American audiences were shocked this weekend when the popular British period drama Downton Abbey – one of the most popular television programs in history – killed off one of its lead characters. Lady Sybil Crawley, played by 23-year-old British hottie Jessica Brown Findlay, died shortly after giving birth to a healthy baby girl in the fifth episode of the show’s third season – which premiered on U.S. television Sunday evening.
Sybil is one of three fictitious daughters of the Earl of Grantham, who resides with his fictitious family (and their army of fictitious servants) at Downtown Abbey – a.k.a. the Jacobethan English country home Highclere Castle.
Downton Abbey has become a sensation in both Old and New Worlds. The show’s third season premiere drew 7.9 million viewers – up from the 5.4 million who watched its second season finale (and the 4.2 million who watched its second season premiere).
Sybil’s untimely passing not only prompted a flood of lady tears across the country, it has forced our founding editor to dramatically rethink his “FMK Downton Abbey daughters” game. In fact with only two daughters, the game is up.
Sybil’s death was no big secret. This particular episode aired on British television last October (where it was watched by 9.5 million people).
Still, American audiences were stunned when the show’s writer/ creator, Jullian Fellowes, “offed” Sybil. Not only that, he did it violently – morbidly depicting Sybil’s demise from post-partem eclampsia exactly as it would have happened, complete with writhing, hemorrhaging, swelling and the obligatory last gasps.
No implied cutaway here …
Meanwhile social media exploded with grief and surprise at Sybil’s untimely passing (as it did several months ago on the other side of the pond) … prompting a flood of indignation from people who had set their DVR’s to record the program.
Why all the fuss over a TV show?
Well, in an era of record-short attention spans Downton Abbey is one of the few programs still capable of breaking through the synaptic clutter and transporting viewers to another era – capitalizing on their nostalgic as well as their material impulses. And trust us, once you’re there – you’re invested.
Incidentally, while Lady Sybil was meeting her maker Downton won the Screen Actors’ Guild award for ensemble cast in a drama – beating out last year’s winner Boardwalk Empire as well as Homeland and Mad Men.
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26 comments
You think that’s something. Just wait until the end of the Christmas Special.
…. you think that is something! – Will made me look up another word: SYNAPTIC: which led me to HOMOLOGOUS which led me to MEIOSIS which led me to DIPLOID which led me to SOMATIC which led me to HAPLOID which led me to GAMETES —–
….then I quit! — and I still don’t know WHAT THE HELL HE WAS TRYING TO SAY!
“one of the most popular television programs in history”
Really? Based on what?
Ratings at INDB.
Do you mean IMDb? If so, that seems to be some subjective rating system, which puts the program at #30. Not really very high on the list.
But I don’t know that such a list actually measures whether the program is “one of the most popular television programs in history.” When I think “popular,” I think ratings, and I would be surprised if the number of people watching the show ranks very high on the list of current programs, which doesn’t even take into account countless programs that, over the years, drew huge audiences.
Bunch of tight asses on that show. They need some alcohol and a real man to give it to them straight.
Have never seen it. Don’t care if I ever do.
Wait a minute……….
Ain’t that show on PBS???
The network that conservatives and libertarians are SWORN to cut off funding to…….
Oh, the hypocrisy of it all!!!!!
If PBS was defunded, it would either survive just fine, or die. The shows, if it died, would either get picked up elsewhere, or die. PBS has nothing to do with the show, other than rebroadcast it. If PBS didn’t exist, and people wanted the show, someone would pick it up. Not sure there’s anything hypocritical about talking about a British show, but you go, girl! You make a good stereotypical liberal boogeyman.
SparkleCity, shut the hell up!! You, as well as your liberal morons, as USUAL got your facts screwed up, and distort the facts.
What the fuck are you talking about???
You are the one DISTORTING a fact.
The fucking show is on PBS for crying out loud
ABSOLUTELY NO DISTORTION OF FACTS WHATSOEVER!!!
Sid;
BECAUSE the show is only SHOWN on PBS in this country that’s why.
I wish I had a dollar for everytime a libertarian or hard-right conservative squeels about defunding PBS and then right here on FITS the editor comments on what a good show it is and obviously is watching it on PBS UNLESS FITS is streaming it in real time which again, is provided by PBS
The big lie is that a shitload of libertarians and hard right watch PBS but squeel “cut the funding” which demonstrates the hypocrisy of wanting to cut/eliminate the funding all the while watching the network at the same time.
rather watch my dog drink bottled beer than that made for fags brit shit;bitch doesn’t miss a drop.’breaking bad’ is the best thing on..
Nope
At the present it’s “Walking Dead”
Another few weeks and its on again.
I thought “Last Resort’ would be good but WAY too much shit going on to stay tuned in week after week after week……
YAWN!!! Must be a slow news day at Fitsnews.
Great show, but it’s not “one of the most popular in history.” 7.9 million viewers? That’s great for PBS, but that falls far short of, say, your average episode of NCIS.
What is the charm of this show? I’ve never seen it, but the setting seems very boring, and the descriptions make it seem like an early 20th century (or is it late 19th century?) soap opera.
I’m not bashing, I’m just curious.
Would someone who hates soap operas and melodrama enjoy this show?
Bad shit happens when you screw the help.
I’ll say…
Sybil was the most beautiful and had the biggest jugs in the entire cast.
Next most beautiful is the house-servant Ethyl (Amy Nuttall), whose also got nice knockers. No wonder the English officer got her into bed and pregnant.
http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article153191.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/image-12-for-editorial-12-sep-2011-gallery-911419774.jpg
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/40492771/Amy+Nuttall+amynuttallpng2.png
….. there you go!— thanks for the pics
The appeal of this show is that it depicts the various social stratifications of a society — when people knew their place. The French Revolution kinda’ screwed things up when it brought democracy to the great unwashed. We still need a peasant class. Most people are better governed with a boot on their neck and having to grub for meals. Less crime when people are trying to eke out a living. Nowadays its mudsill on top. Too many in the middle class and too much new money, today.
Some men need an umbrella and some men need a good sword. One supports the other. Need to bring The Help back. IMHO
The redhead who turned into a prostitute (Emma) is next hottest. After her, the new cook assistant.
The redhead who turned into a prostitute (Emma) is next hottest. After her, the new cook assistant.
I was truly devastated when Sybil died, and I am still reeling in shock as I just watched Matthew die…..So very sad, hoping for some happiness in Season 4!
I was truly devastated when Sybil died, and I am still reeling in shock as I just watched Matthew die…..So very sad, hoping for some happiness in Season 4!