Julian Fellowes Weighs In

What does the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, have to say about some weighty issues of late, like the rape of Anna, the end of Downton Abbey and historical inaccuracies…

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Why Matthew had to die

Shock and awe surrounded the death of Matthew Crawley at the end of Season Three. At Downton Abbey Online, we certainly got our fair share of sad and angry letters. We gently reminded viewers that sometimes actors determine the plot of television shows, as was the case with the death of Matthew Crawley. The actor who played Matthew Crawley, Dan Stevens, wanted to leave the show and there was nothing Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes could do about it except write him out of the show.

Julian Fellowes explains that in America, it’s quite common for an actor to sign onto a series for five to seven years. In England, you can only sign an actor like Dan Stevens up for three years. Thanks to the success of Downton Abbey, Dan Stevens was offered opportunities too good to refuse and wanted out. Fellowes harbours no ill will against Stevens, remembering he did something very similar during his early theatre days in London.

But why was Matthew’s death so grisly?

If a servant actor wants to leave the show, Fellowes writes the script to include a job offer in Dublin or India, in the case of nasty O’Brien. But if a family actor wants to leave Downton Abbey’s cast, their exit must be final or it’s simply not believable. A family member like Matthew wouldn’t leave Downton for any other reason except death. And because Dan Steven’s exit in real life was final, there needed to be no doubt among viewers that he would return. Hence, the grisly final death scene.

Season 4 of Downton Abbey opens six months after Matthew’s death, after the shock wears off. Presumably, nobody really wants to see Mary grieve for an entire season. And halfway through the first episode, Mary changes out of her black clothes and feels some degree of closure. Mary decides to live without Matthew Crawley, and so do we…

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How to host a Downton Abbey Dinner Party

 

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Season 4 Trailer Downton Abbey

Let’s call the Season 4 Trailer of Downton Abbey “Dancing, Kissing, Crying, Fighting”

The reaction to Season 4 of Downton Abbey Season Four is positive. The Telegraph newspaper gave the Downton Premiere a five star rating, saying the episode marks a return to the splendor of Season One of Downton Abbey.

What is revealed on the premiere of Downton?

The first episode of Season 4 is set in 1922, six months after Matthew’s death. Part of the episode is set on Valentine’s day, obviously not a cheerful holiday for Lady Mary. Baby George and Mary have some trouble bonding. All Mary can see is Matthew when she looks at her wee one. The baby is played by identical twin actors, Logan and Cole Weston.

Michelle Dockery has assured viewers that despite the identical widow status of Branson and Lady Mary, there will not be a love connection, but they will run the estate of Downton together. In the romance department, we can probably expect new character Lord Gillingham to court Mary.

At Downton Abbey Online, we’re really hoping beleaguered Lady Edith will experience more exciting times in Season 4. Edith spends more time in London with her smitten editor. According to actor Laura Carmichael, Edith finds her inner Carrie Bradshaw this season. Woot woot!

Down below, the kitchen is abuzz with a modern electric food mixer. Whatever will Daisy and Mrs. Patmore do with all the extra free time? And actress Phyllis Logan who plays Mrs. Hughes says there is no impending romance between Carson and herself.

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Downton Abbey Season 4 Spoilers

Downton Abbey Season 4 nears completion in the UK and a few spoilers are leaking into the ether. But as usual, more secrecy surrounds Downton Abbey plot lines than an Opus Dei meeting. Season Four of Downton Abbey premieres in the US on January 5, 2014 on PBS. In the UK, Downton Abbey started its earlier run in September 2103. Season 4 opens in 1922, six months after the death of Downton heir Matthew Crawley.

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