"Downton Abbey" fans may already be missing Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley on the popular PBS series until the end of last season. And they may have been further traumatized when recently the actor was revealed to have dropped some pounds and let his hair go from wavy blond to dark and cropped. 

Which means that the trailer for the upcoming movie "Summer in February" should come as a great relief. No, Stevens is not reprising his role as Matthew Crawley, but based on the trailer he looks exactly like that character -- blond, fit and in period wear -- and is in the midst of a tormented love triangle in pre-WWI England. 

Based on the book by Jonathan Smith, "Summer in February" takes place initially at a Cornwall artists' colony, and focuses on the real-life love lives of artist Alfred Munnings (played in the film by Dominic Cooper), his friend Gilbert Evans and the woman they both were enamored with, Florence Carter-Young (played by Emily Browning).

So brace yourselves, "Downton" fans: "Summer in February" has a UK release date of June 14; a US premiere date has not been announced yet.

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Perhaps gentlemen don't prefer to be blond. British actor Dan Stevens has moved on from "Downton Abbey," and he's also left his look from that show behind.

AP, Getty Images

Dan Stevens, left, in 2011, and at right in 2013.

Recent photos of Stevens show darker hair, a slimmer face and some very non-"Downton" facial scruffiness.

Overall, TODAY Facebook readers liked the new look.

"He's probably tired of everyone calling him 'Matthew.' You ruined his disguise," chided Kara Conger Guidry.

But Sara Myers Gross is still holding a grudge. "Hate it," she wrote on Facebook. "He looks like a villain. Perhaps, the evil reincarnation of a wonderfully kind man who should still be alive and wonderfully kind. But no, I'm not bitter, ('Downton' creator) Julian Fellowes."

Which look is best on Stevens? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook.

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She may be known as the snarky, determined matriarch on "Downton Abbey," but Maggie Smith, the veteran actress behind the oh-so-quotable Dowager Countess, isn't quite as tough in real life.

In fact, as she revealed in an interview that aired on TODAY Thursday morning, playing the instantly-iconic character leaves her downright nervous.

"Inside, it's a lump of jelly," Smith told NBC News correspondent Michelle Kosinski. "(I'm) thinking, 'If I don't get this speech right, I'm really done for.'"

Still, Smith soldiers through it all. But for how much longer? Fans who can't imagine "Downton Abbey" without the Dowager Countess might have to adjust to the idea -- someday.

"She's got to drop down dead at some point, 'cause I must be about 110, logically, in the thing," Smith warned. "So I don't know what's going to happen."

Of course, given that Smith herself is only 78, the Dowager could just keep racking up the years.

Catch more from Smith when her film, "Quartet," opens in wide release Friday.

Are you surprised to learn that Smith gets nervous on the set of "Downton"? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Siobhan Finneran as O'Brien on the season three finale of "Downton Abbey."

"Downton Abbey's" O'Brien has had a major role in the period drama, both upstairs with the Crawley family and downstairs with the servants. From causing Lady Cora's miscarriage to nearly getting valet Thomas sacked and thrown in jail, the maid played by Siobhan Finneran has often been at the center of the action, and that's what makes Friday's news of the actress' exit that much more surprising.

But Gareth Neame, one of the show's executive producers, said the decision for the maid to move on and not appear in the upcoming fourth season wasn't made by the producers or writers.

"The entire decision was Siobhan’s," he told us. "Her initial contract came to an end and she didn’t want to renew her contract. We certainly would all be very happy to have her back in the show."

Masterpiece on Friday said that the door was open for O'Brien's return, but Neame said he doesn't know if Finneran will come back to the drama. "The story line makes that all possible," he added.

The season three finale suggested that O'Brien may have been thinking of leaving Downton, especially after valet Bates whispered the phrase "her ladyship's soap" in her ear to get her to back off from destroying Thomas' life.

Neame, who is also the managing director of Carnival Films (the production company that makes the show), said that without O'Brien's plotting downstairs, the former valet-turned-underbutler might step up when the show returns.

"They had a bit of a falling out in the last season!" he said, referring to the maid's devious plans against her former friend. "So maybe Thomas will get a little more control back this time and start to run things his way downstairs."

Though Finneran's exit (as well as those of Dan Stevens' Matthew Crawley and Jessica Brown Findlay's Lady Sybil) will shake up the cast and the story lines a bit for season four, Neame said that losing characters isn't a bad thing for "Downton Abbey."

"The thing about these exits is they are really what keep the whole thing alive," he told us. "We like to see this core in the 20 to 25 characters in the way they all interrelate. But it is ... the going of established characters and the bringing in of new characters that keeps the whole thing very much alive."

On Saturday, Carnival Films announced six of the new characters that are joining the show in season four.

Which character will you miss the most in season four? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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HBO / PBS / CBS

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on "Game of Thrones," Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess on "Downton Abbey," and Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper on "Big Bang Theory."

Ensemble casts on television often give their shows a great chemistry that can't be beat. But when one person makes an exit, it can sometimes change the flavor too much, throwing off the delicate balance and leaving fans wondering if it's time to change the channel. (Remember when David Duchovny left "X Files"? Or when George Clooney bailed on "ER"? How Steve Carell quit "The Office"?)

Siobhan Finneran's announcement last week that she was leaving "Downton Abbey" left fans of the period drama torn. Good riddance to nasty maid O'Brien, some declared, while others wondered who -- if anyone -- could stir the pot of trouble she so expertly handled.

That got us thinking: Which shows would we quit if certain characters left? Here's what we came up with:

The Dowager Countess, 'Downton Abbey'
Everyone focuses on the Dowager Countess’ many witty quips on “Downton Abbey.”  And for good reason -- they’re great. ("Oh my dear, you flatter me, which is just as it should be.") But they’re only part of why the Dowager IS “Downton.” Even though Maggie Smith is 78, her physical acting can either break your heart or break you up in giggles. Who can forget her battle with Matthew Crawley’s unexpected swivel chair? (As with everything, she blames the Americans.) And though everyone keened over Lady Sybil’s death, it was the Dowager who delivered the most touching tribute. “We’ve seen some troubles, you and I,” she tells Carson. “Nothing worse than this.” And as she walks forward, her grief nearly knocks her down, like a swell in the ocean. For just a minute, she has to grab the wall to steady herself before walking forward alone, a black-clad ship that’s been battered, but cannot allow itself to sink. -- Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Tyrion Lannister, 'Game of Thrones'
There's no shortage of great characters on HBO's "Game of Thrones." Some have been with the show since the beginning, such as dragon matriarch Dany. Some of the best ones are later additions, like the Onion Knight himself, Davos Seaworth. And some of the greats are already long gone -- RIP, Ned Stark. But there's really only one character the show could never do without. Battles would be less cunning and trips to the brothels far less funny without the true lion of the Lannisters, Tyrion. He dishes more dry one-liners than "Downton's" Dowager ("I'm a monster, as well as a dwarf -- you should charge me double") with a decidedly deadlier streak ("Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let's go kill them!"). -- Ree Hines

Sheldon Cooper, 'The Big Bang Theory'
Yes, Penny, Leonard, Howard, Bernadette, Raj and Amy Farrah Fowler all have their bright moments on the show (and quite a few of them!), but without their brilliant, egotistical and socially incompetent pal Sheldon, there would be no one around to give them the hilarious situations they always find themselves in. Sure, one episode had Sheldon discovering that his friends could survive without him in their social group -- and quite well, at that -- but whether the comedy could do the same is another question. Yes, some shows have continued by recasting major roles (Becky on "Roseanne," Darrin on "Bewitched," for example). But could another actor truly capture the essence of Sheldon as Jim Parsons does? As the theoretical physicist might say, "That is highly illogical." -- Anna Chan

Roger Sterling, 'Mad Men'
I’ve always suspected that Roger Sterling could go the Lane route and off himself at a moment’s notice. After all, he’s a double divorcé who wiles away his worries with drinks, unfulfilling sexual dalliances and Pete-bashing witticisms. (Who doesn’t love to hate Pete, though?) But that was before Joan and Roger’s little accident. It’s given Roger something to live for and the once-self-centered man, a man who left his first wife because she was getting too old, may be entering a state of reform and taking a step back from the proverbial rooftop edge. At least I hope so. I couldn’t imagine “Mad Men” without such a politically incorrect hedonist in the mix. A man who excuses his infidelity by saying, "We've all parked in the wrong garage." A man who looks at a journalist with a peg leg and says, "They're so cheap they can't even afford a whole reporter." Roger's a man who says exactly what he wants to say when he wants to say it. Rude? Absolutely. Hilarious and charming? Even more so. -- Cody Delistraty

Lafayette, 'True Blood'
Bon Temps is crawling with interesting characters, be they living, dead or somewhere in between. Of course, most of the action in the creepy bayou backwoods revolves around "True Blood's' leading lady, Sookie Stackhouse -- the fellas in town certainly can't get enough of her. But while losing Sookie might be a deal breaker for Bill, Eric or Alcide, that doesn't mean she's the important character as far as those of us on the other side of the screen are concerned. "True Blood" would lose most of its heart, soul, attitude, comic relief and -- now that Russell Edgington is gone -- all of its quote-worthy snaps if it ever lost Lafayette. He's the cook-turned-dealer-turned-hustler-turned-medium who can bring a laugh or lay down a (warning: curse-filled) bit of wisdom with equal ease, and the show wouldn't be the same without him. -- Ree Hines

Which shows would you quit if your favorite characters left? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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Carnival Films

Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson on "Downton Abbey."

Get ready for another delightful war of words on “Downton Abbey”!  Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS revealed Saturday that Shirley MacLaine is returning to the popular period drama for the season four finale. She’ll be reprising her role as Martha Levinson, mother of Lady Cora.

MacLaine made her “Downton” debut in season three, when she traveled from America to attend Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley at Downton. Her witty character provided a formidable foe for Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess as the two women traded sharp barbs throughout MacLaine’s stint.

The news of the actress' return comes on the heels of confirmation that Siobhan Finneran, who plays the scheming maid O'Brien, will not be back next season. Masterpiece said that there door is open for Finneran's to come back.

In addition to Oscar winner MacLaine's return, season four will be introducing six new characters:

• Lord Gillingham, an old family friend of the Crawleys, played by Tom Cullen
• Green, a valet played by Nigel Harman
• Lady Shackleton, a friend of the Dowager Countess, played by Dame Harriett Walter
• The Duchess of Yeovil, played by Joanna David
• Charles Blake, an aristocrat, played by Julian Ovenden
• And an unnamed singing guest at the house to be played by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

“ ‘Downton Abbey’ has seen many great characters visit the house over the years and we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome the new faces that will be joining the regular cast of ‘Downton’ in series four,” executive producer Gareth Naeme said in a statement.

Added fellow exec producer Rebecca Eaton, “The addition of these characters can only mean more delicious drama — which is what Downton Abbey is all about.”

Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS also released a new photo from the season, featuring Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and her son with her husband, Matthew (Dan Stevens).  Though the child’s birth brought great joy to Downton in the season three finale, it was also marked by tragedy. As Matthew raced home to share the news of his son’s birth with the family, his vehicle was struck by another, leaving him dead on the side of the road.

Nick Briggs / Courtesy of Carnival Films

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley on "Downton Abbey," season four.

“Downton Abbey” airs on Masterpiece on PBS.

What did you think of MacLaine's performance in season three? Are you excited she's back? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

Siobhan Finneran, who plays O'Brien, won't be back for season four of "Downton Abbey."

As if "Downton Abbey" didn't lose enough beloved characters in season three -- RIP, Sybil and Matthew -- the distinguished house is saying goodbye to a major downstairs character.

Masterpiece's publicists have confirmed to The Clicker that Siobhan Finneran, who plays the delightfully nasty Sarah O'Brien, will not be returning next season. "O'Brien is leaving to do something else, but the door is open for her character," one publicist said.

Finneran confirmed the news to the British tabloid The Daily Mirror. "I'm not doing any more," she said. "O'Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being -- that was great to play."

This past season, the lady's maid plotted a vicious scheme against former friend and fellow downstairs staff Thomas, Lord Grantham's valet. Her actions nearly led to the not-so-nice guy's dismissal and arrest. 

There's no word yet on how or why her character will leave. (Could "Her Ladyship's soap" have anything to do with it?) According to TVLine, O'Brien will exit sometime during the six-month period that passes between the end of season three, and the start of season four. 

What will you miss most -- if anything -- about O'Brien? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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"Downton Abbey" lights up our world like nobody else -- especially when the cast covers One Direction.

In a cheeky video mash-up from comedian Richard Sandling, our favorite British aristocrats and servants "sing" the lyrics to the boy band's "What Makes You Beautiful."

The hilarious cover includes dialogue from all three seasons of the hit period drama -- including the recent heartbreaking finale -- taking only a few liberties with the lyrics.

Instead of "The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed," for instance, the Grantham family (including Lady Violet!) intone, "The way that you do your hair gets me flabbergasted."

And Harry Styles & Co.'s "na na na" lyrics are replaced with a chorus of "ma-mah" and "pa-paw," the affectionately formal way Mary and her sisters address of their parents.

The video is a perfect encore to Sandling's viral mash-up of the "Mad Men" cast performing Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up."

If One Direction is inclined to offer a rebuttal, may we suggest they perform a scene from "Downton"? Admit it: Harry Styles and Niall Horan would make a lovely Mary and Matthew.

Do you think the "Downton" send-off is beautiful? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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Warning: Spoilers for the "Downton Abbey" finale follow.

"Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes told the New York Times he had no choice but to kill off family heir Matthew Crawley in the show's third-season finale, which aired Sunday in the U.S. and on Christmas Day in the U.K.

Carnival Film & Television

Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley on "Downton Abbey,

"I was as sorry as everyone else," Fellowes told the paper. "When an actor playing a servant wants to leave, there isn’t really a problem – [that character gets] another job. With members of the family, once they’re not prepared to come back for any episodes at all, then it means death. Because how believable would it be that Matthew never wanted to see the baby, never wanted to see his wife? And was never seen again at the estate that he was the heir to? So we didn’t have any option, really."

Fellowes had hoped that actor Dan Stevens, who plays Matthew, would return for a couple of fourth-season episodes.

"With Dan, I had hoped that we would have one episode of this fourth season that I’m writing now, so we could have ended the Christmas episode on a happy note – the baby, everything lovely," Fellowes said. "And then kill him in the first episode of the next series. But he didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want his death to dominate the Christmas special, so that’s why we killed him at the very, very end. In a way I think it works quite well because we begin series four six months later. We don’t have to do funerals and all that stuff. That’s all in the past by then."

It was a similar situation with actress Jessica Brown-Findlay, who played Crawley daughter Lady Sybil, and whose character died just after childbirth during the third season. "With Jessica, it seemed right to give her a whole episode that was about her death," Fellowes said. Both actors, he told the Times, wanted to make a clean break and not return for any episodes of season four.

Fellowes also told the paper that he had always intended for house servant Thomas to be homosexual, and that knowing his actions could result in prison time may affect that character's personality. "(I) felt it was believable that someone living under that pressure would be quite snippy and ungenerous and untrusting," he said.

Matthew's widow will play a major role in the upcoming season, Fellowes noted.  "I’m not giving anything away by saying that one of the main themes is the rebuilding of Mary," he said.

What would you like to see happen on "Downton Abbey" next season? Tell us on Facebook.

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You can't say "Downton Abbey" isn't an equal-opportunity tormentor. Each of the three "Downton" daughters began the season with high hopes for a happy life, and each daughter's life was devastated in turn.

Carnival Film & Television

Mary and Matthew welcomed a son, and then tragedy struck.

Edith thought being left at the altar by Sir Anthony Strallan was the worst thing that could happen to a woman. She looked at her two happily married sisters, both with baby plans, and saw herself as the unloved perpetual spinster.

She soon found out that there are worse things than being single. Sybil died after giving birth to a daughter earlier this season. Mary fought to get pregnant, succeeded and, this week, delivered a son and heir. But in his joyous rush to get home from the hospital to tell the family about his child, Mary's faithful husband, Matthew, driving too fast on a country road, collided with a truck and was killed instantly. There's no hope for a soap opera-like resurrection -- actor Dan Stevens did not renew his contract with the show. It was even worse for British fans, who saw the death air on Christmas Day.

Despite what fans may think of Mary, Matthew was always firmly on her side, running interference between his wife and Edith, and loyally sticking up for brother-in-law Branson. In the finale, he even lent an ear to Edith's new suitor, editor Michael Gregson, who has an insane wife but still dreams of a relationship with Edith, "Jane Eyre" style. (Look, Gregson,  the Earl didn't like Sir Anthony for being old -- he'll never let her date a married man.)

Matthew always saw the best in his wife, and she knew it. "I hope I'm allowed to be your Mary Crawley for all eternity, and not Edith's version or anyone else's," she told him as they held their son. But now that her true rock is gone, whose Mary Crawley will she be? And how will the family, from Mary to Isobel to the rest, recover from the loss?

Before Matthew's death, the family vacationed at Scotland's Duneagle Castle with Cousin Rose's family. There they were exposed to the nasty relationship between Rose's mother, Susan, and father, unfortunately nicknamed "Shrimpie." The couple can't divorce, but they're off on a posting to India, and leaving young Rose at Downton. The sudden insertion of Rose into the plot has led numerous fan sites to dub her Cousin Oliver, from the "Brady Bunch" character who was thrust into the show when the family's kids aged out of cuteness. (Cousin Oliver didn't save the show -- does Rose need to?)

In Scotland, O'Brien forges a friendship with Susan's maid, Wilkins. Two evil staffers who can plot evil together? Their alliance didn't last: When O'Brien proved herself more adept at doing hair, Wilkins tried to embarrass her by getting O'Brien drunk. Oh, please! What is this, Amateur Hour? Wilkins clearly has no idea who she's dealing with. O'Brien immediately tasted the alcohol in the drink, and it was Moseley who ended up downing it and entertaining the room with a wild and crazy dance at the Ghillies Ball.

Carnival Film & Television

Mrs. O'Brien thought she'd found a friend in Scotland, but the woman was as two-faced as O'Brien herself.

While the family was gone, Branson and the staff stayed behind. The staff headed off to the Thirsk Country Fair, where Mrs. Patmore continued a flirtation with new supplier Joss Tufton. Mrs. Hughes thought she'd break her friend's heart when she gently let her know Tufton was a big ol' flirt who just wanted Mrs. Patmore for her cooking, but thankfully, Mrs. P was relieved to hear it.

Carnival Film & Television

Mrs. Hughes helped Mrs. Patmore through some issues with a flirtatious grocery supplier.

The fair saw another flirtation too -- Isobel Crawley, Matthew's mother, and Dr. Clarkson seemed like a match made in heaven. But when he attempted to take things farther, she gently let him down. Why, Isobel? He may not be a Harley Street doctor, but he's a kind man who truly cares about her. Perhaps he'll return to comfort her next season.

Also at the fair, Thomas ended up saving a drunken James from some muggers, taking a beating himself for his trouble. He ended up cut and bloody, but the beating served a purpose. James came to Thomas' room later to thank him, and the two agreed they could try and be friends again. Whether they'll be able to pull it off without the romance Thomas wants remains to be seen.

Carnival Film & Television

James was furious with Thomas over the stolen kiss, but events this week made him think differently.

Dear Branson, always the odd man out, rattled around Downton by himself until a flirty new maid, Edna, suggested he join the staff for dinner. Not only that, she boldly showed up in his room later and snatched a kiss. Of course, Carson and Mrs. Hughes found out, and Edna got the boot. Branson's just still so lonely and out of place without Sybil, and it was Mrs. Hughes who kindly  told him, "You must bear it, and one day, find someone to bear it with you."

The residents of "Downton Abbey" have had a lot to bear this season, and with Matthew's loss, they'll have to bear up again. We've got nearly a year till we find out how they manage.

Great Dowager Countess quotes:

• "I know he's housebroken, more or less, but I don't want freedom to go to his head." -- Does she mean the dog, or Branson?
• "Oh my dear, you flatter me, which is just as it should be." -- Even in Scotland, the Dowager holds sway.
• "Poor souls. It's bad enough parenting a child when you like each other."  -- Let's see a prequel about Robert's childhood!

What did you think of the season finale? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook about your favorite and least favorite things of the season.

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No musical score sets our hearts aflutter like the opening theme for "Downton Abbey." That will never change, despite the epic period drama's disappointing third season.

There's a lot to criticize about the characters who've lately become the metaphoric equivalent of Fonzie on water-skis, but our complaints come from a place of love.

Carnival Films for Masterpiece

Lord Grantham, Matthew and Mary, and Bates are getting annoying in season three!

Bates and Anna: Remember when we so desperately rooted for these star-crossed lovers to get the happy ending they deserved? Then came the Case of the Misplaced Mail, a story line so pointless and dull that we rooted for the valet to be shivved in prison.

Mary: The harpy of season three should've been jilted at the altar instead of Edith. Regardless of Lavinia's (too conveniently revealed) dying wish, Mary had no right to furiously demand that Matthew dismiss his convictions and throw money at her feeble-minded father. And why is the heiress suddenly so committed to saving Downton? She was perfectly happy to leave with the odious Richard Carlisle. It's even more unfair when she chastises Matthew for trying to manage his own investment. The couple who once had so much chemistry now seem to be in a loveless marriage. Hmm ... maybe their trouble conceiving is because they don't actually have sex?

Daisy: One of the most likable characters has suddenly transformed into an entitled, spiteful and bitter brat. Maybe her resentment about her lack of promotion is consistent with her past inferiority complex (fueled by O'Brien), but her abuse of new kitchen maid Ivy is completely out of character -- and kind of horrifying to watch.

Earl of Grantham: The man is Bozo the Clown with a starched collar instead of ruffles. His testimony convicted Bates, he cheated on his wife and then he bankrupted Downton by secretly investing all his (and her) money in an ill-advised scheme. Worse, he ruins his daughter Edith's happiness by persuading Strallan that she deserves a younger man. (But it was totally peachy when Lady Mary wooed him to get back at Edith?!)

It's not quite fair to say he killed his other daughter, but he was more concerned about offending the fancy Harley Street fop than considering the family doctor's recommendation. His obliviousness about Thomas' shady character and mismanagement of the estate are more reasons to detest him. (And just wait until you see how his obsession with the annual cricket match affects his judgment.)

The earl is a walking warning against aristocratic inbreeding, and it is impossible to believe he's related to the quick-witted Dowager Countess. (May we suggest a switched-at-birth "Pudd'nhead Wilson" story line for season four? Thomas is actually Violet's son, while the earl is the son of a clockmaker? You're welcome, writers.)

Joss Barratt / Carnival Films

Which one passed on? The way Branson's been acting, it's hard to tell.

Sybil and Branson: The former chauffeur is as lifeless as his dead wife. Even before Sybil's tragic passing, the once vivacious pair sucked the life out of every scene. Their marriage virtually castrated the Irish radical, and the drawing-room ottoman had more personality than Sybil, whose spirit died long before she did.

Thomas and O'Brien: The schemers we loved to hate are waging a war and the attacks seem completely out of proportion to their shared grievances. Nothing about O'Brien's relationship with Alfred warrants her scheme to destroy her former partner-in-crime's livelihood and freedom. Maybe the spinster fiercely loves Alfred like the son she will never have, but if so, that emotion exists solely in the mind of show creator Julian Fellowes.

Mrs. Hughes: She might have cancer. No, she doesn't. The end. What? This pointless vehicle to personalize the housekeeper is nothing more than a retelling of Mrs. Patmore's cataracts from season one. We've already seen the Crawleys' familial generosity to their domestic staff, so her support lacks the surprise and poignancy of the original "sick servant" story line.

The Dowager Countess: Kidding! The acid-tongued Lady Violet remains perfect and true to the original character Fellowes created. If Maggie Smith opts for a "car accident" exit, we'll bid a polite farewell to "Downton Abbey."

Which "Downton" story lines have you had enough of? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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Joss Barratt / PBS

Lord Grantham's actions on the night of Sybil's death have made his wife push him away from her.

How does "Downton Abbey" rebound from such a draining, heart-wrenching episode as last week's? Quietly, and draped in the same sense one has when trapped in real grief, that nothing is moving forward, and that black will be worn forever. This week's episode was a subtle one, with threads gradually reweaving themselves, but slowly, life is moving on with a giant hole in the family fabric where Lady Sybil once was.

Are you getting the sense yet that this show does not like to actually show major events? We didn't see much of Mary and Matthew's wedding, and we also skip Sybil's funeral. Which actually works well -- after all, the cameraman doesn't need to show ever step of Lord Grantham and the dog walking to the house in order for us to realize they got there. So the funeral's over, but the grieving is not, nor will it be any time soon.

Cora can't forgive Robert for not taking any chance to save Sybil, and for siding with snooty Harley Street doctor Sir Phillip Tapsell over their own Dr. Clarkson. Seeing the suffering, the Dowager Countess takes things into her own hands, pulling Clarkson aside and getting him to research how much of a chance Sybil would have actually had with a C-section. She sets up a meeting, and he tells Cora and Robert that she probably would have died anyway -- though he probably believes that a little less than he makes it sound. Still, it works, and Cora and Robert collapse in each other's arms, a couple again, while the Dowager subtly looks away.

© Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE

Ethel the prostitute-turned-cook was back again this week. With some coaching from Mrs. Patmore, she produced a delicious luncheon for Cora, the Dowager, and the daughters, which only got interesting when Robert barged in to rant about the scandal of eating streetwalker-cooked food, ordering his womenfolk to leave. Which none of them did.

In the staff quarters, Thomas is continuing his subtle, 1920s-style form of flirting with hot new footman Jimmy, who warns O'Brien that he's this close to going to Carson to complain. Ivy's gone full-on harlot by wearing rouge. The best bit from the staff room, other than Jimmy showing he's a better fox trotter than Alfred, was Mrs. Patmore snapping "You know the trouble with you lot? You’re all in love with the wrong people!"

Hey, what about the baby? Didn't someone have a baby? Oh yes, the motherless newborn is barely seen. Tom wants to name her Sybil which Robert thinks is "ghoulish," and have her baptized Catholic, which Robert thinks is even worse. And when Mary holds her with Matthew at her side, it's impossible not to wonder if they'll somehow end up adopting their little niece.

PBS

And finally, finally, we might soon be done with the horribly dull Bates-in-jail plot. Lawyer Murray met with Mrs. Bartlett, who wouldn't give in to him. But when Bates slammed cellmate Craig up against a wall and threatened to expose the behind-bars drug trade, things suddenly came together. All it took was one good threat, and Craig and Co. convinced Mrs. Bartlett to fess up, which magically set the gears for Bates' release into motion. And may we never see those dreary prison walls again.

Best Dowager Countess quotes:

• "People like us are never unhappily married."  --How much would you like a flashback to the Dowager's own marriage?
• "'Lie' is so unmusical a word."   --"Fib" is much more rhythmic.
• "It seems a pity to miss a good pudding."  --In other words, don't let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you, Robert.

Related content:

• 'Downton Abbey' is hit with tragedy
• Slideshow: Photos from season 3

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