I was watching as soon as I could after episodes aired in the UK, but I was still pretty much spoiled for the end long before it happened.
Dan Stevens wanted out, and I think TPTB knew there would massive backlash. They did press releases about how Stevens wouldn't return for season four before the end of season three in the UK, but they didn't give specifics on his exit.
I had wondered if perhaps they'd leave him in a life or death situation and have it as a cliffhanger, or have him in a couple of episodes of season four to send him off to America or someone else for business reasons. Stevens didn't want to do anything further, and they couldn't figure out a way for a new father still in love with his wife to up and leave for an extended period.
Instead, the writer decided to leave it unmistakable that the accident was not survivable, but waited until the end because they did not want the focus of the episode to be about Matthew's death and go through another mourning period so soon after Sybil (the actress also wanted to leave), even though the special was about a year after her death. The passage of time is often rather fuzzy on the show.
I'm already aware of new characters appearing in the fourth season, and just found out there's another who won't return, and I'm not sure how all this change will be handled. This seems to be a regular issue with British shows. They have shorter seasons that allow for a little more planning out of the plot, and allows the actors to work on other projects, but they also are more open to just leave in the hopes of other projects on stage or screen. Shows that go on for more than two seasons can damn near have a complete cast change. I actually know one that did exactly that, and quite a few come close.
Despite all this, PBS has no plans to change the air dates in the US to more closely match when it airs in the UK. They're getting stellar ratings where it is, and if they changed the timing, it would be up against first run major network programming. They rather you be spoiled and watching anyway.
Though I did think it was interesting that the DVDs for season three were released before the run on PBS was complete. Usually they release the Tuesday after the series is over. Looks like they'd want to get more people watching live, but I guess they make enough on DVD sales so it doesn't matter.
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Date: 2013-03-02 08:35 pm (UTC)Dan Stevens wanted out, and I think TPTB knew there would massive backlash. They did press releases about how Stevens wouldn't return for season four before the end of season three in the UK, but they didn't give specifics on his exit.
I had wondered if perhaps they'd leave him in a life or death situation and have it as a cliffhanger, or have him in a couple of episodes of season four to send him off to America or someone else for business reasons. Stevens didn't want to do anything further, and they couldn't figure out a way for a new father still in love with his wife to up and leave for an extended period.
Instead, the writer decided to leave it unmistakable that the accident was not survivable, but waited until the end because they did not want the focus of the episode to be about Matthew's death and go through another mourning period so soon after Sybil (the actress also wanted to leave), even though the special was about a year after her death. The passage of time is often rather fuzzy on the show.
I'm already aware of new characters appearing in the fourth season, and just found out there's another who won't return, and I'm not sure how all this change will be handled. This seems to be a regular issue with British shows. They have shorter seasons that allow for a little more planning out of the plot, and allows the actors to work on other projects, but they also are more open to just leave in the hopes of other projects on stage or screen. Shows that go on for more than two seasons can damn near have a complete cast change. I actually know one that did exactly that, and quite a few come close.
Despite all this, PBS has no plans to change the air dates in the US to more closely match when it airs in the UK. They're getting stellar ratings where it is, and if they changed the timing, it would be up against first run major network programming. They rather you be spoiled and watching anyway.
Though I did think it was interesting that the DVDs for season three were released before the run on PBS was complete. Usually they release the Tuesday after the series is over. Looks like they'd want to get more people watching live, but I guess they make enough on DVD sales so it doesn't matter.