DOWNTON ABBEY Season 3 Discussion Thread - SPOILERS WITHIN- Page 10

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 4:47pm

I watched it yesterday. Dan Stevens ruined Christmas.

It's sad that whatever Fellowes had planned for Mary and Matthew ended up being at the mercy of the actor, but I guess you go into something like this knowing that that's a possibility. I'm super disappointed.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 04:47 PM

[romantico]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 6:31pm

This is why I thought the idea was to sign actors to 3-4 year contracts so they do not dictate the storytelling. Fellows had said he planned on his character staying til the very end and recasting the part was never even an option. What else could he do? If Stevens had agreed to appear in an episode or two in season 4 perhaps he could have worked something in but from what I've read Stevens wanted to leave the show.

As a fan of the show, I really hope they begin to wrap the series up. A fifth and final season sounds good.Maggie was talking about leaving but it sounds like they got her to stay for at least a 4th season.Let's hope none of the other actors pull what Dan Stevens did.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 10:08pm

I wish they'd started at the end and flashed back, since the internet was determined to not let one thing about Dan Stevens/Matthew's fate to go unspoiled. Other than knowing it was coming at some point, I dug the episode. I wish we still lived in a time when every single point of someone's contract negotiation for a tv show wasn't so public that it spoils any sort of dramatic surprise, but whatever.

Was this episode 1921 or 22? It's irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, but I couldn't remember if the last season ended in 1920 or 1921.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/27/12 at 3:07pm

I have not watched beyond the first 15 minutes, but my little lesbian heart did a back flip when I saw Simone Lahbib (she was playing the Scottish ladies maid.) I used to have the biggest crush on her. Her accent makes me melt. But MAN, did they make her look like a hag. lol

Updated On: 12/27/12 at 03:07 PM

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/27/12 at 4:43pm

DAN STEVENS WHYYYYYYY

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 5:34am

Oh, for crap's sake! Whatever you do at Downton, do NOT get pregnant!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 6:59am

I share the frustration and disappointment.

I suppose they did make a solid case for introducing Rose (who is presumably going to feature significantly in series 4) rather than just having her suddenly become central to the show.

And they did make Scotland look wonderful.

http://www.inveraray-castle.com/images/inveraray-castle-from-helicopter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencerbowman/4947964522/ Updated On: 12/28/12 at 06:59 AM

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 7:10am

And you thought Brigadoon was just a musical...

[romantico]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 10:09am

Am I the only one who thought the exterior of the castle in Scotland and the interiors of the same castle did not match? Looks like they shot the interiors in a house rather than a castle.

I did not care about 'Shrimpy' and his financial problems or his problems with his difficult wife. I thought it was a very dry 'ho hum' episode. No idea where they were going with the guy flirting with Mrs.Patmore,no idea why Thomas decided to play hero,Anna and Bates are in love. Yeah,we get it! Mary was extra bitchy (was this suppose to be because she is pregnant?) Nothing new going on with Edith and her boss. I just thought it was all very boring.

I hate how they skip ahead one year.I would have liked seeing the families reaction to Mary announcing she is pregnant. I would have liked to see how things have changed over time with Thomas and Jimmy/James.I would not be surprised to see season 4 open with the Wall Street crash,our characters not aged a day,Edith married with 2 kids, and Mary with a new husband.They need to stick in the current time frame. Lets not forget,the show began in April 1912 and everyone looks the same.Ten to twelve years later I think.People did not live that long back then.A 30 year old woman is not what a 30 year old woman is today.

Hopefully,with Dan Stevens out of the way and no other actors pulling what he did, they can get back on track and start wrapping the series up in another season.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 2:17pm

-I didn't care for Rose upon her first introduction. I don't care to see her as a permanent cast member.

-I guess the entire point of "Shrimpy" and his financial woes and miserable life was to be able to point out that Matthew was right and saved Downton (twice now, I suppose, with the birth of the son) and to show how happy Robert and Cora are in comparison.

-I just don't get the introduction and screen time of the much more bitter and nasty version of O'Bryan. Why was O'Bryan bending Susan's ear like that? I assumed she was trying to inch her way in to employment. What else would her motivation have been?

-And again, WHY was Thomas following Jimmy? "You know why!" Huh? Was he hoping to take advantage of him? Was he just pining away for him? After the humiliation he experienced with this guy, it looks like he would steer clear. It was just odd to me.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 3:12pm

Having drunk plenty of wine in the last few hours, I can now see that this is actually going to be quite easy to resolve...

If Lady Mary can marry her third-cousin-once-removed then she can certainly marry her late sister's husband. :-P

I wondered why they hadn't turned Branson in to more of a rebel.

But what this whole episode really goes to prove is that Fellowes can coast quite easily between being a very good writer and a very mediocre writer.

This whole episode reminded me of The Colbys v. Dynasty where you get a whole set of new characters who are almost mirror images of the characters in the original.

Updated On: 12/28/12 at 03:12 PM

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 3:20pm

The exteriors were definitely filmed at Inveraray Castle on the banks of Loch Lomond. The castle is the home to the Duke of Argyll, whose photograph I've posted above (with my tongue, ever-so-slightly, in cheek). Regarding the interiors, I can't say for sure whether they were filmed at the same place but you can check them out here:

http://www.inveraray-castle.com/castle-interior.html

I must admit I found myself being unsure at times whether the interiors were supposed to be at Downton or Duneagle.

And, for real collectors of country-house-drama trivia, the actress (Phoebe Cates) who played the difficult wife/embittered old cow (delete as preferred) in this also played the youngest Marchmain sister in the original Brideshead Revisited thirty years ago, ie the one who catches Charles and Sebastian sunbathing naked on the roof.



Updated On: 12/28/12 at 03:20 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 4:04pm

It's Phoebe Nicholls, not Phoebe Cates. lol

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 5:04pm

So it is!

I've obviously drunk myself in to the 1980s!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/28/12 at 5:41pm

And what is your name?

Phoebe.

Phoebe?

(stubbornly) I call myself Phoebe.

Why not? Tell me, Phoebe, do you want some day to have an award like that of your own?

(Phoebe lifts her eyes to him.) More than anything else in the world.

(Addison pats her shoulder lightly.) Then you must Miss Harrington how to get one. Miss Harrington knows all about it...

Updated On: 12/28/12 at 05:41 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/30/12 at 1:49am

Finally caught up... I actually really enjoyed the episode. I didn't know the ending before hand, but of course I knew the gossip about Stevens, and I suspected that they were doing the old bait and switch (hinting from the start that something was wrong with Mary only to have her be alright and Matthew killed). Whenever you see someone driving by themselves in a car on a TV show you can be sure they're about to crash--

But I didn't see the episode as filler at all (though a few other friends said they found it boring). I thought it had a lot of great moments, and I liked Rose much more. I do agree that Anna and Bates are pretty boring now but this is always that problem one has with soap operas--one a couple is happy and involved they are boring unless more drama is thrown their way.

I didn't find it all that strange Thomas was kinda following Jimmy--he does seem to be, given all the issues of the day, kinda stupid when it comes to romance.

I assumed O'Bryan was going to go to India (she mentioned how much she would like a change). But then of course they can't resolve the drama that I still am certain, again going by soap opera rules, is involved which is the reason she is so obsessed with her "nephew" the footman, is due to him actually being her illegitimate son.

Oh and shirtless Branson!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 3:45pm

Oh, for crap's sake! Whatever you do at Downton, do NOT get pregnant!

I know, right?!?! At Downton Abbey, BABY = DEATH. Lady Edith's best chance at happiness is to remain a childless spinster.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 4:42pm

I marvel at my self-restraint, but I have successfully avoided this thread - and have only a very vague idea of what is to unfold in Season 3...

and, may I say: I CANNOT WAIT FOR SUNDAY!

I am jumping out of my skin I'm so excited!
I simply cannot wait!!!!!

(thanks for letting me share!)

Updated On: 1/2/13 at 04:42 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 12:24am

^I'm kinda jealous...it would be nice to have the season to watch for the first time. Lucky you.

(Spoiler?) That said, I just watched the Christmas episode - and am fuming. Oh Dan Stevens...why would you want to leave? Don't you feel any loyalty to the show or its viewers? Did it open up too many opportunities for you? Did they throw too much money at you? Is your acting dance-card really so full that you can't squeeze in just a few teensy episodes so we can have a happy ending? Was it really so awful working with one of the greatest actresses in the world? Well, good luck to ya.

You are on my list, Mr.Stevens.

You. Are. On. My. List.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 1:39am

Spoilers...

I have some sympathy--he did his three year contract, and said from the start he didn't want to get tied down to a long term tv show, but thought it was the ideal length. He's done some tv before (the excellent three episode adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst's gay novel Line of Beauty, etc) but always has stressed his main love is the theatre. Julian also claimed up through half of last season that he had scripted it as a three season story.

That said...

I feel like he could still manage to do 8 episodes or whatever, and still have a theatre career.

[dreaming]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 8:36am

I read some interview where Stevens claimed to be interested in moving to New York. I think he'd fit in nicely.

[HoldThatThought]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 10:33am

I came across this article on boston.com regarding Fellowes and Downton Abby:

http://tinyurl.com/b4lsn5n

Interesting article, but what grabbed my attention is this paragraph:

"Fellowes, who joined the House of Lords in 2011, is currently in the middle of many projects — among them season 4 of “Downton,” a musical theater adaptation of “The Wind in the Willows” in London, a big-screen redoing of “Gypsy,” and an adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” with Hailee Steinfeld."


- Never mind, just read the interview with his niece. Guess I'm a little late to this...
Updated On: 1/6/13 at 10:33 AM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 8:49pm

It's almost here!!!

Cheers!

[romantico]

Posted: 1/7/13 at 4:47pm

For those who missed last night's episode, it's available for free online

http://video.pbs.org/video/2322846575

[Scripps2]

Posted: 1/8/13 at 3:02pm

Another solution would be to bring back the possibly imposting Patrick from series 2.

However this might have the slightly undesirable effect of making Downton Abbey's raison d'etre redundant.

Updated On: 1/8/13 at 03:02 PM