No, not really. It was the actor's decision. He had been hinting in the English press for some time about wanting to get out of his contract and do something different.
For my part, I think it only adds to the deliciousness of the soap opera writ large that is DA.
Really, I can't blame the actor. His part was pretty dopey, you have to admit -it was written way too one dimensionally. Matthew was likeable, but I don't think he'll be missed as much as you might think.
I didn't see it coming until the scene where he wasn't paying attention to the road and then...I.KNEW. *sigh* Maybe Mary and Branson can get together next season...feels shocking to talk about...the body is barely cold! Angie
Dan Stevens (Matthew) is on his way to Broadway, or so I've been told.
I agree with the vapid character development comment - once Mary and Matthew's relational drama was over they got rather boring and tedious.
Personally, I think the series is running out of steam plot wise, but I do love the period ambiance, gorgeous costumes, set designs and the slice of history it tries to portray.
Did you catch that the actress who played Susan was also Cordelia in the BBC Brideshead Revisited? (Many moons ago!)
I think Daisy will be a key character in future episodes - she'll become a very successful entrepreneur with Alfred having some part in it perhaps.
Don't you just love how we get all worked up over fiction?
That was a very lazy way for the author to get rid of this character ( which had to be done because the actor wanted out). Atrocious! There are much better ways to further the story, and make the Matthew character less one-dimensional at the same time. Imagine if Rose had flirted with him last week after he picked her up from the nightclub, then he saw her coming out of a bath, and then Mary caught them in the act....That would have been much better, I think, than this facile deus ex machina. Hated it.
I'm glad to read from the comments above that Matthew's death was written into the story necessarily due to the actor's career decisions; for a moment I worried that Julian Fellowes had developed an annoying penchant for gratuitous tragedy.
Well I for one thought that Matthew was a very complex character and now I fear Mary will go off the rails, becoming an alcoholic and mean spirited, tyranical widow, without him.
Terry Nelson said: "Well I for one thought that Matthew was a very complex character and now I fear Mary will go off the rails, becoming an alcoholic and mean spirited, tyrannical widow, without him."
Thanks Elena - I'm not so sure about the alcoholic part, but I think Matthew softened Mary and balanced her out. Without him her natural temperament is in danger of hardening into bitterness, while her controlling nature will cause her to become more unpleasant than ever. I really think Matthew was a God-send to the family, a 'good spirit' which lifted the family up, or rather opened them up to the changes society was going through at the time.
Another extremely good spirit in the house is Mrs. Hughes - I loved how she encouraged Tom.
One of my other favorites is Mrs. Patmore - I now call Gabby my cat by that name.
Did anyone see Steve Croft's interview with Maggie Smith on 60 Minutes? I love her. I love all the Bristish actors - they are so not star struck like American actors always are.
Terry, I like what you say about Matthew. I think you may be right.
I'm also a huge fan of Mrs. Hughes, and I like Branson's character development, too. I've actually come to like Edith, believe it or not, though Sibyl was my favorite one of the girls.
Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.
Shocking, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteNo, not really. It was the actor's decision. He had been hinting in the English press for some time about wanting to get out of his contract and do something different.
ReplyDeleteFor my part, I think it only adds to the deliciousness of the soap opera writ large that is DA.
Really, I can't blame the actor. His part was pretty dopey, you have to admit -it was written way too one dimensionally. Matthew was likeable, but I don't think he'll be missed as much as you might think.
I didn't see it coming until the scene where he wasn't paying attention to the road and then...I.KNEW. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mary and Branson can get together next season...feels shocking to talk about...the body is barely cold!
Angie
T - you're right - the role of Matthew was a bit vapid. Branson and Barrow (and Violet!) were getting all the good lines!f
ReplyDeleteAngie
Dan Stevens (Matthew) is on his way to Broadway, or so I've been told.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the vapid character development comment - once Mary and Matthew's relational drama was over they got rather boring and tedious.
Personally, I think the series is running out of steam plot wise, but I do love the period ambiance, gorgeous costumes, set designs and the slice of history it tries to portray.
Did you catch that the actress who played Susan was also Cordelia in the BBC Brideshead Revisited?
(Many moons ago!)
I think Daisy will be a key character in future episodes - she'll become a very successful entrepreneur with Alfred having some part in it perhaps.
Don't you just love how we get all worked up over fiction?
Suzi
That was a very lazy way for the author to get rid of this character ( which had to be done because the actor wanted out). Atrocious! There are much better ways to further the story, and make the Matthew character less one-dimensional at the same time. Imagine if Rose had flirted with him last week after he picked her up from the nightclub, then he saw her coming out of a bath, and then Mary caught them in the act....That would have been much better, I think, than this facile deus ex machina. Hated it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to read from the comments above that Matthew's death was written into the story necessarily due to the actor's career decisions; for a moment I worried that Julian Fellowes had developed an annoying penchant for gratuitous tragedy.
ReplyDeleteJames
Well I for one thought that Matthew was a very complex character and now I fear Mary will go off the rails, becoming an alcoholic and mean spirited, tyranical widow, without him.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Terry, if that's so, I can't wait for season 4.
ReplyDeleteJames
Ohh, I like it, Terry!
DeleteMaybe then Fellowes will get to write really good cringe-worthy dialog, instead of what he does now, which is just bad cringe-worthy dialog.
Spoiler alert :-P
ReplyDeleteTerry Nelson said: "Well I for one thought that Matthew was a very complex character and now I fear Mary will go off the rails, becoming an alcoholic and mean spirited, tyrannical widow, without him."
ReplyDeleteTerry, I totally agree with you.
Thanks Elena - I'm not so sure about the alcoholic part, but I think Matthew softened Mary and balanced her out. Without him her natural temperament is in danger of hardening into bitterness, while her controlling nature will cause her to become more unpleasant than ever. I really think Matthew was a God-send to the family, a 'good spirit' which lifted the family up, or rather opened them up to the changes society was going through at the time.
ReplyDeleteAnother extremely good spirit in the house is Mrs. Hughes - I loved how she encouraged Tom.
One of my other favorites is Mrs. Patmore - I now call Gabby my cat by that name.
And here I was, thinking your predicted story line was ironic. Mea culpa, Terry!
DeleteYes of course! Cordelia from Brideshead Revisited! I knew I knew her from someplace. Just couldn't remember.
ReplyDeleteDoh! That was Cordelia wasn't it!
ReplyDeleteDid anyone see Steve Croft's interview with Maggie Smith on 60 Minutes? I love her. I love all the Bristish actors - they are so not star struck like American actors always are.
I totally agree! I love how at ease they are with their various roles - they don't have to be a one trick pony.
DeleteSuzi
Terry, I like what you say about Matthew. I think you may be right.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a huge fan of Mrs. Hughes, and I like Branson's character development, too. I've actually come to like Edith, believe it or not, though Sibyl was my favorite one of the girls.
I've always liked Edith - she reminds me of a girl I knew at school.
ReplyDeleteT - no mea culpas needed! :)
ReplyDeleteMatthew was never impressed with the glamor and prestige of the aristocratic life. He was the moral compass of the family.
ReplyDeleteThe part of Matthew will now be played by Branson. And I think Branson will court Rose. Mary is too high and mighty for him.
ReplyDelete