Death at Downton Abbey

Death at Downton Abbey

(3x05)

When tragedy strikes, we try to find someone to blame. And in the absence of a suitable candidate we usually blame ourselves.

   It is already the third season of Downton Abbey. The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of King George V. It depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants after the post-Edwardian era — with the great events in history having an effect on their lives and the British social hierarchy in general. Such events depicted throughout the whole series include the news of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the first series; the outbreaks of World War I, the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; and the Interwar period and the formation of the Irish Republic in the third series. (via Wikipedia)

   I’m just starting to write on this blog and it happens that the current episode is episode five of season three. This episode for me is the most dramatic of all episodes from the first airing. Lady Sibyl gave birth to a baby girl. The Crawley’s are very thrilled. They even hired two doctors to watch over Lady Sibyl. When the baby girl was born, Tom Branson, Sibyl’s husband, was even more thrilled to have a daughter. During the labor of Lady Sibyl, the two doctors, Sir Philip and Dr. Clarkson, had an argument. The latter saying they should take Lady Sibyl to the hospital and perform cesarean section because he saw some symptoms, like confusion and swelling of the ankles, that might endanger both the child and Lady Sibyl. But the former says it’s normal for someone pregnant and no need to take her to the hospital. And performing the cesarean section would kill either or both Lady Sibyl and the child. Robert or Lord Grantham, having endorsed Sir Philip, agreed with Sir Philip and Lady Sibyl was not taken to the hospital. She had a normal childbirth in Downton Abbey. Everything seems normal and alright. Later that night Lady Mary, Lady Sibyl’s sister, woke up Robert and Cora saying there is something wrong with Lady Sibyl.

   As it turned out, Dr. Clarkson was right. When Lord and Lady Grantham, entered Lady Sibyl’s room, she was having a terrible headache, couldn’t breathe, and had a seizure. The whole family was present: Robert and Cora, Sibyl’s parents; Mary and Edith, Sibyl’s sisters; Tom, her husband; Matthew, Mary’s husband. Tom and Cora  were holding Lady Sibyl when she had the seizure. Both the doctors were present and when the seizure started, they both agreed in one thing: there nothing more that they can do. I guess you already know where this is going. Lady Sibyl stopped moving, Dr. Clarkson checked her and it was certain Lady Sibyl is no longer breathing.

   I literally cried in this episode. And I’m not ashamed to say it. I cried. It’s just too much to take. It may seem dramatic but I really cried. Anyways, I really love this series. I’m looking forward to the next episode. I can’t say too much about this episode other than it pinched my soft spot. I’m drawn to this series. Maybe because it’s British and I love to be British.

               

   What I love in these series is the aristocracy. The Lord and Lady, how they live and how the society respects them. In this family, the word of the head of the family is the law. But sometimes rules can be broken.

   So that’s it for now. I’m going to try my best to write my “reviews” on some of the TV series that I really like.

   Cheerio!