I need to take the time now to talk about something serious, something important, something heart wrenching. I am, of course, referring to Downton Abbey.

Now, if you haven’t seen the episode from last night, (Season 3 finale/Christmas episode for those in the UK), STOP READING NOW!!

Still here? OK.

WTF????!!!!??? Really?? I cannot believe that after all that has gone on, that is how they get Matthew.

Let me back up and tell you my Downton story.

When it first came out, I had heard about it, but did not get into it. Then I kept hearing more. Then the second season happened, then the start of the third. At that point it was too far in for me to start watching – although I desperately wanted to because just about everyone I knew had said something along the lines of:

“YOU don’t watch Downton Abbey??? You would LOVE it!!!”

Then my mom let me borrow her DVD’s of Seasons 1 & 2. I watch one episode during naptime. After the first opening credits I knew I was in trouble. After the first 5 minutes I was totally hooked. After the first episode I was obsessed. So obsessed that I actually watched every episode of Seasons 1, 2, and 3 over a period of 7-8 days. I stayed up waaaaayyyy too late every night, used every spare minute of naptime every day and watched that show like it was my job. I got totally sucked in to their world and the story. I started talking like them; I got all formal with the kids and my husband. My posture was better.

To say the least, I was invested in the show.

Which is why I am so mad about Sunday!!! I mean, c’mon!! We went through like 8 (show) years with a ‘will they/won’t they’ story, a WAR, and then BOOM! Gone.

Not cool, Dan Stevens, NOT COOL.

I read an article today wondering if this move would put him along the path of becoming like George Clooney post E.R. (successful charismatic movie star), or if he would end up like David Caruso after NYPD Blue (movie career fizzling out before it even starts/ending up ‘that guy who left that great show’). I’m not sure which way he’ll go. I understand that he needs to strike while the iron is hot, but at the same time, shows like this don’t come around that often and even if the story lines weren’t that awesome this season, you are still part of a great show with an extremely loyal fan base. A fan base that is pissed right now. Perhaps not such a great choice, Dan.

(Side note: Hey Dan – maybe your story/lines would have been better this season if you hadn’t given notice before it even started. Not much motivation for the writers to work hard at giving you good stuff if you’re just going to walk away…Just sayin’…)

So. Where will we go from here? I’m not sure what will happen next season. I’ll be tuning in to find out what happens to Mary (and Tom), but I’m not sure how invested I am in Edith and Rose, so they had better give us some new blood to get interested in.

For now I’ll just mourn the loss of another Crawley. A bedroom eyed, smooth talking, super cute Crawley. Sorry to see you go, Matthew, really, really sorry.