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Post by chonies on Dec 26, 2012 19:22:30 GMT -4
I am also disappointed with Fellowes. I can see using a death plot line when faced with an actor leaving. I thought there was a lot of potential with Sybil's death, but he bungled it. But that was not that long ago, to pull it out and use it again for Matthew. I have very little belief that he will do any better doing something interesting with Matthew's death. And it was such a downer for a Christmas episode. Very disappointed. And the viewing numbers were down. I don't think I want to watch if they kill off Maggie Smith. How many deaths have been in this show? It started out with the death of Mary's fiancé. Then there was Pamuk, William, Lavinia, The first Mrs Bates, Sybil and now Matthew. Have I missed anyone? Mr K remarked that Downton has more deaths than an Agatha Christie movie. You could even add Cora's miscarriage, as it was a significant plot point.
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Post by Martini Girl on Dec 26, 2012 23:20:38 GMT -4
It was a downer for a Christmas episode. I'm just so grateful to my fellow Greecies for providing a link so I could watch it unspoiled.
My main beef is that it all happened so quickly..... like in the final 2 minutes. Fellows has known about this for a year. I can't believe it was written almost like an after-thought. (Unless that was the only way he could keep it under wraps for months).
I also found the foreshadowing to be very heavy handed. Oh well. Hope Stevens career turns out well from here on out. I doubt DA will be around past a 4th season.
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Post by sugarhigh on Dec 27, 2012 13:03:59 GMT -4
Does anyone know where I can watch the Christmas episode online? My usual streaming site is down.
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Post by Martini Girl on Dec 27, 2012 16:52:28 GMT -4
I watched it on project free TV.
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Post by bklynred on Dec 27, 2012 19:02:05 GMT -4
The only way I can square the recent deaths is by thinking it was such a different time and place. Lack of safety here, antiquated methods there... It did seem morbid though.
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Karrit
Sloane Ranger
Posts: 2,295
Mar 15, 2005 14:32:04 GMT -4
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Post by Karrit on Dec 28, 2012 16:21:33 GMT -4
ITV must be getting a shitstorm of feedback from viewers, to have to post some kind of explanation. Now that I have had a couple of days to absorb it, I even kinda/sorta understand the reasoning...nothing is so boring in a drama as a happy marriage. This plot twist gives them some interesting options, I hope Fellowes does it justice. I can't help but wonder if they had just ended the "Christmas" episode with happy news of the new baby and then offed Matthew in the first episode of the new season, maybe the fans would not have been quite so outraged?
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Post by angelaudie on Dec 28, 2012 16:54:26 GMT -4
I've wondered that myself. The excuse seems to be, "Well, he would't agree to S4!" Well, he could have always been killed off screen. Yeah, soapy and lame but it would't be the first time this show has gone down that road.
I feel the DA fandom is taking this WAY too seriously. Yes, it's sad all but it's just a tv show! Matthew Crawley isn't a real person! Mary Crawley isn't a real person! There's always fanfic if you want to go down the "What if?" possibilities! I get being upset and disappointed he couldn't be convinced to come back but JFC you just as easily argue ITV could have just ended the show at S3 and left everyone happy!
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Post by bklynred on Dec 28, 2012 18:40:26 GMT -4
I'm not taking it seriously but just playing devil's advocate...they waited nearly all 3 seasons to hook these two up. The rushed pregnancy and then offing the hubby before people can even get used to Matthew & Mary as a married couple feels like a snub to the viewers. Of course the actor can do what he wants, but this seems a slight disservice to the show to kill him off so abruptly. Was there no elevator shaft nearby to throw him down?
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iClaudia
Sloane Ranger
"When love and duty are one, grace is within you."
Posts: 2,215
Mar 13, 2005 14:33:41 GMT -4
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Post by iClaudia on Dec 28, 2012 21:45:42 GMT -4
I'd never thought that recasting was workable but I just watched all of "Garrow's Law" and I think Andrew Buchan would have done a fine job as Matthew if they decided to go that route. So, while some fans might be a bit over the top in their reactions, I don't get the feeling that alternatives were fully explored. While watching the Christmas Special, it didn't even register how little of Daisy and Violet we saw. Keeping characters offscreen for the majority of the time is pretty easy. If the next series ends up being the last, it will seem like an especially bad decision.
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Post by Baby Fish Mouth on Dec 28, 2012 23:18:52 GMT -4
I'm not taking it seriously but just playing devil's advocate...they waited nearly all 3 seasons to hook these two up. The rushed pregnancy and then offing the hubby before people can even get used to Matthew & Mary as a married couple feels like a snub to the viewers. Of course the actor can do what he wants, but this seems a slight disservice to the show to kill him off so abruptly. Was there no elevator shaft nearby to throw him down? This, exactly. They invested a lot in the Mary/Matthew relationship. While I have no beef with Dan Stevens wanting to do other things, killing him off so abruptly at the height of their happiness just feels wrong. I felt the same way about Sybil - there was no reason to do it when she was already living offscreen. With two of the show's most popular 'ships gone, I do think Downton is going to lose a lot of viewers. Especially since most of the other drama is so yawn-worthy.
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