Auld Lang Syne
“I’m not shocked … just stunned, and desperately sad.”
[Downton Abbey S3/CS 2012 Spoilers Ahead]
These were the words of Downton Abbey’s Mary Crawley in S2 to Matthew’s erstwhile fiancée, Lavinia, when they learned that Matthew’s war injury would prevent him from fathering children or, as Matthew himself so delicately put it, being “properly married.” The CS 2012, an episode that ( Read more... )
[Downton Abbey S3/CS 2012 Spoilers Ahead]
These were the words of Downton Abbey’s Mary Crawley in S2 to Matthew’s erstwhile fiancée, Lavinia, when they learned that Matthew’s war injury would prevent him from fathering children or, as Matthew himself so delicately put it, being “properly married.” The CS 2012, an episode that ( Read more... )
All of them fiercely loyal to their respective TV shows -- in the case of Whishaw, it's not even a highly-rated show!
Yeah, and Whishaw is a much bigger name than DS. It will be some time (if ever) before DS is cast as Keats in a feature film or stars alongside Daniel Craig in a Bond flick (another reason his being "considered" to play Bond himself is a real stretch).
perhaps the original S3 was an inheritance battle, maybe followed by inheritance dispute (Polbrook resurfacing?) and an infertility plot in the middle of it
Those are great ideas ... are you a writer or something? ;-)
Seriously, I would LOVE to sit down with JF and ask what he really had in mind before it all blew up in his face.
I mean, there's "getting our just desserts" and then there's "Probably won't find you until rigor mortis sets in."
But I guess that's why they had the lorry driver stop and discover him pinned under the car. We can assume he went for help (and may have even recognized him; Matthew had to have been between the village and the house and if it was a regular driver on a regular route, he's probably familiar with the family). ... But to take a character who's handled everything life has dished out at him and come out on top, who's been so solid, so secure, and to end his life in that way ... it's really breathtaking (and not in a good way).
If MD wanted to leave at the end of S3, he obviously wouldn't have killed them both -- he'd have been able to invent that foreign posting and move them away.
Well, but then as you point out below, why should the others not continue on simply because DS wants to take his ball and go home? And ... I'm not sure what kind of terms DS and MD are on these days, so I can't see her turning down a role of a lifetime -- one that's brought her accolades galore -- for a selfish co-star she's been avoiding like the plague for whatever reason.
Funny that you mention the foreign posting because I've been thinking about the juxtaposition of M/M's marriage w/ the MacClares.' Here we have a couple who has been married 30-40 years, who can't stand each other, who, let's face it, would probably consider a tragic car accident a blessed relief in many ways (sad but true) and instead THEY get sent off to a foreign posting in an exotic locale. The irony.
Bleh. I still vote for Chickwriter's scenario: have Matthew run for Ripon's MP and he can give up his seat when he becomes Earl. Seriously, can we just like hire the two of you to write DA? ;-) But of course, even then, Matthew would have to appear occasionally, and it's clear DS said no way. So.
To give the show a proper goodbye. I don't want to give DS that kind of financial power.
But see, I almost feel the reverse is true. I don't think DS wants Downton to end -- that would imply sour grapes and you can only be sour grapes if you care or have some investment, which I don't think he does or has (and I think you agree). ... I don't think he CARES one way or another (at least now, maybe come next summer/fall when he's twiddling his thumbs while his buddies are working he'll get introspective and rethink his choices).
To me if Downton goes on and succeeds AMD, it's almost like it absolves him of any responsibility. And I don't want that. I WANT him to feel badly for tanking something that brought so much to so many, to appreciate how no one else understands why he did what he did and how he did it.
But that's not my reason for not watching. I just CARE about Mary too much and I just don't think I can watch the devastation, loneliness ... and the utter FINALITY of it all. Like I said, DA was a source of pleasure for me and it's not now and can never be again. Even if I can still appreciate it, I'll never enjoy it the same way. (And I when I want something I admire more than I love, there are other shows I watch to fill that void.) It's like ... trying to keep someone in your life as a casual friend who used to be the most important person in the world to you. It just doesn't work. It's actually more painful than simply letting go. :-(
Great discussion as always, and I'm so honored you stopped by!
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Exactly. Some comment I saw about DS summed it up really well for me: he's not "enough" of anything that allows a UK actor to make it big in the U.S.: He's not beautiful enough, he's not ugly enough, he's not interesting enough, he's not boring enough. He's kind of...average-looking, by the standards of British men in Hollywood. I also think it hurts him tremendously that he looks older than he is. Seriously, he looks 35, but can't pass for either 40 or 25. I feel like I've said this before, so apologies for repeating myself, but it bears repeating, and is another reason why this exit has been so difficult for so many to wrap their heads around: what exactly IS he leaving for? Heigl and even Caruso were being seriously courted by Hollywood for feature films (and Caruso DID actually do one where he was the star). By all reports, he is not. It's why the other reason has gained such traction, IMO -- because...seriously why else would he leave? As someone else pointed out on my LJ "I've fulfilled my contract" is such a canned statement, suggesting there's more to this story than meets the eye.
I want the DA Tell-All book in 10 years. You know it's coming. ;)
We can assume he went for help (and may have even recognized him; Matthew had to have been between the village and the house and if it was a regular driver on a regular route, he's probably familiar with the family)
Even so, it's in the middle of nowhere(ish), and the fact that someone would've had to LEAVE to get help means that Matthew's dead body just sat there on the side of the road for however long...ugh, it's just awful to think about, and IMO, it begs the question of "Why?" (of course, the answer is probably something silly like "The Canarvons wouldn't let a death scene be filmed in view of Highclere, for fear of bad publicity." :p )
Re: MD possibly wanting to leave -- I'm not saying she falls on her sword for her selfish co-star. I'm saying in some other universe, she has similar Hollywood ambitions and decides "Yeah, three years is enough for me, too." THAT was JF's...not ideal, but at least it's SO much easier to write them both out, and just have DA continue with the existing "regime."
To me if Downton goes on and succeeds AMD, it's almost like it absolves him of any responsibility. And I don't want that. I WANT him to feel badly for tanking something that brought so much to so many, to appreciate how no one else understands why he did what he did and how he did it.
No, that's a good point, absolutely. It's true -- and I suppose if it DOES tank (I can see it being considerably less popular) that proves Matthew was an important character and M/M was an important story.
It's like ... trying to keep someone in your life as a casual friend who used to be the most important person in the world to you. It just doesn't work. It's actually more painful than simply letting go. :-(
Awww...I can see that, and I respect it completely. :) For me, it's probably because Mary wasn't my favorite (she was my favorite's favorite) that I'm slightly more removed to be interested in her life after this horrible tragedy. If it was Mary who was killed and I'd have to watch Matthew moving on...I'd feel the exact same way you do. We're mirror shippers, you and I. ;) Sigh...
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Seriously. Reserve my copy while you're at it. :-)
I'm saying in some other universe, she has similar Hollywood ambitions
And I think she does. In fact, she already has more of a Hollywood career than DS. She was in a *real* movie last year (albeit a bit part) and another well received miniseries. She's filming "Non-Stop" with Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore and is second billed (uh, *really* second billed, in a cast of recognizable names, not just because she's Doofus Tiddlywink's buddy in a cast of virtual nobodies). The difference is she cares about Downton and her character and enjoys playing Mary. And she should -- it's a great role.
I do wonder if she'll feel the same going into S5 (i.e. this time next year). I mean her material in S3 wasn't nearly as good and I would be surprised if she receives as many award noms next year. Of the two, this was EM's season I think, with comforting Edith, Sybil's death and her fallout with Robert. And I just wonder if MD will have the same enthusiasm for playing Mary in a world where Matthew doesn't exist. I truly think she was a major M/M shipper.
I have a feeling though that they've contracted her through S5. Not that she couldn't break her K, of course, but I don't think she's the type who would.
We're mirror shippers, you and I.
We really are. And I was just thinking the other day that if the situation were reversed and *Mary* had died, I *might* have more of an interest -- at least initially -- in seeing Matthew's grieving process ... especially because we kind of saw it with Lavinia and I would want that final vindication that Matthew really only felt guilt for Lavinia in the end (which would be obvious juxtaposed with his genuine *grief* over Mary). I certainly wouldn't find it as painful. ... But afterwards, because Mary is my favorite character, I don't know if my love for Matthew on his own would be enough to sustain my interest in the show.(Also, objectively, Mary is the more important character of the two; but I still say Matthew was the next most important character, honestly. I think Matthew was more vital than Robert, Violet, Cora or anyone downstairs to the plot, narrative, structure and vision of the original DA ... which is a main reason why I don't think the show really will recover.)
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Hee! Why don't you have a Twitter? You'd be hilarious! Doofus Tiddlywink...I love it. :p
I mean her material in S3 wasn't nearly as good and I would be surprised if she receives as many award noms next year. Of the two, this was EM's season I think
I agree, and thus is the fallacy of DA and the Emmys. They've decided MD is their "girl," but all Mary did this year (other than an awesome 3x05) was hatch schemes to save Downton, look suitably Countess-like (sob) and angst vaguely about not having a baby. I'm honestly not sure EMG would be nominated, and certainly nobody else would be -- though HB probably has enough material to eke out a nomination based on 3x05-3x07.
That is, if the Academy even decides to give DA another look after American audiences turn on it in record numbers after the CS of doom airs here.
And I just wonder if MD will have the same enthusiasm for playing Mary in a world where Matthew doesn't exist. I truly think she was a major M/M shipper.
Awwwwww!!! That makes me even sadder (and at the same time, provides some comfort that she'll remind us of Matthew's death in her S4 performance).
Ugh, the more I think about it, the more it seems like S4 was the ultimate Catch-22. On one hand, totally unfair to unemploy 18 other people who adore the show and want to do it forever because one actor is an ass. OTOH, you sacrifice your creative vision to keep those 18 people employed.
Is a pale imitation of the show you wanted to do better than no show at all? I suppose we'll find out in September... :/
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For me, the answer is a resounding "NO," but then I'm not the one raking in the $$$ and who'd be responsible for ending the run of a show that employs not just 18 cast members but hundreds of crew (who really DO need the work). So I do get it. But it's my prerogative to vote with my feet (or my remote) and that's what I intend to do. After I spread my prophetic message of doom to all innocent US viewers who are about to be sucker punched. And grieve during the hiatus. (Hey, we all have something in common with Lady Mary.)
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