Things That Aren't There Anymore.

This post contains Downton Abbey spoilers.  If you haven't watched it yet, stop reading.  If you don't stop reading, don't be mad at me when the ridiculous, stupid, asinine, poorly thought-through dumb plot twist that ended season 3 is revealed at the end of this post.

If you've watched every single episode of Downton Abbey, you have born witness to a sometimes sullen, sometimes sunny, parade of people that came and subsequently passed.  And when I say "passed," I may or may not mean "have died."  Even if you don't regard it as televised crack-cocaine like I do,  you can surely understand the Edwardian revolving door to which I am referring.  Let's take a look back, shall we?  This is not an exhaustive list.

Mr. Pamuk:  Came to Downton.  Came.  Went.  Big shout-out to Lady Mary, Anna, and Cora ("Muh-MA") for "disposing" of the body.

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Ethel:  Came, caused a problem, left, carved out a new career path, came back, left, left to take a new job so she could be closer to the son she handed over to the parents of her creepily-moustachioed-one-night-stand-soldier-boytoy, and pretend she was the nanny he once had at his old house...or something.

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Gwen:  Totally adorable housemaid who aspired to a higher station.  Left when she got another job.  I miss Gwen.

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Vera Bates (not to be confused with Vera Bradley):  This woman was vile.  Even though she is now making arsenic-laced pastries for Lucifer himself, I am not convinced her influence on the plot is over.

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Any Number of Lady Edith's Man-Friends: There have been so many...so many...

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Lady Sybil:  HONESTLY!  Sybil??  God rest her soul.  Silently sobbed on my corner of the couch.   

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Sir Philip Tapsell, Obstetrician Extraordinaire Shipped in from The Big City (left):  Way to go, d-bag.  Now Sybil's dead.  You are forbidden from performing pelvic exams on any of the Crawley women or their descendants (or their living ancestors, i.e. The Dowager-yikes) for the duration of your career, which hopefully will not be very long. 

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And now, fine readers, I give to you the latest major player in the plot of Downton Abbey to say "Cheerio"...

Matthew "Such Good Luck" Crawley: Champion of cross-class achievement, constant supporter of his dejected sister-in-law, perennial re-assurer to his wife that she is, indeed, a kind & good human being, mysterious-country-prosecutor-cousin-turned-pride-of-Yorkshire-taking-over-the-whole-Mincemeat-Pie-someday, Matthew.  Freaking.  Crawley.

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I knew his death was coming, as he was being written off the show so his real-life persona, Dan Stevens, could pursue other professional projects.  I read about it online.  I had no idea that last night's episode would be his last, however.  I wish Dan Stevens lots of luck.  I'm not mad at him.  I'm mad that Matthew is gone.

Matthew Crawley was one of the most integral players across the scope of the entire show.  He was forever business savvy, and had saved his father-in-law from financial ruin.  He took his Irish-Catholic/ heathen brother-in-law Tom Branson, under his wing with about as much dignity as I've ever seen, and helped him make a name within the family.  Matthew helped everyone see the excellence in Tom, so that he could be treated with the respect he deserved.  Matthew gave Tom a function.

It was just all so abrupt.  I read an article last night after the show and in the comments, people were going off about how they were never watching Downton Abbey again and how Julian Fellowes was off his rocker, etc.  I'm not about to stop watching, but I think this was a low blow.  First Sybil and now Matthew?  Too much, too soon.

Your take-away message?  When you're going back to your wife's family manor to inform them that she is healthy & well directly after the birth of your son, drive the speed limit, wear a seatbelt, keep your hands at 10 & 2, and focus on the task at hand, dammit.  Oy.