MAJOR,MAJOR spoilers possible... Downton Abbey

[lost-in-nj]

I got to watch the finale of DA and I was just wondering if any one else saw it. I have a big problem with it...

lost

[MadamYes]

1. Not the ending most would've wanted.

State your problem. I'm curious to know what it is ?

[mainer]

2. I watched it. I don't think the writer had a choice...

as a certain actor wanted out.

[dsc]

3. It seemed in a way tacked on

thanks in large part to why he had to get rid of the character. If he had been given more time I think he would have come up with a better way.

[joeybee12]

11. I think so, too...

They realized at the last minute that the actor really wasn't coming back and had to figure out something...

[Raine]

4. The actor wanted out but what I had a problem with was my local PBS stuck in a pledge break

after showing the body laying there. I waited a half hour wondering if there was going to be more, like the news being delivered to the family and NOTHING. Just talk talk talk about donating then finally they rolled the credits. The ending seemed so anti-climatic, such a cold unemotional ending. I knew it was going to happen but it was such a built up to a let down.

[Puglover]

5. Both my husband and I almost felt as if Fellows

was pissed at Dan Stevens. His demise was almost a footnote. I am sure next season will start with mourning etc but I for one will laugh my ass off if Fellows segues to "2 years later" Frankly the Thomas story line was my favorite of the episode.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. IMO, Thomas and O'Brien are the most interesting characters and I love Maggies Smith's character.

Lady Violet is very entertaining. In the first 2 or 3 episodes, I thought Cora was going to be the one to watch, but lately all she can do is look concerned and sound whiny.

So, this leaves Mary and Tom with infants and no spouses. I wonder how this is going to play out.

[SoCalDem]

7. Daisy will have a farm...and Tom will be running the farm side of the estate

I can see those two getting together down the line...probably platonic at first and then perhaps more..

They killed off Matthew because he quit the show.. It was actually very Downton-esque.. extremes juxtaposed..

I never really liked him much.. He always struck me as a pretty wishywashy guy... Ashley v Rhett..

Mary ran roughshod over him, and he was little more than a sire for the "heir-apparent".. With that completed, why not kill him off ..

I think the next season will start out with toddler cousins and probably less of Ma & Pa and more of Edith, Tom, Mary & the help.. They are the interesting ones,,

[Auntie Bush]

8. Have you any ideas as to what will happen to/with Mary in the future?

I'm bummed with the ending but I guess Fellows had no choice. So I feel like writing Dan a nasty letter for quitting.
Thomas is becoming an interesting character.
Don't particularly like Daisy.
Liked the girl/maid who liked Tom and was fired. Personally I think Tom will meet her in town/farm (She won't be a maid anymore so more socially acceptable) and they'll end up a twosome. Any way I predict she'll be back one way or the other.
Next season will definitely be totally different than the previous seasons. There's going to be a lot of social and ladies rules broken. Too bad we have to wait so long to find out.

[Ilsa]

9. I liked Matthew.

He was a gentleman and good guy. Didn't remind me of Ashley Wilkes at all. Robert's yearning for the past reminded me more of Ashley.

I could have lived with another actor playing Matthew. Characters don't have to be written out in series, IMO.

I was frustrated by the ending of the show, too, that being the pledge drive and no drama from the family over Matthew's death.

I hope Fellowes doesn't fast-forward too far. There is plenty of drama to be had in the aftermath of a significant character's death. Mary's grief in the wake of childbirth could affect the baby and others, for example.

I hate waiting ten months for the next season.

I hope Maggie Smith remains and becomes a real friend to grieving Isobel.

[OKNancy]

10. Fellows was not mad at Stevens

or the actress who played Sybil. I read a NYTimes interview with him. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/julian-fellowes-discusses-a-season-of-comings-and-goings-at-downton-abbey/?smid=fb-nytimes

He said he did the same thing as a young man, he wanted to move on. The above interview explains a lot about why it ended the way it did.

Also in the interview, Season 4 will pick up 6 months later.

[Puglover]

12. With all due respect,

I highly doubt Sir Julian would say "I'm pissed at Dan Stevens" in a NYT interview. However fair enough, I know as much as you do about it. Just fun to talk about. Frankly our comments were tongue in cheek.

[OKNancy]

13. gracious, I'm sorry if I offended you

I just wanted to offer some information that I had just read.
Peace

[Puglover]

14. Nancy not at all!

I read and enjoyed article you provided. Thanks.

[MadamYes]

15. Season 4 Storyline Possibilities.

I had read that the actors originally signed a 3-year contract for the series.
I found Dan Stevens (Matthew), to be an exceptional actor. It would seem he was offered to act on another project. Since it wasn't confirmed that a Season 4 would happen, until after Season 3 finished airing in England, he decided to move on. Thus he was contractually obligated to his future acting schedule and Julian couldn't fit him in. That's why you have the out-of-nowhere death of Matthew.

So possible scenarios ...

Daisy inherits the farm and makes something of herself. She'll be in change of giving people employment and housing.
Tom, who never wanted to become one of the upper-crusties, will run the Downton Estate. He may also be asked by Robert, to take on the role of being a mentor (an interim Lord Grantham), to show the new heir how to conduct the role to play. That is, if Robert gets too old or something happens to him, they will need a male figure to carry on.
That's just a crazy thought in my head.

[CurtEastPoint]

16. Lady Mary's new love interest?

What a hottie!

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20675077,00.html