Downton Abbey III-3

I don't really know why, but this season's episodes seem to be moving slower than a crosstown bus. East River to the Javits Center in just under four hours.

But then it happens. Like the commuter ferry from New Jersey that suddenly gains speed and crashes into the dock and sends everyone flying, Downton Abbey hits the emotional pier with Lady Sybil's gut-wrenching death soon after successful childbirth. People and emotions are sent flying everywhere. 'Eclampsia' goes to the top of Google's search rankings.

The wedding-to-funeral ratio takes a sharp tilt toward death. The females are an endangered gender. First we had the breast cancer scare for Mrs. Hughes, then we start the third episode with Lady Sybil perhaps being a 2013 Princess Kate, lying in her bedroom with severe morning sickness, or something like that. It passes. But then it gets much worse.

Prior to this, almost on the humorous side, we're introduced to the concern of Matthew that he and Lady Mary haven't yet conceived a child. After several months of marriage and presumably romps through the old pile, Mary is not yet pregnant. Who knows, it might be that breakfast in bed thing she does.

Matthew expresses worry to physician Number Two, who is called in to check on Lady Sybil. Matthew is worried that his outside plumbing might have sustained internal injuries when he took that jolt during the war. Physician Number Two looks like no other physician we've ever seen. White tie and dinner jacket and headed for cigars after lamb and asparagus, or something like that.

The objective jury is still out, but it is possible that even though oral contraceptives have yet to be developed there is some likelihood that Lady Mary is herself the Pill. By all means, stay tuned

It should be a gimme that Bates is going to either get a new trial, or get released, when the exculpatory evidence about pie crust is reviewed. Anna is an early version of Barry Scheck and the Innocence Project. Good things should be coming Anna's way. Probably even children who behave.

Women are just getting the vote, and gay marriage is a century away, but that doesn't prevent Tom Barrow from setting his eyes on the new footman, a golden haired hunk who is eye-candy for either gender. It will be interesting to see which closet they go into if Golden Hair is truly gay. Otherwise, Mr. Barrow is going to have a very bloody nose from James. He might even lose a tooth.

And Lord Grantham? In deep, deep do-do with Lady Cora for the bad medical outcome in going with doctor Number Two. Monty Hall is smirking somewhere. And, the good Lord's financial acumen is going to be sorely tested very soon. He's going to need a gold mine in Rhodesia to come online in order to get his bean counting, pencil pushing son-in-law Matthew to calm down. The good Lord is cornered and confused. He needs a war where the right side is easy to choose.

But, I now have faith. The news is season Number Four is underway. With four more episodes in Season Three to come, it seems very likely to me that the family and servants, with some artful makeup, will at least reach the beginnings of WWII.

Brits getting bombed. A dull moment is not expected.

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