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sofiab

'Downton Abbey': Major Character Will Die in Season 3, Says Executive Producer - Hollywood Reporter

'Downton Abbey' Season 3 Spoilers: A Marriage, Death And An American

The League of British Artists: Downton Abbey: First pictures of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson (THE SUN)

NikNak

ke77we

Super excited to see MaClaine and the Dame face off. It's gonna be epic. Isobel's not gonna know what do with herself, lol!

diamond gothic

Thanks for starting a thread!

HarshBench

Who's gonna die? Maybe Carson?

Roswell Dream Girl

Thanks so much for starting the thread!

*OldHollywoodStarlet*

Thank you for starting this thread!

Secunda

Hi Please add me. Thanks.

JeRoMe

So random question, in the 1910's/20's did American's have quasi British Accents or did they go away? LOL..I'm wondering how American's sounded during those years. (sorry lame ?)

Secunda

Glad to see this thread.

I'm beginning to agree with Harshbench that logically the character that isn't going to make it in S3 might be Carson. They've already had him collapse from exhaustion and illness respectively. Mrs. Hughes has admonished him on more than one occassion to reduce his workload. JF has done a good bit of foreshadowing that the man is a workaholic, doesn't take care of himself, and seems to constantly be on the verge of an explosion.

But it could also be Violet as she is an old woman by the standards of the time. Though I cannot recall seeing her ill or in otherwise poor health.

It's either one of those two. They represent the old order that was on its way out after WWI. To them your station in life was defined at birth. They find comfort in the immobility of that social order. Of course most of the Crawley family find the same reassurance in the old order. But, Carson has some underlying health issues, and Violet is the oldest.

Sybil's marriage to Tom is very central to the theme of social change in the show. Their new order union contrasts sharply with the old order. The former rising, and the latter declining. Especially for Carson, he finds it incomprehensible why anyone would want to leave their present station, all the while oblivious to fact that their motivation to leave is to improve their life. I actually see Violet as being less intransigent in this regard than Carson. Afterall, who wouldn't want to leave the position of Chauffeur, and no longer have to "bow and scrape."

So, my candidates for not making it in S3 are Violet because of her advanced age and Carson, because of his health, and he will find the new world of the 1920's too alien, too disordered for his worldview.

My fear is an over the top melodramatic storyline of disaster befalling the Bransons, my favorite couple. Which, I find less and less likely simply because they represent the future, and how crass would it be for a writer to kill the future? Also, the entire Sybil and Tom story arch has so many possibilities for plot development and drama. They will have their challenges and take a walk along the edge of danger but in the end they should be fine.

My vote: Carson
Runner up: Violet
The Unthinkable: ?

btvs - formally cole's phoebe

For some reason I think it could be Cora, with alot of American's coming over they may be able to replace her with someone however there is alot of new downstairs staff coming so who knows?
I'm worried it will be Branson or Sybil (Sybil more likely with Jess's blossoming film career) but I'd rather one of them die than have them split up or Tom do something stupid!

Patano

I'm copying this from an S/T thread. The full post is here , and it mentions also the (unlikely in my opinion) Sybil's death scenario. Why I don't believe in S/T/Baby Branson dying is also here , here and here .

My candidates:

I personally believe that we will say goodbye to one of the members of the older generation. Two young people were already killed off in s2, there’s no use in killing more.

Carson – firstly, he can be killed off for realism’s sake. He’s old enough to pass away naturally. On a symbolic level, his role is similar to the one Robert performs upstairs – he believes in the same aristocratic values and strives to preserve them. His death would also shake Downton a lot and has a considerable storyline potential. I also think that all the stressing in s2 that he wants to die at Downton may mean something.

Violet – again, there’s realism’s sake too. Keeping her alive for much longer would start to look ridiculous. She’s a strong woman but already lives longer than most of the people of her era. If there are further seasons, there will be most likely further time jumps, and I can’t believe in Violet dying off-screen. Violet’s character was mostly reduced to a comic relief and one-liners provider in s2. If her character continues for much longer, her iconic status may actually deteriorate. Her one-liners will start to become repetitive and people may actually become bored of them. I also don’t believe that an actress like Maggie Smith wants to be tied to a TV show for many years. Violet’s character deserves a proper goodbye; what if MS suddenly decides to leave the show?

Robert – here is the most storyline potential, not so much realism as with Carson and Violet. If s3 is the last season, he’s a goner because Matthew needs to inherit the estate at some point. Still, his death would “refresh” the show for the further seasons. Different ownership would surely mean big changes at Downton. Also, it would be also symbolic for a man who used to work for his own living like Matthew to become an Earl at a time so much associated with rapid social changes. Robert does not much fit into the new order, I think, and he is not willing to get accustomed to it.

I don't think so. Even if JBF decided not to be in DA anymore, JF would rather send S/T somewhere. They are not tied to Downton after all. Imagine if for example Dan Stevens or Michelle Dockery chose to leave the show - that would be a real problem. With the Bransons there is no such problem - they may be easily written off with maybe some guest appearances.

And I also wanted to say the I completely agree with Secunda's post. My thoughts exactly .

ScarletCourt

FWIW, M/M fans believe that it's Matthew who is going to die because DS hasn't re-signed for S4 and S5.

Patano

Honestly? Matthew is the only character that I'm 100% sure isn't going to die. JF won't rehash "the new heir" plot. Besides, it was also made quite clear in s2 that he's indestructible . While I don't believe this info at all because (as I already said elsewhere) according to it 3/4 of the current cast won't re-sign, this may become a problem later if the show is continued. This is one of the reasons I think it will be better for Dowton to have only three seasons - the actors may later start to leave the show and nonsensical plotlines that JF never ever considered before may become a necessity.