TV highlights - Sat 3 – Fri 9 November 2012

Downton Abbey (Sun, 9pm, ITV1)
It’s the last episode of the third series, and after the major downer of Sybil’s death post-childbirth a few weeks back, it’s nice that this season ends (by and large) on a high. The previous seven episodes were patchy apart from the out-and-out bombshell of Sybil’s tragic demise, which was superbly acted and genuinely upsetting, but Edith’s doomed romance, Bates being freed and the seemingly impeding comeuppance for... more 

Downton Abbey (Sun, 9pm, ITV1)
It’s the last episode of the third series, and after the major downer of Sybil’s death post-childbirth a few weeks back, it’s nice that this season ends (by and large) on a high. The previous seven episodes were patchy apart from the out-and-out bombshell of Sybil’s tragic demise, which was superbly acted and genuinely upsetting, but Edith’s doomed romance, Bates being freed and the seemingly impeding comeuppance for Thomas have kept us all hooked, with ten million plus tuning in each week. It hasn’t all hit the mark: the Downton financial crisis never felt as perilous as all that, Matthew and Mary have become considerably less intriguing since they wed, and having teased us with Shirley MacLaine, it was a shame we didn’t get to spend more time in her hilariously rude company. This end-of-term episode features a cricket match while things seem to be looking up for Edith at last… less