I can still remember the screams of my aunts when this happened. No one expected a sad episode that Christmas, especially after they'd just killed off Sybil.
Well he’s known her since the day she was born and was there for all of her milestones and watched her grow up and I remember his story he told Mrs Hughes about Mary as a child
When my Mother was born at home (1920) my grandfather went out front to get a breath of fresh air. When someone asked what the baby was he said, “I forgot to look.”
To me the most touching moment was when Mary visits Matthew's gravesite to let him know she is going to remarry but Matthew will always be her one true love.
Me too! God I wish they could have let Mary and Matthew have their happy ending... Not even Sybil’s death could compare to the tragedy of this moment...
I was relieved that at least Matthew got to meet his son before his death, but his death was heartbreaking nonetheless! I don't think I've ever shouted so loudly at the t.v. as I did when he died!
Ah, dear Matthew Crawley... such a good-hearted character! Matthew's tragic accidental death is absolutely brutal... but masterfully handled, a touching script, beautifully acted, and accompanied by an extraordinary musical score. It's more than heartbreaking, but very well done.
Yes, I mean the irony is he survived the first world war, recovered and was spared the Spanish flu only to die in a car crash while he was jn the peak of physical health.
@@julz3tt3 After the "May they be happy," Ouija board message from Lavinia(?) I can sort of picture the two of them meeting in the afterlife only a few years after she said goodbye and "Be happy," to him. I wonder if she smacked him.
I totally disagree it's masterfully handled. In terms of acting, yes, but in terms of script, not at all. Having a fatal car crash out of the blue on an easy and flat and empty countryside road in great weather conditions, without hitting another car or being drunk or anything like that seems very unlikely. Even if his car fell off the road the way it did, he would most likely have ended up injured, not dead. Considering how it happened in the last episode of the season, it was very obvious they killed him off because the actor was leaving. I didn't believe that crash for a minute.
@@olha_ I laughed for a good minute. It felt so cartoonish. And than when he was actually dead. I was like really why kill off another person on the day of their childs birth. (Sybils was sad but made sense). I didnt come back to this show for months.
@@TheKat12364 they had no choice really Dan Stevens wanted to leave at the last minute maybe they could have done something else but he didn't want to be in one more episode
Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Finnaly both asked to leave the series. Killing off their characters was the Only "sensible" thing to do. #MissingSybill #MissingMatthew
No one the actor didn't want to continue in the show, so the creator didn't feel the character would just leave Mary and the baby, the only way of write him off without Matthew looking like an ausent parent and husband (which is against the nature of the character) was killing him
No one ohhh I just got your comment, sorry english is not my first language, well, I don't know why the creator did it this way, but we have to remember that shows should be the closest to reallity, in reallity some parents die when their kids are born, so, it's a way remember us that nothing should be taken for granted, I'm guessing only, at the end, at least for me, it was a clever move: the characterdidn't lose his nature and the we see how Mary from being a neglecting mother transforms herself to a mature family woman
I often wonder if Dan Stevens regretted leaving the show as it turned out to be such a huge hit and then the movie on top of it. The show was never the same after they killed Matthew off.
Mary@ and he was not able to achieve the measure of success he thought would come his way after leaving the show. Up until now, he’s mainly know only for this role😐
@@midori4760 well I'm not sure that is completely true. He just finished of as the lead of a three series/season tv show and was the male lead in the successful Disney film Beauty and The Beast so he's not done too badly since DA.
I have never, and I mean NEVER, been more shocked by anything that happened on a tv show than I was when Matthew died. I actually leapt from my seat, threw my pillow on the ground and yelled! Sybil’s death was shocking but not quite so much because it had been built up to throughout the episode rather than being so sudden. Matthew’s death was a tragically brilliant twist though, props to the writers for writing him out of the show in a believable way.
Mathew brought out the best in Mary. He, Carson, and Anna were the only three for the longest time that knew and understood Mary for how she really is and loved her for truly being her. This was so sad to watch. Broke my heart all over again to watch. Just as sad as when Sybil was gone 😭😭😭
This was honestly one of the most profound and emotional scenes in the entire series. When he was so happy driving down that sunny road… I just knew what was coming
Because they never show full driving scenes, especially when they cut back to him after the house for the second time while driving. The clues all show up.
Many people don’t seem to like the finale but I thought it was a really powerful scene and ultimately very well done, considering the actor was leaving the show.
The show certainly wasn’t the same without Matthew or Sybil. 😢 Whenever I rewatch the show, I always stop after season 3. But I respect the actors’ choices to try new things. Everyone has that right. Always gonna miss them, though.
Really I found season 5 and 6 to have some of the best scenes. We get to see every one grow and us Sybils and Matthews influence to enrich the Abbey and valley.
Poor Mary is so reserved, even in the happiest of moments... "we've done our duty", "I'll remind you of that next time I scratch the car"... She loves him so much, yet she is just unable to express it fully. Interesting how he, who had obviously never had this kind of strict upbringing, is much more open in expressing his feelings. But he understood her, that's what made them such a good couple
And please know that I cannot thank Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, and the writers for every single scene with Mary and Matthew! Their loving relationship will always be an example to me...their laughter, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, and perseverance towards and with each other was beyond wonderful to see...thank you all so much...
THE worst Christmas night of my life!!! After the hustle and bustle of the day, all guests gone and food packed away...settled down for the Downton Abbey Christmas Special and we got _this_ ? I was devastated. It took a while to forgive Julian and even longer to forgive Dan. I got there in the end but...whew! It took a while.
I like and have enjoyed Dan Stevens in other roles HOWEVER I've not forgiven him still to this day for leaving the role of Matthew. I understand his reasons but I still hate it because I wanted to see Mary and Matthew love story to the end of DA. Of course it was sadly never to be....
So true. We had everyone over- I can still remember all of my aunts and older cousins screaming like death when this happened. No one expected a sad episode on Christmas, especially not after Sybil.
I adored Mary and Matthew's relationship from the very beginning. I doubt it was love at first sight for Mary but that was definitely the case for Matthew. After 8 long years of them being in love with each other they found each other again. And then when they thought they were finally the happiest they would ever be the most tragic thing happens, Matthew's accident 😭 I get that they had to kill him off because Dan Stevens wanted to leave but I really want to see what would've happened if he were still alive 😭💘 Don't get me wrong I love that Mary found happiness again with Henry as she deserves the world but she will always love Matthew the most 😭😭😭
Did she really find happiness with Henry though? Between her fears of being a crash widow a second time and his prolonged absence in the movies, it would seem Mary knew best when she tried to distance herself from Henry.
Yes, I'm bawling, too. The ugly cry. They are so tenderly sweet, and -- seeing Matthew after all these years -- is like finding your own brother again. Crikey.
I cried so hard seeing this. This also marks the moment when I stopped watching the show. It was never the same. I could tolerate Sybil leaving but not Matthew too.
I didn't stop watching but the fact that Mathew died on his way back from seeing his child is so sad😥and especially all the things he said about how much he loved his new family ahhhhhhh😭
it goes downhill for a bit but in the end it is actually really quite good. Season 5 but especially Season 6 are at this level. Henry will never be Matthew but it’s a different dynamic with Mary and I appreciated that.
That bit at the end with that beautiful smile on Mary’s face, thinking “I couldn’t be cruel, I’m so happy, I have everything I could dream of now, what reason do I have to be cruel anymore? I will always love you baby, I’m nice really, Matthew sees it, and so long as he sees it I promise you will too” And then he dies, and Mary's cold once again.
Whether you like Mary or not you have to have sympathy for her. She was her her baby boy and her husband happily ever after. Then he died. Mary was so depressed in later episodes. She’s my favourite character bc after everything she went through to be together with Matthew and then this happens 😭🤬
“My dearest little chap...” You have to love Matthew. Unfortunately, Dan Stephens wanted off the show. So, as Allen Leech said, “And then we ruined everyone’s Christmas.” Two deaths of beloved characters in one season WAS rough.😢
@@peteandpare It was several years ago that I discovered it’s more common in England than in America for major character actors to leave after their basic 3 year contract. Most often they get killed off. I thought,”Sybil and Tom are so in love. Why would she want to leave DOWNTON ABBEY?” Then I looked up Jessica Brown Findlay’s work after she left. She had many wonderful roles. So I understood why. And looking at the rest of the series Tom took on a major role in the Crawleys’ life. He certainly showed his intellect and talent in saving the property. And he learned that the rich couldn’t all be lumped together as oppressive to the lower classes.
rewatching the show rn and this scene is absolutely gut wrenching. beautifully shot, a tragedy right at the happiest moment of mary and matthew’s lives
Watching this scene after the fact...Makes my heart just sink and almost Stop. And when the Dowager says, "We don't always get your just desserts." That phrase is the epitome of foreshadowing if there ever was.
I so wish Stevens stayed on the show. Matthew really was the heart of the show and it wasn't the same without him. I would have loved to have seen what he did at Downtown and how his family grew, I am guessing much of his plot lines were given to Tom instead. But they didn't really have a choice, and at least we got a lovely love story from it.
I seem to feel the opposite of everyone. While I did love Matthew and what he brought out in Mary and did for the estate. (While his death was badly written, would have been better for him to get hit by a car rather than crash). I do like Tom and Mary push to keep Matthews ideas alive and expand them. I feel it gave Mary a much needed purpose she wouldnt other wose have had if Matthew lived.
@@TheKat12364 I kind of agree with you, I hate that he left but i don’t know what other major storylines they could’ve had once they got married, had the baby and were running the estate. At least we had a chance to see Mary dealing with grief and rediscovering herself, becoming a business woman, it was really interesting
Just watched this on Netflix yesterday and am beyond heartbroken...truly the greatest fictional romance in history...I loved watching Matthew's and Mary's every scene together...
Though I was also shocked at the sight of who was- at least to muy view- the best character in the show lying on the road with a bleeding head, I think that the writers handled Steven's situation very skillfully. They managed to keep on with a storyline of Marry taking over as the Queen of the estate and Tom as a former revolutionary-now charming gentleman. Definitely a great show with fantastic actors!
I've been rewatching the series and just cried yesterday for Matthew, now you post this and make me cry again. Whyyyyyyyyy 😭😭😭😭😭 Matthew used to be my favorite character.
i cried for an hour after he died. he was my favorite character. every scene he was in i smiled with glee. i fell in love with him. the most heartbreaking moment after sybil death. i will miss u matthew
When Matthew was around Mary smiled more, was a happier and better person. With Matthew gone I felt like there was a hole both in Mary’s happiness and in the show.
he would have been such a good dad you can just see it in the way he acts around his baby off the bat im sooooo mad we never got to see it 😭😭😭 don't think i'll ever fully recover from this
I give the writers credit for killing off two main characters gracefully. They could’ve replaced them but that never works out well. Film and great TV are all about immersion and nothing breaks that immersion like having two or more people play the same role.
I have never bawled so much at a show/movie than I did at this moment. The emotional high followed by the absolute shock of Matthew's death was heartbreaking. 100/10 writing, but I hope for a different ending every time.
The moment I saw him gleefully driving I already thought "Oh give me a break. Are you kidding. What lazy soap opera writing is this? I mean seriously. Again? "
I’m so late in watching this series, but I just watched this episode and couldn’t believe it. How sad that they killed off such a wonderful character. I loved Matthew. He was the center of the show for me. So very sad..
How sad it is that we all knew he was dead before she knew. The sadness was already birthed into her life but she did not know yet. Sometimes not to get to know something is peace.
I still cry every time I saw this scene, it's the saddest death on the TV shows story, anyway, their romance was epic, and will always be my favorite one. Thank you Downton Abbey for giving us this amazing show ❤️
Una delle scene più dolci toccanti tenere ed emozionanti di tutta la serie. Confessioni d'amore e sincerità che lasciano un ricordo incancellabile nell'anima di ognuno.
Why did Dan Stevens want yoe leave? He was the centre of the Downton village and Abbey. Mary and Matthew were meant to be forever. 😓😓😓 RIP Cpt Crawley. You're still ever so missed even now in 2019.
Connor Burnett For Sybils death was very sad but her character was just too nice and nothing happened to her that was vital in the show apart from her death. Matthew and Mary’s love story was Downton Abbey from the beginning of the series. No one saw Matthews death. Sybils death had events leading up to it ( doctors arguing, family arguing, etc.) but for Matthew we just saw him and Mary so happy and then he dies.
I hated how Mary’s dad never got to say how grateful he was to Matthew for the modernization of Downton . 💔 I’m just glad they had him meet his son and he was able to say goodbye to Mary.
This is the most heart retching episode for all of Downtown Abbey. No one saw it coming. All the beautiful and joy of the baby, everyone waiting for Matthew to come and not knowing he was already dead. How could they write some much emotion.
This was a lesson in why we must live life to the fullest every single precious day because to do so otherwise will leave us with a lifetime of regret. Imagine Mary thinking back on her statement that ‘Mr. Crawley must wait his turn’ to the nurse while he lie dead only a few miles away. . It gives me shudders every time I think of this scene.
*Yep. I was crying again. Legit SOBBED the first time I saw Matthew’s death. I was gutted when the actor that played him left Downton Abbey. Was never the same again!*
I didn’t watch the series when it first came on TV but I can only imagine the screaming and hollaring that must have gone on in living rooms around the world when this totally unexpected death occurred.
As sad as this was, Stevens leaving the show was a boon in terms of storytelling. Downton *is* drama and Mary's sharper edges are a big part of that, so Matthew's death gave the writers the opportunity to explore her character more by taking her down a different path. (And personally I can't regret anything that gave us the chance to watch Matthew Goode as Mr Talbot)
