Looking back, Matthew's death really lessens the impact of the whole Lavinia storyline. Of course Julian Fellowes couldn't have known at the time that Dan Stevens would want to leave the show, but now it seems ridiculous to have had all of that will-they-won't-they tension between Matthew and Mary. For Lavinia be so selfless as to be on her deathbed and give them her blessing, AND insist that he accept the inheritance, only to have Matthew die as well, it's almost ridiculous. I mean, sure, he was able to rescue the estate and produce an heir. But it always seemed contrived to me that Matthew could fall back in love with Mary so readily, after he had been so devoted to Lavinia and been suffering survivor's guilt. Well, the irony of Mary now losing Matthew, when she wasn't even sure at the beginning that she wanted him, is not lost on me.