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

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.

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

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.

DAN STEVENS WHYYYYYYY

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

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.

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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

It's Phoebe Nicholls, not Phoebe Cates. lol

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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...

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

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.

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^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.

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

It's almost here!!!

Cheers!

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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