<p>You know… I used to be a big fan of Robert. But between the poor decision to put most of his fortune into one stock, what Matthew has discovered with the mismanagement of the estate, and his refusal to listen to the doctor who actually knew his daughter, I’m beginning to think he’s more than just a little out of touch. Well-intentioned, but clueless.</p>
<p>Lafalum84, I thought of Love’s Labor Lost too, especially when they showed Branson holding his daughter. That was back when there were few TV options, and pretty much everyone watched ER on Thursday nights. I remember when I came into work the next morning, all the women practically fell into one another’s arms, and the first words on everyone’s lips were, “Oh my God, did you see it?” We told one pregnant secretary who hadn’t seen it, but had taped it, that she was absolutely not allowed to watch it. I sometimes regret that we don’t have that kind of collective viewing experience any more, even within the same household. Now it a seems we are only glued to the same TV event when we are following a real life tragedy.</p>
<p>Back on point, Lord Grantham has now proven himself to be useless in yet another arena, Matthew is consistently wimpy, and Mary is completely repellent. But oh that scene with the Dowager Countess and Carson was a killer, wasn’t it? They both were so broken by Sybil’s death (Me too–many tears.)</p>
<p>I never saw that coming at all. Wow. Very well acted and very moving and so sad.</p>
<p>So sad tonight.
There are some very cold winds blowing for Lord Grantham.
I also still remember that episode of ER and how gripping and awful it was, even being a nurse.</p>
<p>I had read it on a spoiler but very sad. i was thinking why couldnt they give her magnesium, then why were the doctors and nurses standing so far away when he is dying, saying “there is nothing we can do” you still have to take care of her. but then it would ruin the drama
i took the quizz last year I was Anna, will have to see which sister I would be.</p>
<p>Connecting the conversation to CC, is the moral of this story that “it doesn’t matter where you went to med school”? Seems Lord Grantham was a bit overly confident in Sir Philip’s “prestige” and what that meant for Sybil’s treatment. On the other hand, I am not sure I would want a country doctor performing a cesarean in a tiny low-tech hospital.</p>
<p>I could tell Sybil was going to die once she started talking to her mom about Branson’s plans to work in Liverpool. Or even once she had the baby without having a C-section. The smug expressions of the doctors gave away there was going to be a disaster after all. I also thought it strange to have a new character, Sir Philip, appear without any other appearances. I’m glad her regular doctor didn’t get that role of misdiagnosing Sybil. </p>
<p>Could the “other” sister fall in love with Branson? Lafalum, like you, I used to think highly about Robert, but eh! now. I wonder if he’ll have some kind of major depression because of what happened.</p>
<p>I like Matthew getting into the financial affairs. Good for him. But what do you think of Matthew being infertile? How will that change things? Do you suppose Mary will raise the child? Naaaa. She’s not the nuturing type.</p>
<p>What’s with Lady Crawley and Ethel? Where’s that going to lead I wonder.</p>
<p>I like Mary. I don’t think she’s intentionally cold - I think she learned a lot from the time she was informed it was her role in life to marry Patrick and save the estate, through the whole Pamuk disaster and the years that followed, all the way thru marrying Matthew. She has a cold exterior, but I think for the most part her heart’s in the right place.</p>
<p>I’m not convinced Matthew’s infertile. They haven’t been married very long yet.</p>
<p>I was also spoiled (against my will) and knew Sybil’s fate but I was expecting that it would be Dr. Clarkson who, as usual screwed up again. However, he turned out to be right for a change. Of course the cc message here is that we should never be blinded by prestige, particularly in medicine.</p>
<p>Robert has really been getting on my nerves even more than Branson and I hope Cora never lets him sleep anywhere but the dressing room again. What a twit!</p>
<p>Any idea what they named the baby? Hopefully not one of the uglier period names. At least Ethel and Edith are taken.</p>
<p>I was pregnant with ds1 when that ER episode aired. We had taped it as we were at Lamaze classes that night. My SIL called and told us NOT to watch that show. So we didn’t, until much later.</p>
<p>^MommaJ, I saw that episode of ER. After that, I never watched the show again.</p>
<p>^^^ Really? That’s when I got HOOKED on ER!</p>
<p>On the west coast here and DVRd it as The Good Wife is on at the same time. I can’t believe how sad i feel. I didn’t see that coming at all…I’m with others who used to really like the character of Robert. Now, not much at all. So S A D. Trying to remind myself that this is just a TV show!</p>
<p>Why oh why Downton Abbey writers did you have to do this? Seriously, was this really necessary? </p>
<p>Re the acting: Maggie Smith was beyond sublime, so amazing. Was not impressed by Elizabeth McGovern or several of the others.</p>
<p>PS whatever you do, don’t start Googling to try and find the writers/producers explanations for throwing in this drastic, egregious plot twist. I just did, and accidentally landed on major spoilers. </p>
<p>Re Sybil’s fate: I have to say I don’t have much respect for writers who have to rely on such major plot twists to create drama. I’ve thought this all the way through, though it wasn’t as bad first season. If it weren’t for Maggie Smith, I would have jumped ship long ago.</p>
<p>It was the fact that Sybil was dead is what I said several pages back that I learned when I stumbled upon an episode while in Europe over Christmas, but did not reveal here.</p>
<p>I had suspected it was in childbirth, but only found out for sure last night.</p>
<p>I still don’t know where the episode I saw is in the sequence!</p>
<p>Still so sad, and mad this morning. Not only because of Sybil, but because it’s so hard to believe that an experienced OB like Sir Philip didn’t recognize the problem. Or didn’t admit that he missed it because he was miffed about their country doctor, so decided to take his chances.</p>
<p>Did anyone watch the re-run episode of Call the Midwife just prior to Downton Abbey?
I thought it interesting that on both shows a young presumably healthy woman died of eclampsia. </p>
<p>I didn’t see the Sybil’s death coming either. Soo sad. I was so mad at Robert for not listening to Dr. Clarkson. Maggie Smith was impecable as usual.</p>
<p>I remember the Love"s Labor Lost episode of ER. After all these years I remember how gut wrenching it was and how I felt just limp when it was over. I was a devoted ER fan (I’m an ex nurse).</p>
<p>I am so mad at Robert! He was being so pompous! Why wouldn’t he err on the side of caution? And we were all crying - including hubby! Sybil was the sweetest. Well, at least it was more interesting than last week! And the scene between Violet and Carson was perfection - sooo touching!</p>