Post Punk Kitchen Forum

After tonight's episode I'm feeling rather done with Downton. I cried like a forking baby over Sybil but tonight I'm just annoyed. I saw it coming a mile away and I can't even be sad over it because it felt so senseless and perfunctory. Oh, actor doesn't renew his contract? Bam, dead. Sorry Mr. Fellows, you only get to kill off one beloved character per season.

I was already up to date on the episodes from Netflix and am now watching my FB feed have the same reaction I had - fork this show!

To be honest, I knew something terrible was going to happen at the end, I just wasn't sure what. I swore that if they touched any of my favorite characters - Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore or the Dowager - I would throw my TV across the room. However, I didn't think it would be Matthew.

I read that since the actor wanted to leave after this season, they had to kill him. He and Mary were in a good relationship, so a sudden departure like a divorce wouldn't make sense for them. Death was the only option. I'm not really that connected to Matthew and I'm glad we didn't have to see the family grieve for him at the end there. I hope they start the next season in a place where the family has already buried Matthew.

I was still reeling from Sybil when this happened. I cried so much after that episode! And seeing Branson cry to Mrs. Hughes about her broke my heart. I wonder if Branson's going to manage the estate still with Matthew gone.

That was just ridiculous.

my thoughts exactly. I'm over it. I was just so annoyed. Why invest in characters if they're just going to die. Ugh.

I don't know. I'm super annoyed, even though I get why they felt like Matthew (and Sybil) had to die rather than leaving in some other way. I thought the way Matthew's "exit" was written was pretty ham-handed: We're so happy! Everything is perfect now and will be forever! I am conveniently making a big speech about my love for you! Now I'm driving a car and feeling on top of the world! I live in a time before television so I don't realize this 100% means I am going to die in like thirty seconds!

That said, I will probably still watch. I don't expect it to ever be as good as it was in the beginning, but there are enough characters that I really like and it's still entertaining to me. One thing I think could potentially be interesting is seeing how Isobel reacts to Matthew being gone. She has always been so chin-up and pragmatic, but I wonder what this loss would do to her.

Other stuff:
- don't like the "bad girl" cousin
- hated the Edna/Branson plotline (except for when he cried to Mrs. Hughes)
- Married Editor looks like a younger Anthony Stratton
- loved when the dowager said, "Yes, but it was an hour every day."

I say I'm done with the show but I'll probably keep watching. I sobbed when Sybil died, but Matthew just pissed me off with the show producers. I feel like I can't get very invested with the characters because they'll probably just die.

ETA: I had to calm down and read some interviews with Dan Stevens and now I feel better. There was no other way for him to make an exit but it did seem too overt and campy.

This. Unfortunately it would appear Dan Stevens left them little options for a graceful exit. Oh well I always it knew it was just pretty soap opera so I will get over it.

I'm mildly annoyed by the writing in this last episode but I'm also curious to see how this develops Mary's character. After all, she believed Matthew was the only one who thought she was a decent human being. I just hope they don't give her a new boy toy too quickly.

Branson-Mary hook up!

I agree with all of this. I had the hugest crush on Dan Stevens so I am bummed he will not be back, but as long as Maggie Smith is still on the show I will watch for all of her fabulous one-liners.



No way, I love Mary! I think she is just more honest than most people would care for her to be, but I love that she isn't full of crepe and is true to who she is, even if most of that time, that person is a bisque, or perceived as one. I want her tiara so forking bad! Plus, if anyone can handle becoming widowed immediately after giving birth, it's her. I don't know who they would pair her up with down the road, maybe Evelyn Napier? She did care for him and his other engagement didn't work out. No one will love her like Matthew did, that's for damn sure. I'm sad for Branson now that he won't have Matthew as his ally.

Ugh, I'm disheartened that Sybil and Mathew wanted to leave the show. And I agree that the way they killed Mathew was crappy and I didn't feel sad at all. I'm expecting immense grieving when the next season starts.

I still love the show though.

I really hope Edith gets some. And I hope it happens in a non-damaging way.

I agree that the way Matthew died wasn't as well-done as it could have been. Perhaps if we hadn't just skipped an entire year...