From my notebook regarding this last episode of Downton Abbey:
Damn, Julian Fellowes. You’ve got some English country estate sized balls on you, Mister. I really thought the daughters would be off limits but apparently not. And just to turn the knife in a little more, you killed off the really nice one. Good night sweet Lady Sybil. Let flights of sexy husky-voiced angels sing thee to thy rest.
Top Sad Lady Sybil Death Reactions:
- Let it be not said that Maggie Smith is a one-quip pony. The shot of her in the hall, stopping and leaning on her cane was devastating.
- Cora breaking down at Sybil’s bedside. “We’ll take care them both,” she promises of Branson and the baby.
- The whole family in Sybil’s room trying to calm her out of her seizure while the Doctors just stand there because there was nothing they could do. (Methinks Sir Philip Tapsell the OB/GYN will not be re-employed at Downton Abbey ever again. Props to Dr. Clarkson for having the restraint not to say, “I TOLD you it was eclampsia! Her ankles were never thick!”)
- Mary with Edith saying goodbye to Sybil. “She was the only living person who thought you and I were nice people.” They hug, commenting that it will be the last time the three sisters would be together. Killed. Me. But what killed me the most…
- Thomas! It was only a few scenes earlier as the downstairs crew waited up for word about the baby that Thomas mentioned knowing her well from working side by side in the hospital with her. Then when given the news of her death, he walks out of the room and breaks down. Anna comforting him is what pushed me over the edge. TEARS.
Yes, Lady Sybil died of eclampsia soon after giving birth to her baby daughter. Dr. Clarkson spotted the warning signs but Lord Grantham’s specialist doctor, Sir Philip, pshawed him, saying he was sure she was healthy. Cora was Team Clarkson so when Sybil died, she blamed LG for being Team Sir Philip and not taking Sybil to the hospital. LG is in the Downton Abbey equivalent of the doghouse, which means he’s sleeping in his dressing room.
Will the ouija board make a reappearance? Maybe it will spell out: B-R-A-N-S-O-N-E-N-O-U-G-H-A-B-O-U-T-I-R-E-L-A-N-D.
In other afterlife news, Anna hopes EVIL Mrs. Bates is burning in hell. And of course, noble Bates has to say something like, “Don’t go down that road.” Geez Bates, let her wish ill of your ex-wife who framed you for murder. Anyway, Amateur Sleuth Anna found out from Mrs. Bartlett that Vera had pie pastry under her nails which is good? Right? Well, yes it is because that means EVIL Mrs. Bates was making the poisoned pie while Bates was on his way back to London. Now comes the fun of trying to get Mrs. Bartlett to testify to that even though she hates the Bates.
What else did I learn from Part 4? Thomas had sexy clock winding time with new footman, Jimmy. Jimmy tells O’Brien that he was feeling a bit uncomfortable which was music to O’Brien’s ears. Isobel hires Ethel to work for her. Turns out Ethel can’t make a kidney souffle but yeesh, who would want to? Edith gets offered a newspaper column which LG slams. “I’m always a failure in this family,” she says. Man, it’s almost like I’ve forgotten how nasty Edith used to be with all this sympathy I’m giving her. Meanwhile, Matthew is worried about the management of Downton Abbey as well as his seed. And finally, Daisy likes Alfred who likes Ivy who likes Jimmy who doesn’t like clocks now because of Thomas.
