a Doctor’s wife so keeping her independence was more important. However, now that Matthew is dead what will happen with her? Will she lose her home and her income? She may start coming on the Doctor!!

    I think the addition of Rose to the Abbey will ratchet up the drama as she will be “hard to handle” causing all kinds of whispers and ruckus kind of propelling them into story lines about the changing role of women and their freedoms.

    Maybe Edith and Branson will fall in love?!

    LOVE that you chose that still from the video – that was part that had me cracking up!!

    • whoorl

      February 18, 2013 at 12:18 pm

      Very good points! Maybe Isobel will come around since she no longer has Matthew. I woudl really ove to see her with the doctor.

      (Kristen and I both watched the entire season last year – you can imagine how hard it’s been for us to film these episodes, knowing what happened the entire time!)

      • GreenInOC

        February 18, 2013 at 12:22 pm

        WHAAAA? Did you film these after you watched them (which would make sense because I’ve been trying to figure out how you watch them late Sunday night and have this edited and up the next morning and not to mention that is seems these are shot with the sun up)? If not, you both deserve an award for staying in the moment with the recaps!!

        • whoorl

          February 18, 2013 at 12:43 pm

          Hahaaa, yes and no. We did film after watching the episodes, although some were not our first viewings…

          (There are websites where you can watch online before it actually airs…)

  7. Violet

    February 18, 2013 at 11:05 am

    First of all, I love your Dishing on Downton videos with Kristen. Thanks and please continue them next season. Here are my thoughts and questions:

    1. I wonder why O’Brien own hair is so out of date and unflattering as it is clear that she knows how to style it up right on Cora. If I were Lady Shrimpy I would have looked at her bangs and ran the other way. Good point about O’Brien asking Susan (Shrimpy) if she could hop on the boat to India, I assume she was being honest about her hair and throwing the Scottish O’Brien under the bus. I would miss O’Brien on the show- she is a great small-minded villain.

    2. Even though Mary and Matthew produced an heir, I believe that heir is still a fourth or so cousin now twice removed from Robert. Meaning that their could be other little male Crawleys out there (or to be born) that would be closer in line. Actually, if you do the math on that family tree, there are lot of families out there that must of have girls for Matthew to be the next in line….

    3. Isobel lost her only son and is now without a family. Maybe a marriage to Dr. Clarkson will look more enticing after she learn of Matthew’s death. Also, if Robert dies and her grandson becomes the Earl, wouldn’t she become the dowager with a hirer status that Violet?

    • whoorl

      February 18, 2013 at 12:18 pm

      Totally agree with #3, and yes, we will do Season 4 for sure!

  8. Luisa

    February 18, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Have you seen this interview with Julian Fellowes today in the NY Times? http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/julian-fellowes-discusses-a-season-of-comings-and-goings-at-downton-abbey/. It must be so tough, as the creator, to have to kill off your beloved characters because an actor wants to go! Anyway, love your videos, they crack me up! Can’t believe we have to wait until 2014 for the next (final?) season.

  9. whoorl

    February 18, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    Just read it – great interview. I am on pins and needles for the next season. What will I pass the time with, television-wise?

  10. Zizi

    February 18, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    What about Rose and James getting together next season, would certainly cause problems.

    • whoorl

      February 18, 2013 at 12:47 pm

      Oooh, that would be good!

  11. Rachel

    February 18, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    “blood coming out of somebody’s ear because he’s busted his brain” – Best quote of the clip. I’m still in schock. I hate this, but I love this.

  12. Joy

    February 18, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Glad you and Kristin brought the shrouds back, that makes me smile.
    I was seriously laughing when you said “What a dumbass!!” Too true.

  13. Cathy

    February 18, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    I came across your video recaps late in the game. Next season I’ll be checking them out right away!!

  14. Rachel

    February 19, 2013 at 5:29 am

    Excellent synopsis, ladies–so sad to have to don your mourning veils again. Maybe you’d better get some official DA mourning veils instead of using dishtowels or scarves. Seems like a good investment since everyone is slowly being KILLED OFF. Personally thought Scotland (while very beautiful and a nice change of scenery) was the “prison” of this episode. SO boring. I thought for a minute that there was going to be some hot lesbian action between O’Brien and the other uptight, painfully scraped-back-bun lady’s maid. Then she tried to get her hammered at the reel. Did you love Molesly?

    One huge thing that came of this Scotland trip was: Robert ADMITTING to Cora that he’s glad that Matthew is moderinizing Downton. FINALLY, Robert. Come down of your extremely old-fashioned high horse and admit that what Matthew/Branson are doing is the right thing. This after Shrimpy mentioned that Duneagle was going to have to be sold because the money was gone.

    Why was there so much conversation between Shrimpy and Robert about divorce? Could this lead to Robert softening on this issue re: Edith’s new boyfriend? I’m wondering why that was such a topic of conversation during this trip. Surely it means something.

    So many possibly hook-ups. Patmore and the fat guy–though we kind of knew he was a pig right off the bat–did you see when he first came into the kitchen and started sticking his fingers in everything and licking them? Ewww, what a PIG. I was excited for Mrs. Patmore for 1-1/2 minutes with her pink blouse. Sigh.

    Carson alone in the house and coming upon baby Sybil crying–that brought tears to my eyes, him carrying her around the house.

    Edna the maid–trampy and SO disrespectful–probably their way of showing what more of the “new” maids will be like in future–less respect for the time-honored tradition. She didn’t even stand up when Tom came downstairs. She was CHEEKY and I’m glad they packed her off. It’s true though–who IS he going to marry? A maid? He won’t inherit Downton, he’s basically the general manager who happened to be married to one of the daughters, who is now dead. I have heard a rumor about him and a certain other newly widowed personage…just sayin’.

    So many times during this episode Matthew would stroke Mary’s ego and tell her that he loved her the way she was, even though she can be a bitch, he’s the “only one who truly knows her”, etc. Kind of wondering what all that meant, now that she’s alone.

    Hmmm. Lots to think about. In the 18 months until they come back. COME BAAAAAAACKKKK!

    • Rachel

      February 19, 2013 at 5:30 am

      Lord, my spelling is awful…excuse my typos. I get so excited to spill out all my thoughts!