Downton Abbey Season 5 Episode 7

[Marsilius Boa]

i have been trying to remember who was the farmer Edith had a brief fling with back in season 2, i think? It wasnt this Mr.Drew, was it? It was when she was first driving and used the driving excuse to meet him in his barn.

I too feel like some of these characters are so much flatter than they were. Is the writer concentrating on pushing the plot to a certain place at the expense of developing the characters more fully?

I liked the American valet, even if he was really Boy Next Door from the good ole USA. He was fun- I liked his Carson encounters. And I liked Uncle Harold. He was refreshing and could laugh at himself- always good.

I could have done with more of the young women throwing themselves at rich Paul Giammati storyline, too. The most interesting things all season (except for the pig interlude) happened in the final episode and were rushed through.

WARNING! SPOILER ALERT in the body of this review and comments of the Downton Abbey Finale of Season Three. If you have not seen the last installment, please view the 7th episode online at this link. I deliberately kept the incriminating images at the back of this post. Readers who comment can leave their honest assessments, for the 4th season will not be aired in the U.K. until next fall.

Mrs. Patmore , flattered by his not so subtle attentions, simpers like a 16-year-old girl at all the testosterone aimed her way. She purchases a pretty new blouse for her date with the first man to pay court to her in decades and cheers him on in the rope pulling contest (which the men of Downton win.)

One moment he is rejoicing in the birth of his heir, the next moment he is dead in some roadside ditch. End of episode. End of the season. PBS immediately switches to a fund appeal to capitalize on their stupified viewers. I felt cheated.

That whole storyline with the new saucy housemaid stalking Tom (Branson) just seemed like something to distract us with as the day of doom was quickly approaching. Now, Tom is going to feel even MORE out-of-place without Matthew to mentor and make him feel part of the family.

cahow,
I have to agree with Vic. I also saw an interview with Stevens done in the UK and he indicated that he (thought he) would be in at least the first few episodes of season 4. However, something obviously went amok with the negotiations and BAM! Fellowes has given him and all of his fans (myself included) a mere few seconds for a good-bye notice.

In the interview Stevens also sounds somewhat uncertain about his leaving the show as if he were lamenting before it was even done. I personally think that Fellowes and producers could have offered him a big pay increase and a more flexible shooting schedule and he would have been around for at least another season.

What people need to understand is that Dan Stevens wanted out of the show. They wanted to keep him. So instead of doing the ruinous change of actor, which NEVER works, they killed him. I was bothered when I saw it during the English season but having had a little time to sit with it, I am not. It frees up a lot of new storylines for Mary. New characters can arrive, new love stories, new troubles and possibly some scandals. I miss Sybil though. I loved her. Liked finally seeing poor old Shrimpie and his wife who I adored in Brideshead and Persuasion.
I trust Fellowes to give us a new aspect of aristocratic life in the 20s. There really is so much he can do with some new dashing chaps and fellows to bring to DA.

since I knew the actor who plays Matthew was leaving the series I was not surprised and my friend who lives in the UK spilled the beans during a skype call but it was effective and leaves the viewers hanging

I thought the ending was a cop-out, frankly, and too abrupt. The Matthew Crawley death deserved at least a 5-10 minutes of screen time, especially in the aftermath, with the family driving to the hospital and being flagged down by the truck driver for help. Imagine the response when Lord Grantham discovers his son-in-law under the truck. The viewer would have been able to grieve and worry alongside the family.

1) In 1975, a devastating fire struck Inveraray castle (Duneagle) and for some time the 12th Duke and his family lived in the castle basement while restorations requiring a worldwide fundraising drive were carried out.

No, he is really dead and not coming back. The tight camera shot on his lifeless eyes and bleeding face confirm that the writers have no intention of suddenly resurrecting him in true soap opera fashion.

There is an article about the season finale in the New York Times, Feb. 18 in which Julian Fellowes indicates that Downton Abbey might himself leave the series in the future due to other plans. Obviously not before Season 4 is finished but it the series continues to be popular beyond his interest, others may take over. Fellowes said it makes no sense to air the show separately when the internet is available.

We always know when they are going to bump off another character because there are charming moments with the loved one just before the character bites it. Same with Matthew. Ah, Matthew, I will miss him. And I do agree with you, Vic, the ending was a cop-out and too abrupt.

One can only wonder, Vic, where next season will begin. I worry for Mary, whether such an unusual, substantive but misunderstood woman will again find love. I know Branson will but not so sure about Mary. I can see her as a young Violet.

Julian has certainly created a sensation with D.A. Last night the majority of the local Facebook posts I read talked about the finale, and then this morning the posts by my West Coast friends showed up, all talking about the finale!

I loved the scenes of Scotland, the castle, the activities that they participated in while there. My Scottish friend loved the bagpipe call to dinner, and I liked how everyone else looked like they were going deaf!

Thank you for the feedback re: the time frame. I keep thinking no time has passed between episodes, yet I did think baby Sybie looked older. I should have realized a year had past, and yes, that would explain the changing relationships.

Kathryn,
Loved your commentary. You mentioned many points regarding the gaps in the writing or should we say gaffes? I agree that one can easily see the similarities in Fellowes writing with stories written by our dear Jane across the board to W.M. Thackeray. He does have a great sense of making the scenes just long enough to make us wait for the next scene.

There were actually a lot more deaths of younger people in those days, such as with childbirth, cars not having safety features like today, poorer medical treatment, war being fought on the ground, some widespread disease without cure. It is not unrealistic for the day and age.

I agree with not Bridget on this. It seems that the episodes are written one by one instead of with a long range view for the major characters such as Branson, Thomas, Mrs. Hughes, Carson, Mrs. Patmore, Daisy and of course Edith. The actors and actresses of these characters do deserve greater depth and time rather than the snatches of time they have been getting.
Off the subject, I have been reading Felling the Ancient Oaks: how England lost its Great Estates by John Martin Anderson. It is fascinating history.

The only thing that matters is what is on the screen. Why we see on the screen what we see, while interesting from a nuts and bolts, backstory perspective, does not matter, especially when used to weave elaborate and sometimes speculative rationalizations when things seem to deteriorate narratively. Does anyone regularly ferret out the background of why a book or movie goes off the rails after 60 pages or 60 minutes? Editor was fired? Director was in an snit with the production company? The DR story went off the road along with Matthew. Poorly done artistically. However, maybe it is just a bump in the road!

A lovely and thoughtful review, Mr. Tessaro; excluding the final scene, I, too, had a positive response to the characters you named.
I do think Season 4 may have some creative input from other sources, as JF will be involved in a new project in the US. All the better because it will add story lines with a fresh perspective.

I am glad Mrs Hughes chased Edna off. IMHO, she was another pre-Charlie Ethel, a bimbo planning to sleep her way out of service. Mr Fellowes, you can only use a plot line once. Per series, not per season. Tom is, however, certainly quite the hottie with his shirt off (and to think that 20 years ago, how our hearts fluttered with Colin Firth with his wet shirt on!) (mine still flutters).

PS Of course I doubt the producers or Fellowes would foot the bill for one of these amazing actors as they seem to be VERY tight on the budget. I continue to believe that had they offered a truly significant sum AND a very flexible schedule to Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Findlay, we would have indeed seen them in at least some of season 4.

I do know that Dame Maggie is getting a big sum for her part (as she should) but I think they underestimated how much fans liked Matthew and Sybil and, therefore, how valuable they were (and instrumental in keeping a true heart beat to the show).

In several instances, I found myself rethinking how I perceived the series. One benefit of re-watching an episode is the opportunity to discover something I missed the first time. In the same light, reading the entries here, permitted me that same opportunity to re-visit the program and come away with thoughts I might never have come up with on my own. Thank you.

Dear Vic: I add my thanks to all of those above for providing this forum where we can express our thoughts in a genteel manner. Some have given me food for thought, some have made me laugh out loud, and some have been as entertaining as watching another sneak preview of DA. Good health and blessings until January 2014!

Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation! Due to SPAM, we will no longer accept comments on posts after 30 days of publication. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well.

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