Downton Musings, from Episode 4

**SPOILER ALERT -- if you didn't see Downton Abbey last night, and don't want to know what happened, then read no further!!**

I haven't yet mentioned Downton Abbey on my blog this season.  But I have wanted to.  And now that I'm feeling better and have more energy, I'm trying to write more.  It's a wonderful outlet, and cheaper than therapy.  Plus it's an opportunity to talk about the really important things in life, like what is happening in the fictional lives of fictional characters in a real TV show.

ahem.



Truly, I'm totally talking about the events of the episode now...

I had planned to write a scene-by-scene (well, not quite every scene) commentary of last night's episode of Downton Abbey; but since the writers so rudely killed off Sybil, I went into a state of shock and grief, and I couldn't keep up.

Look at her cute baby bump!   Little did we know that death was around the corner....

Oh, Sybil.  The sweetest of the three Crawley sisters.  Also the youngest...hey, is anyone else thinking about Beth March?  (Little Women)  (I was so upset at Beth's death when I first read the book - at age 11 - that I put the book down and didn't finish it until sometime in high school.)

I'm digressing.  Back to sweet (and dead) Sybil.

Now, I never was sure about her marriage to Tom Branson - not because he was from a lower social class, but because until after they were married, she never seemed like she really loved him.  Marrying him seemed more like an act of rebellion.  But I guess she did love him.  She declared it to Mary quite vehemently just before she died.

The (not-for-long) happy family...wonder what Branson will name their daughter?

Now, I am not an easy crier, especially with movies and TV.  But, I confess...I actually cried.  Tom is the one who sent me over the edge.  There's nothing like a grieving husband to bring me to tears.  And Cora, too - the scene with her at Sybil's deathbed made me cry more.  ("You'll always be my baby.."  Holy cow, any mother would tear up at this!)

I told Bryan, "Oh, they killed off Sybil!"  And he looks over from his computer and says, "Who?"  So I got no sympathy from him.

Other random thoughts from the episode:

*Bates.  I am worried about him.  His cell-mate and that crooked guard are up to something.

*Daisy.  She has got to start being nicer.  Plus, the new footman, Alfred (not Jimmy, the newest one that Thomas is after) - he really isn't that great.  So why ruin a potentially good friendship with the new scullery maid because of jealousy?  Remember, you're a war widow, Daisy.  You're better than that.

*Isobel.  All I'll say is - YOU GO GIRL!  Good for you, hiring Ethel and bringing her out of her life of prostitution.  I never liked Ethel, but she has definitely learned from her poor choices.

*Was anyone else afraid that Tom was going to chuck the baby out the window in the last scene?  Or at least jump with her?

Okay, I'm done.  That is out of my system and I feel better.  Thanks for listening.