We'll talk about the-ending-that-ruined-Christmas-Day-for-the-Brits in a minute (yes, the finale aired on Christmas Day. Can you imagine?). First:
Let it be known that Downton Abbey is an equal-opportunity provider of romantic storylines. Did this episode feel like that to anyone else? "Hmm, Mrs. Patmore hasn't had a love interest all these years. Let's give her one. And while we're at it, let's give Mrs. Crawley one, too! And include the Doctor in the bargain!!!"
THIS. WOMAN.
I DO NOT LIKE HER. Every time she came on the screen, I wanted to throw something at her. Thank goodness Mrs. Hughes was on the case or it would have been just too ridiculous.
Thomas: quite possibly my favorite storyline of Season 3. I KNOW.
Now. Are we going to talk about the last sixty seconds of the episode, or are we going to pretend they didn't exist? I'm strongly considering the latter. In my opinion, Downton should have ended itself before doing what it did to Matthew. Before he died, everyone was more or less in a happy place - it would have been a good time to wrap things up. If they insisted on another season (and I know there is a Season 4 in the works), they could have jumped forward ten or fifteen years instead of killing off random beloved characters just for the sake of it. Yeah, not too happy about that. Jeremy is unhappy enough that he's claiming he won't watch Season 4. Look, I get that it's hard to write interesting storylines for happy people. But really, KILLING Matthew? Ugh.
Let it be known that Downton Abbey is an equal-opportunity provider of romantic storylines. Did this episode feel like that to anyone else? "Hmm, Mrs. Patmore hasn't had a love interest all these years. Let's give her one. And while we're at it, let's give Mrs. Crawley one, too! And include the Doctor in the bargain!!!"
THIS. WOMAN.
I DO NOT LIKE HER. Every time she came on the screen, I wanted to throw something at her. Thank goodness Mrs. Hughes was on the case or it would have been just too ridiculous.
Thomas: quite possibly my favorite storyline of Season 3. I KNOW.
Now. Are we going to talk about the last sixty seconds of the episode, or are we going to pretend they didn't exist? I'm strongly considering the latter. In my opinion, Downton should have ended itself before doing what it did to Matthew. Before he died, everyone was more or less in a happy place - it would have been a good time to wrap things up. If they insisted on another season (and I know there is a Season 4 in the works), they could have jumped forward ten or fifteen years instead of killing off random beloved characters just for the sake of it. Yeah, not too happy about that. Jeremy is unhappy enough that he's claiming he won't watch Season 4. Look, I get that it's hard to write interesting storylines for happy people. But really, KILLING Matthew? Ugh.