I knew it was coming...

But, I was stilled bummed out.

****DON'T READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU ARE STILL PLANNING ON WATCHING THE LAST EPISODE OF DOWNTON ABBEY!!****

Just after Episode 1 aired, my sister sent me an article that included reassuring information about Maggie Smith signing a contract for Season 4. Also included in the article, but far less reassuring was the %*^*#|>€¥•|\{!!! information that both Sybil and Matthew were to be killed off in Season 3.
Even so, I cried when Sybil died and I chewed my fingernails in every subsequent episode waiting to see how they would get rid of Matthew.

When it happened in the last 2 minutes of the final episode last night, I was not shocked. Hey, I wasn't even sad. Too much. After all, the last scenes of Matthew alive made him look, um, less than manly. But, I felt decidedly ripped off.

Then, I read this morning in several different media outlets, that Dan Stevens ("Matthew Crawley") was so adamant about getting out of his contract permanently, that Julian Fellowes had no choice but to kill him off. I have to seriously question Mr. Stevens' ability to make sound decisions. AND, now I feel like Mr. Fellowes was way too kind in his method and mode of death for that character.

Whew! Glad that's out of my system!

Side note: what is with this family and their inability to name babies right away? Really?!?! I would think these families are so invested in their own histories that they have known their kids' names since before they were conceived.

Other notables:
- How could you not love Carson comforting Baby Sibby??? Too sweet!

- I am impressed that they found a character more despicable than O'Brien: Lady MacClare's lady's maid.

- yay on the friendship between Thomas and Jimmy???

- loved the Mrs. Hughes scenes with Branson and with Mrs. Patmore.

- stupid Edna. Now, stay gone!

Did I miss anything???