‘Downton Abbey’ season 3: Reflection and a new look to the future
“Downton Abbey” season 3 is over save for a Christmas special, and this yields to all sorts of important questions being asked. Was this season the best yet, and will the show be able to keep this level of high quality up for much longer? These are all worthy questions, but much of it is up for interpretation. All we can say with some sort of certainty is based on the comments from creator Julian Fellowes, there will indeed be a season 4 coming down the pipeline … even if there are some very real questions about the future of both Maggie Smith as well as Dan Stevens.
Speaking supposedly as a part of a new interview with the Daily Telegraph, here is what the notable showrunner had to say on the subject:
“I’d be surprised if there was not a fourth series. We knew who they all were [by series two].And now we are really involved with them and that takes you forward another step … I am pleased with this [third] series. I thought it worked well. It seems to me that the actors have made a very good job of it and the audience response has been great and they kept watching.”
Surprisingly, Fellowes and much of the rest of the “Downton Abbey” season 3 crew have been very coy thus far about the next actual episode of the show to air on Christmas Day. ITV did not air a preview for it after the finale aired Sunday, and neither have they revealed an official synopsis just yet. This really just suggests that they are buying their time instead until we arrive closer to the air date, and then more details will be made available for the sake of building up anticipation so that viewer interest does not wane.
As for if season 4 of the show will be the last … that is a worthy subject for debate.
Carol Harrison
December 8, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
Although I’m new to Downton Abbey thanks to my English-born hairstylist who loves the show, if Thomas leaves, that’s it for me and I’ve watched the behind-the-scenes just last week. I haven’t even had the opportunity to watch Seasons One and Two yet to fully understand the storyline.
Anzalena Amanda Woo
November 18, 2012 @ 10:08 am
I really hope that Dan Stevens and Maggie smith stay for the whole series until it comes off air. If not I’m not watching anymore. The only reason I watch the show is because of the scenes and schemes try between Dan and Michelle. And I love Maggie scenes as well. If anyone should go it should be Edith or Thomas or maybe O’Brian
Anzalena Amanda Woo
November 18, 2012 @ 10:05 am
On the Christmas special I want Mary and Matthew getting the good news that Mary is pregnant and they tell everyone. I want a lot more scenes of Matthew interacting with baby Sybil. We always see Mary holding her and I want Matthew to hold and play with her and have Mary looking on.
David Lonsdale
November 16, 2012 @ 3:28 am
How can ITV even consider not running to a 4th series when selling it to over 200 countries, bringing huge advertising revenues and the public still intrigued with all the possible outcomes. Many successful TV drama series over-run their ‘best by dates’ but Downton still has plenty of mileage left to run.