User reviews

The Branson Storyline was the most interesting and touching. A lonely widower/father in a new job/positon, trying to find himself, and deal with grief and fatherhood. Adding to the equation he is family yet not family when it came to his in-laws and the servants. Glad he did not fall under Edna's spell. Nice to have some long camera scenes of this handsome actor who plays the part. The scenes with Branson crying and Mrs Hughes holding his hands were so moving, you could feel his character's pain if you have ever lost someone close. The Branson/Sybil scenes were few,short and rushed this season. They were my favorite couple and my family had hi hopes for them.

This storyline made the episode; as his character was bridge between the Family(upstairs) and the servants(downstairs). The family being away most of the episode.

The story lines of the staff were fun and playful. Nice to see all getting along and have pleasant exchanges of conversations. The background of the fair was a wonderful touch and fun seeing the boys pulling at the tug of war and winning; as were having the girls on the rides was a nice touch.

Isobel and local doctor Clarkson was a nice by-line, yet I did see that coming and was not surprise by it.

The family's visit to the unhappy Scottish relatives home was a validation of how empty society life could be. The women wearing tiaras and presiding as queens over the estates. The men prancing about with guns.The main purpose of the storyline was to show an unhappy married couple in their societies trappings. It did that.

The joy of Downton Abbey came from the happy relations and conversations: Cora/Robert, Mary/Matthew; Anna/Bates, Carson/Hughes;Carson/Robert; Mary/Anna. Violet/Mary; Hughes/Patmore; Robert/Matthew. We know from historical record was not always the case.

Overall S3 was a let down. Very little of Sybil and Branson, then her death. Now Matthew's death. Hope the writers have learned from this season as not to kill off popular characters and write in silly new ones like Rose.

The episode starts normal, with the Crawleys going to the Maclares' beautiful estate in Scotland to celebrate Christmas, to the servants visiting the local fare and getting merry and drunk. Then, of course, Lady Mary is about to give birth. All is well and happy, but then Matthew. I'm not shocked by the ending. I was spoiled again because of my habit of reading Youtube comments. Ending is not very Christmas-sy.

Yes, I like this episode. It's one of the episodes with the best cinematography. Scotland is beautiful. But the ending ruined it for me. Why, oh, why?

The Crawley family had always had mixed feelings over Branson. He will always be the lowly chauffeur that married Lady Sybil, unworthy of being treated as part of the family. And he would have none of it, either; his radical Irish politics defied the English aristocracy and everything that it stood for. But since last episode, when Matthew finally got his way with the running of Downton, Branson took on the role of Estate Manager, and even helped to win the cricket match for Robert (and let's face it, that's what really sealed the deal). Another huge factor for him staying at Downton was Baby Sybil; she would get to stay close to her family and not live over some garage with Branson's repugnant brother, Kiernan . In this very special episode of Downton Abbey, Branson is struggling with his newfound station. Though he's been living at house for a year now, he still doesn't feel like he quite fits in. While the rest of the family is away in the Highlands, Isobel invites him to dinner and tells him that he has a real role at Downton now, and that he can talk to whomever he wants. We can tell that he's still pretty uncomfortable with the idea, as seen by when Mrs. Hughes asks him for permission to have the maids clean during the day. He tells her that she doesn't need his permission, but Mrs. Hughes insists that she does. It appears that the only person who may not know that Branson is the Estate Manager is Branson! And now for the shocker. It begins with Mary deciding to return to Downton early with Anna so that she can rest. But after they get off the train, Mary tells Anna that they must go to the hospital at once because she thinks the baby is coming. Long story short, Mary goes to the hospital and has their little boy, and Matthew arrives shortly afterwards. As Matthew holds his son, he says crazy cute things like, "I feel like I swallowed a box of fireworks." Leave it to Mary to make it seem like a business transaction, stating, "We've done our duty. Downton is safe." Hope that maternal instinct kicks in sometime soon. Matthew shamelessly dotes upon his newborn son, and showers Mary with the most loving declarations, almost in a way that made me sense that something terrible was going to happen.

An exceptional series for many reasons. If only Elizabeth McGovern wouldn't keep smiling and cock her head permanently. This might be meant to characterize her, but it gets on one's nerves.