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Post by ruffles on Feb 18, 2013 8:41:56 GMT -5
Quite some time ago, before Season 3 commenced, there was a spoiler on CNN which gave things away. Not sure if it makes things any easier. I've been on the edge of my chair in pins and needles for the past two Sundays and have been thankful to have Amanda in the background through this. So here we are now, with the cliff hanger.
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Post by Amanda on Feb 18, 2013 11:46:16 GMT -5
I must've miscounted the weeks or something, because I thought last night's episode would have been the last of the "season," with the "Christmas special" still remaining. Guess not, eh?
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Post by ruffles on Feb 18, 2013 14:49:36 GMT -5
Do you have a "Christmas Special" in your Season 3 DVD set? I'm thinking what we saw last night is the end of Season 3. PBS does have Downton Abbey scheduled for next Sunday's Masterpiece Classic but it also says the episode was first aired on 2/17. There is nothing NEW scheduled. PBS has been posting little "NEW" markers on the shows airing for the very first time.
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Post by Amanda on Feb 18, 2013 16:53:56 GMT -5
Well, there was nothing Christmas-y about it, but it aired on Christmas in the UK, and therefore is the "Christmas Special" that followed season 3.
Season 3 (minus the "special") ended with the cricket match and happiness all around. Did that episode air last week? Maybe I got behind a week, but I thought I had been watching them as they aired in the US.
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Post by ruffles on Feb 18, 2013 16:55:15 GMT -5
In a CNN article which has definite spoilers for anyone who has not seen all of Season 3, the "Christmas" episode was explained. It's not necessarily of a Christmas theme. In England, Downton's final show is aired on Christmas night.
If you've not yet seen the finale, there are spoilers within the article: .......... The spoiler is also in the link.
The article can be found on CNN's site: www.cnn.com/
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Post by Amanda on Feb 18, 2013 16:59:20 GMT -5
I went to the PBS site and see where my plan to stay current with the US went awry. They aired episodes 6 and 7 as a double episode last week, so the "Christmas Special," which was technically the 8th episode, was aired as the 7th. Oy. So confusing!
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Post by karenk on Feb 18, 2013 17:00:25 GMT -5
As a veteran of GL, I could see it coming a mile away, just a matter of how. I thought he would get shot whilst "stalking." I had seen that actor has been signed to play Mr. Darcy and his story arc was tying up all too nicely. But still... so sad...
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Post by ruffles on Feb 18, 2013 19:19:59 GMT -5
Just before the season started, CNN had an item in which 2 deaths were mentioned. I begged Amanda to tell me who but without the details. Then, one evening I found a fabulous and very extensive collection of Downton photos, some of which were gorgeous but all of a sudden....there he was .... in that death stare bleeding from the ear. So it was obviously the result of a violent event. I spent the entire cricket match thinking this would be it. Then there was the shooting event. ....... Thankfully we didn't have to go through that whole family trauma that happened when Sybil died in front of her entire family. That was a major wrench. No doubt we will go down this road next year. They will most likely repeat Season 3 in the same manner as was done with Season 2 this year. Then they will take us through the whole thing for sure. ........... The love between Mary and Matthew was exquisite. The image of Mary sitting in the bed holding her infant is burned into my head. It will not be forgotten. ... What an ending! Sigh
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Post by karenk on Feb 18, 2013 19:36:30 GMT -5
I know, heavy sigh... But, I loved this season for letting us explore more characters. I just adore Mrs. Patmore, she has the most infectious laugh! Carson has gotten on my nerves, but all was forgiven when I watched him soothing baby Sybil. Such a tender scene. I'm liking Thomas more and more. That was a nice reconciliation with Jimmy. All the characters are so well written. I'm going to watch my DVDs of seasons 1 & 2 (sons gave them to me for Christmas), then re-watch season three.
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Post by Amanda on Feb 19, 2013 10:16:43 GMT -5
Yayyyyyyy! Team Thomas! I had a feeling I'd get some company there after O'Brien did her dirty dealings. They were two wretched peas in a pod from the very beginning, and then when they fell out, I was glad that their hatred was focused on each other, sparing others, but throughout season 3, Thomas warmed on me, and I began to see O'Brien as the true evil, and Thomas as just a bit of a lost soul, acting out because he didn't know what else to do. Then, when she swooped in and embarrassed him with Jimmy, costing him his dignity, and very nearly his job -- possibly even his freedom, I was ready to burn her at the stake. Glad it was all made right in the end. For Thomas, I mean. O'Brien is still an evil... *ahem* ... witch.
I find Carson wildly entertaining, probably for the same reason he gets on your nerves, KK! I think it's hysterical how stodgy and proper he is, and I love that Mrs. Hughes is able to show him when he's being unreasonable. Of course, despite my love for all things Carson, it was hard to hear his initial words to Thomas. I realize, of course, that Carson is representative of the times, and it was meant to convey as it did to modern-day viewers, but I'm glad that, in the end, he chose humanity over establishment.
As to Matthew and Mary, I suppose that story-wise, they had pretty much run their course. They were more entertaining when it was will-they-or-won't-they, but married and settled into their "happily ever after," their storyline dulled out a bit.
I did love how Branson was brought into the fold at the end by being the voice of reason and compromise between Matthew and Lord Grantham. I hope that, with Matthew gone, Lord Grantham will take Branson under his wing as he initially did for Matthew, and Branson will finally find his home at Downton Abbey.
I still miss Lady Sybil. *sigh*
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