Last episode (number 5, season 3) which aired here this weekend was heartbreaking. I haven't cried this much over a tv-show since Kate Rowan died on "Heartbeat".

I'm seeing The Heiress on Broadway next week (Dan Stevens is one of the main stars), and I know he stops to chat with fans after the show, so I will be in full stalker mode!

Though, apparently, he doesn't want to come back for season 4.

I have to laugh at how Joy thought she had done her homework by saying Rob James Collier is a "soap star" but didn't bother to do any research about the character he played on Corrie (Liam Connor) to know he wasn't still on the show. 

 

Once again people can't even look on Wikipedia. I can't stand her.

Q&A panel with some members of the cast and fans that PBS held in New York this week in preparation of series 3 airing on PBS:

Edited December 16, 201212 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Christmas special trailer (no idea when PBS will air this):

Anyway, Dan Stevens was a total sweetheart when I and other fans greeted him after the play on Tuesday...

Edited December 21, 201212 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Weird reading on tumblr some of the seemingly reasonable people who say that Dan Stevens horribly betrayed them by leaving the show and that he owes the show his success, he should have stayed.

I thought that type of reaction was more American. I guess not.

Does anyone else watch Downton Abbey and would you like to live there? Don't think I would want to live there forever - however maybe stay a week and breakfast in bed.

We have a thread somewhere. I love the show, despite some creeping faults (though I thought Season 3 was better than 2)--but most of us fans have watched all the UK episodes, so it's hard to discuss without spoiling PBS viewers (not sure what episode they are at).

http://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/37820-downton-abbey-discussion-thread/

And yes, ITV versions all the way, not the PBS atrocity.

Is the PBS version leaving out important scenes?

Not anymore--they only edited episodes in Seeason one (ones they thought Americans wouldn't get--like aboutthe succession oif inheritance etc, and some for "pacing". I believe the DVD is uncut though). Once it became a huge hit they realized they may as well air every second they can. I find it hysterical that they worried PBS viewers would find Downton, by far one of the fastest paced UK period dramas I can think of, too slow.

Speaking of I guess that Shondra Rimes (I think?) sorta US DOwnton (though I think it was set at a hotel) with John Barrowman wasn't picked up? Maybe people remembered how disastrous the 1970s US attempt at somewhat remaking Upstairs Downstairs was.

*edit* To add I do think that it's dumb that PBS has to air it so much later than the UK one--I'm sure it's a copntract issue, but don't they realize how many people can see it already online, or even import the UK BluRays which are region free? There was an article in the paper back in Nov saying how lucky Michelle Obama was because she was such a big fan, the studio sent her over the DVDs so she would see it ages before American fans... Like, c'mon.

So now DA 3rd seaso.n is done - so now we have to wait to find what happens in the 4th

Lady Damfan

I'm hoping that his exit will propel the show to new, exciting territory. Besides, if not even Matthew is safe, it sorta gives the show an edge--everything seems possible!