As season two ended, Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) and Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) happily deciding to marry. Season three begins in the spring of 1920, and the family is thrilled about Mary’s wedding. Meanwhile, Mary’s youngest sister, Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay), has eloped to Ireland with the political-minded chauffeur, Branson (Allen Leech), and is expecting a child. Since this is Downton Abbey, the relative peace and happiness of a wedding wouldn’t last long.
Downton Abbey is on the verge of financial collapse due to reckless investments made by the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville); losing the fortune that his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) brought into the marriage. Matthew Crawley, heir to Downton, may come into a the vast fortune left to him by the father of his now deceased fiancé, but his stubborn virtue may not allow that to happen. Naturally, his unwillingness to consider using the funds to save Downton from the brink causes some tension between him and Lady Mary. Middle daughter Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) remains the social outcast of the family, unable to find love and marriage. The Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) continues her roles as the glue that holds the family together while offering up a smattering of memorable one-liners and unforgettable faces.
Downstairs, the servants are dealing with their own drama. Lady Mary’s maid Anna (Joanne Froggatt) is more committed than ever to finding the evidence that will free her husband; valet John Bates (Brendan Coyle) from prison. Convicted of murdering his wife and given a life sentence, nearly everyone at Downton, the Crawley’s and servants alike believe in his innocence. Nonetheless, his road to eventual freedom is rocky and often in doubt. Former partners in turmoil, Lady Cora’s maid O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran) and footman-turned-valet Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) are now sworn enemies, thanks to the arrival of O’Brien’s nephew Fred (Matt Milne). Thomas makes no secret of the fact that he believes Fred was promoted too quickly. When his concerns are heeded, O’Brien’s plan to get back at Thomas involves exposing his personal life in a way that could affect the rest of his days. During the course of the season, there are also health scares, flirtations and more among the servants that suggests they’ll be plenty of juicy drama in season four.
Writer/creator Julian Fellowes has proven himself a master at creating a show with genuine twists and turns. If this season proves anything, it’s that Downton Abbey isn’t going to stand pat. The story keeps moving at a nice clip. Characters are so well developed, the audience feels like they know them. However, if something tragic happening to one of the characters helps to advance the story, Fellowes isn’t above doing it. His balance of the joyous and the tragic is perfect. As for the actors, the performances are wonderful across the board. Every one of them can make you laugh or cry. The scenes between Cora’s sassy, American mother played by Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith are pure gold, setting a high standard that the rest of the cast is often able to meet.
. Presented in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the third season of Downton Abbey comes to Blu-ray in 1080p even though the notes on the back of the case state that it’s presented in 1080i. The image quality is very pleasing, having reproduced the richly saturated colors perfectly. The sharpness is spot on, allowing the fabulous clothes of the characters and the surroundings of Downton to look as fabulous as they’re meant to be. Reds and greens come across particularly well but are never overdone, while skin tones look consistently natural. Black levels are consistent throughout.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo sound mix is nicely enveloping, incorporating John Lunn’s beautiful music whenever necessary. The dialogue, carefully recorded and based in the center channel is perfectly understandable throughout.
English subtitles are included.
The following special features are available:
- Behind the Drama (HD, 48:36) In this behind-the-scenes look at the first two years of the series, production is underway on the Christmas of 2012 special. Cast and crew provide their thoughts on the series, their roles, different story arcs and more.
- Downton in 1920 (HD, 17:24) A look at the era is provided, with members of the cast discussing their character’s maturity and evolution.
- The Wedding of Lady Mary (HD, 13:03) A look behind-the-scenes at one of the series most talked about moments.
- The Wedding of Lady Edith (HD, 16:02) We get a similar behind-the-scenes look here, except this one is for Lady Edith’s big day.
- The Men of Downton Abbey (HD, 9:02) A look at the male cast members. Requisite interviews are included.
- Shirley MacLaine at Downton Abbey (HD, 9:07) The cast waxes poetic about Shirley MacLaine coming aboard to play Cora’s mother.
- Behind the Scenes: Cricket Match (HD, 6:44) In this rather humorous piece, we find the cast having difficulty describing the sport, even though some of their characters are supposed to enjoy the games intricacies.
- Behind the Scenes: Journey to the Highlands (HD, 12:46) The cast and crew discuss the 96-minute season finale, exploring how the show has developed over the last three seasons. Be sure not to watch this featurette before watching the episode, or all will be spoiled!
