OMGWTFOMGOMGDJFRWLGBRWLGUNWRIGUNWRLGWRLBGU
Are you kidding me? Julian Fellowes, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
We have lots of processing to do concerning this turn of events. Proceed with caution.
What do you all think? Were you surprised? Did you see this coming? Most importantly, do you want to shoot pompous Sir Phillip and Robert?
p.s. – Downstairs love quadrangle graphic below…you’re so very welcome.
tina
January 27, 2013 at 9:39 pmI hear you girls, but that actress WANTED TO LEAVE THE SHOW. End of.
Leslie Capron
January 27, 2013 at 11:36 pmOMG – Total cry-fest tonight! And I just kept thinking I’m so glad I’m alive today and delivered my babies at Hoag.
whoorl
January 28, 2013 at 1:27 pmEXACTLY.
AlisonC
January 28, 2013 at 2:43 amSo I did warn you last week but got the episode number wrong.
When I watched it here in the UK I was following the Downton hashtag on Twitter. Every episode there are lots of tweets the whole way through the episode – in this one the tweets just stopped. Total silence as no one could speak from shock.
When I saw that Downton won at the SAG Awards last night I wondered if the voters had already seen this episode.
I would say that while i initially did not like Branson at all (as an Irish person I found his republicanism while marrying into the type of family he claimed to hate really annoying) but by the end of this season he is one of my favourites.
And i tell you now that by the very end (The Christams special which foror some reason was set in the summer) even Thomas redeems himself.
whoorl
January 28, 2013 at 1:28 pmI feel the exact same way about Branson!
GreenInOC
January 28, 2013 at 9:17 amLast night when all that was going on, my first thought was “what are Sarah and Kristen going to have to say about this!”.
I almost choked when I came here seeing you two in your mourning outfits!! Then, to even out my laughter I started crying when you did Kristen.
I knew something terrible was going to happen since @AlisonC alluded to it in the comments from last week’s episode but I did NOT think it would by Sybil.
What did you think about Mary’s bitchy comment to Edith when the three sisters were together for the final time, “oh Mary, do you think we’ll get along better now?”, “No.”. WHA???!!!
The Dowager is who made me cry the most at the end, she had that sweet moment with Carson and could barely walk. Speaking of Carson, people in his position must have fallen in love with the children of the house as their own as they most likely didn’t have any of their own but the love would have been at a distance which made me even more sad for him.
GreenInOC
January 28, 2013 at 9:45 amreplying to my own comment because I forgot two thoughts:
1) Alfred may in fact like the gents or like the gents as well as the ladies but perhaps he’s trying to keep out of trouble at Downton because he may have been in trouble at a previous place employment which is being kept hushed up in order to prevent any scandal from befalling the house of Wherever He Came From
2) I don’t think Mary wants kids at least maybe not now
whoorl
January 28, 2013 at 1:29 pmYES. Poor, poor Carson. He probably loves those girls more than anyone!
Jen
January 28, 2013 at 11:54 amOh man there’s one tiny moment I would love to hear your thoughts on: when Edith asks Mary if perhaps they could love each other better going forward, and Mary replies, “probably not, but I will awkwardly hug you for this two-second span.” Sheesh, Mary. Why so hard with your sister? Remember they had a moment like this near/around Edith’s not-wedding? Anyway. And I give a hearty second to your analysis today.
whoorl
January 28, 2013 at 1:30 pmI can’t believe we forgot to talk about that! Geez, Mary. COLD AS ICE, that one.
Leslie Capron
January 28, 2013 at 1:37 pmYes, what is up with Mary! She gets less and less likable.
Rachel
January 28, 2013 at 1:55 pmSo, I read that Julian Fellows said the only reason anyone dies on Downtown Abbey is becuase the character wants off the show. :( I think that makes me even more sad knowing Sybil wanted off the show!
Jen
January 28, 2013 at 1:59 pmP.S. I love your shrouds.
Margot
January 28, 2013 at 4:44 pmThis episode broke my heart. Killing off Sybil, a main character, is totally the wrong direction for the show to go in. Downton Abbey has jumped the shark. Or as my husband and I are calling it, Downton Abbey has killed the Sybil.
Margot
January 28, 2013 at 4:48 pmThis episode broke my heart, and part of my love for the show. Killing off Sybil, a main character, is the wrong move. Downton Abbey has jumped the shark. Or as my husband and I are saying, Downton Abbey has killed the Sybil.
Joy
January 28, 2013 at 6:15 pmStill licking my wounds over last nights episode. I completely bawled when Cora was having her time with Sybil…ugh.
Mila
January 29, 2013 at 1:29 amApparently Jessica brown Findlay wanted to pursue her acting career in movies and has already done so after Downton. So it really has nothing to do with Fellows.
Rachel
January 29, 2013 at 12:40 pmSomeone else said it already, but the part that broke my heart the most was the Dowager and Carson’s moment together before she went in to the family. I’m wondering if her sort of slow, tottering walk across the foyer is foreshadowing of her increasing age and weakness? Also, what the what, but I cried harder at Thomas crying and Anna having sympathy for him than for Sybil dying. Lots of crying going on–I knew that Sybil was going to die. I cheated. Cried when Cora wanted to be left alone with Sybil.
Robert really seems to be showing his weak side this season…what can this mean? He’s really got a crack in his noble facade. I feel like things are going to get a little harder for him. First he screwed up and lost all the money, then he had to cede some control to Matthew and hear that the estate has been shoddily run and now his stubborn belief in the fancy-pants doctor is going to get him a first-class ticket to the “dressing room”. Good job, Rob.
(On a side note: y’all should try out the show before DA called “Call the Midwife”…apparently Sunday night was toxemia/eclampsia night because they lost a character in that show due to the same–who knew that it was a death sentence back then?).
Bates–again, so tired of prison and the damn pie crust. Blah, blah, blah. Just bust out already so you and Anna the Stoic can get on with your lives. Before you die, old man. Anyone given any thought to what’s going to happen when he’s freed and returns to DA? Where’s Thomas going to go? Back to the basement with James? He wishes. I predict that Thomas will remain Robert’s valet and that Matthew will enlist Bates to help him run the estate better. Just my idea.
Creepy–Thomas creepin’ on James while they were winding the clock (sounds like a euphemism). Could this be DA’s first case of sexual harassment?
Ease up on Ivy, Daisy…hmmm…they both have plant names. Coincidence?
Ease up on Matthew Mary. She’s not a very good 1920s submissive wife, and WTF the scene with Edith? Oh no, we can’t be better friends…because I’m kind of a bitch in case you didn’t notice.
Last note: Isobel’s scene with Mrs. Bird was FANTASTIC…Isobel’s subtle snarky comebacks. Perfection–she remains a lady while being a little snarky. Love them!
Looking forward to next week!
taryn
January 29, 2013 at 8:10 pmUgh – hope they aren’t setting this up for Matthew and Mary to take the baby away from Branson and raise it as their own. I’m struggling enough as it is to maintain some affection for them… Sigh – I miss Season 1!
maria
January 30, 2013 at 8:33 pmYa’ll look lovely in your widow’s weeds. My heart was broken too, but we are not alone in our grief…and incredulity. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/tv_club/features/2013/downton_abbey_season_3_recap_episode_guide_and_review_for_episode_1/week_4/downton_abbey_season_3_recap_episode_guide_and_review_for_episode_4_1.html