'Downton Abbey': About that twist...
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Molly Driscoll Staff Writer
鈥�Downton Abbey鈥� fans were shocked by the death of a main character in the newest installment of the British show, which aired its fifth episode on Jan. 27.
SPOILERS FOLLOW鈥�.聽
Youngest daughter Sybil Crawley Branson (Jessica Brown Findlay) suffered complications from childbirth, and died after giving birth to her daughter. The family had been paralyzed by indecision over what to do about suspicious symptoms that Sybil exhibited during her labor, with the family doctor, Dr. Clarkson, recommending that she be moved to a hospital. However, Sybil鈥檚 father Robert, who had lost faith in Clarkson, brought in another expert. The new physician, obstetrician Sir Philip Tapsell, said a public hospital wouldn鈥檛 be a safe area to perform an operation and that Sybil shouldn鈥檛 be moved.
After lots of blustering, Robert agreed to let Sybil鈥檚 husband Tom make the decision. Eventually, Tom chose to keep her at home, even though Dr. Clarkson warned that he may not be able to save her life. Clarkson was proven right when Sybil woke in the middle of the night, suffering from seizures, and died.
鈥淒ownton鈥� creator Julian Fellowes mentioned Brown Findlay鈥檚 departure from the show while discussing the exit of another character (we won鈥檛 spoil it for you).
鈥淲e would have loved to keep Jessica [Brown Findlay] too,鈥� he told the . (Spoilers in the linked story.)
Brown Findlay is scheduled to appear in the movie 鈥淲inter鈥檚 Tale鈥� with Russell Crowe as well as the film 鈥淟ullaby,鈥� which also stars Garrett Hedlund and Amy Adams.
鈥淒ownton鈥� fans took to Twitter to express their sadness over the twist.
鈥淟ast night had me in tears!鈥� Twitter user tweeted.
Twitter user was similarly bereft.
鈥淚'm 100% still not over what happened on Downton Abbey last night,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淣ot at all.鈥�
Others had similarly strong reactions, with the titling its recap of the episode "How Downton Abbey Broke Our Hearts." Meanwhile, writer Bonnie Fuller had some harsh words for Sybil's father Robert.
"Cora Crawley is beyond right to blame her dolt of a husband, Robert, for the unnecessary death of Downton鈥檚 most beloved character," Fuller wrote.聽
