Downton Abbey Season 3, Episode 4 Recap: A Shocking Death Hits the Crawley Family Next Article 26 minutes ago by Gemma Wilson (WET PAINT)

To those among you who resisted the “Who died at Downton?” spoilers, we’re wiping the tears from our eyes long enough to tell you that Downton Abbey will never be the same. If you haven’t yet watched the January 27 episode, you best move along to something — anything — else.

There is no way to sugarcoat this news: Lady Sybil Crawley (Jessica Brown Findlay) is dead, and nothing is right with the world.

Lovely Lady Sybil — who wore scandalous harem pants, fought for women’s rights, helped housemaid Gwen get a job as a secretary, worked as a wartime nurse, married for love, and wanted nothing more than her independence — dies shortly after giving birth. Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) is spot-on when she says, “The sweetest spirit under this roof is gone.”

As we open, Sybil is in the early stages of labor. The family doctor, Dr. Clarkson (David Robb), is on hand, but Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) has also hired doctor-to-the-rich-and-richer Sir Philip Tapsell to handle the actual delivery. Everyone is worried, but in a standard, floor-pacing kind of way. Even the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) is there, explaining, “I hate to get news second hand.”

Dr. Clarkson starts to fear that Sybil may be in danger of eclampsia, but Sir Philip essentially tells him to shut up. “I warn you, Doctor, if you wish to remain, you must be silent.” Dr. Clarkson is adamant, and eventually Lady Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern) sides with him. He wants to get Sybil to a hospital for an emergency C-section, but Sir Philip won’t budge, and Lord Grantham only trusts his fancy doctor. So Sybil stays put. 

But good news: It’s a girl, and everyone’s fine! The exhausted Sybil only wants to sleep, and everyone — both upstairs and down — finally goes to bed.

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