Joy and sorrow went hand-in-hand on tonight’s heart-pounding episode of Downton Abbey. Check out our recap and review right here. Spoilers ahead.

The whole of Downton Abbey is on edge as Sybil is on the verge of going into labor. Robert has hired Sir Philip Tapsell (a fancy-pants obstetrician) to deliver Sybil’s baby, due to Clarkson’s handling of Matthew’s paralysis and Lavinia’s illness. Cora doesn’t approve, but Robert agrees to let Clarkson be involved as well.

While resting, a very uncomfortable Sybil tells Mary that she wants her child to be christened as Catholic, like Branson. Mary agrees to back Sybil if the Crawley’s vicar makes a fuss about it. Sir Philip Tapsell arrives and is pompous; Cora insists on calling Clarkson when Sybil goes into labor, though Sir P and Robert tut-tut, and nobody asks Tom or Sybil their opinions on the matter.

Matthew and Mary discuss the changes Matthew wants to make to Downton’s management, and it’s clear that the subject of their own not-yet-apparent child is on both their minds. Matthew later stammeringly asks Sir Philip if his short-lived paralysis might have broken his baby-making abilities, but Sir P tells him not to worry.

O’Brien tells Jimmy to ask Thomas to teach him how to wind the house’s clocks, which Thomas does by purring in Jimmy’s ear and hovering just behind him. Jimmy admits to O’Brien that Thomas’ “familiarity” makes him uncomfortable, but O’Brien continues to spin her web and warns him to put up with it if he wants to keep his job. Meanwhile, Daisy is still snipping at Ivy for having the nerve to have Alfred be attracted to her, and Ivy has her eye on Jimmy.

Edith gets an offer to write for a newspaper; Matthew is supportive, but Robert is dismissive.

Isobel hires Ethel to be her new maid, though Ethel is more cognizant of the social censure they will face than Isobel is. Isobel’s cook Mrs. Bird quits in protest, afraid that people will think she is a reformed prostitute as well. (“Nobody could look at you and think that,” says Isobel.) Carson is furious when he finds out that Ethel has been hired and forbids the maids and footmen from entering Crawley House.

Back to the good stuff: Sybil goes into labor during dinner, and the Battle of Tapsell and Clarkson begins. Dr. Clarkson thinks that Sybil may have toxemia and be at risk for eclampsia (small baby, swollen ankles, protein in urine – take notes, kids) while Sir Philip believes the labor is progressing normally. He warns Clarkson not to interfere, but it becomes clear that Sybil is markedly disoriented, and Clarkson insists they move Sybil to the hospital and perform a cesarean section to head off potential seizures. All the men bellow about this for a bit, until Mary, Cora and Violet intercede to remind them that they ought to ask that guy who is Sybil’s husband. Tom, though, is overwhelmed by loud opinions from every corner and the debate becomes moot when Sybil enters active labor.

Sybil gives birth to a baby girl, and she and Tom cuddle with their child for a few moments. Before Sybil lies down to rest, she asks a glowing and thrilled Cora to help her make sure that Tom not be tempted to take a job as a mechanic in Liverpool, as Sybil feels that would be “going backwards.” Cora agrees, tucking her daughter into bed. A satisfied Sir Philip proposes everyone do the same.

But the peaceful house is woken again in the dark of night by Sybil’s cries of pain. She is completely disoriented, not recognizing anyone around her, and begins to seize as the Crawleys rush into her room. “This is eclampsia,” Dr. Clarkson grimly announces, while Sir Phillip sputters helplessly about the “unpredictability” of the human life. Robert insists they do something, but Clarkson says that there is nothing to be done. Tom and Cora beg Sybil to breathe, Mary hovers with a cloth and Edith watches, horrified, as realization collectively dawns on them all that Sybil is slipping away before their eyes. Sybil stops breathing, and the shocked silence around her bed is broken by the cries of her newborn daughter, rising in awful harmony with Tom’s heartbroken sobs.

Downstairs, Anna comforts an overwhelmed Thomas; Mrs. Hughes and Carson clasp hands in a rare moment of physical affection.

Cora sits with Sybil’s body, promising that she will look after Tom and her daughter; she asks Mary to tell Robert to sleep in the dressing room. The next day, Edith and Mary say a tearful goodbye to Sybil (and call a truce in their eternally enmitous relationship) while Matthew talks to Murray about improving Downton’s economic management. When Mary discovers this, she is furious that Matthew has gone behind Robert’s back at a time like this.

Thanks to Mrs. Bartlet’s inadvertent evidence, Bates and Anna have realized that Vera framed Bates for her suicide (as you do). Murray plans to get a statement from Mrs. Bartlet about this while Bates’ mean roommate and his crony guard plot to throw a wrench in those plans, but honestly, this plot line feels actually disrespectful to Sybil, so let’s not dwell on it.

Violet arrives, physically trembling under the weight of her grief, as the Crawleys try to make sense of the tragedy. Cora blames Robert and Sir Philip for Sybil’s death, and Robert doesn’t argue, though Violet gently insists that he is not to blame. At the same time, Tom looks out across the grounds of Downton Abbey, alone in a land not his own, except for the baby girl cradled in his arms.

Hypable Episode Title: “The Sweetest Spirit”

For a bit of slightly more cheerful news, Downton Abbey was awarded Best Ensamble for a Drama at the SAG Awards while this episode aired – and there’s no question that tonight’s episode proved how deserving the accolade is.

How are you taking Episode 4?

Want to watch the rest of series three now, Americans? Purchase series 3 – now on DVD/Blu-ray-digital download!