For Americans, the series 3 finale of Downton Abbey aired last night. At the end we saw a shocking event happen which left viewers wondering, “How could they do this to me?”

Spoiler warning!

While the news is definitely upsetting, there are people you shouldn’t be mad at: The show’s writers and creator Julian Fellowes. Why? It was actually Dan Stevens, who plays now-deceased Matthew Crawley, who made the call.

The cast of Downton Abbey were optioned for three seasons, and the actor made the “difficult decision” he wouldn’t renew his contract for additional seasons the day before filming began on season 3. “It felt like a good time to take stock, to take a moment. From a personal point of view, I wanted a chance to do other things,” said Stevens in an interview with The Telegraph this past December.

Why did he go? “It is a very monopolising job,” he explained, “So there is a strange sense of liberation at the same time as great sadness because I am very, very fond of the show and always will be.”

The actor is also thrilled with the work he had done and where the show went. He found Downton Abbey to be a very unique show. “There was no main character. Everybody owned their storyline. And it was fun. It had a tongue in cheek element which set it apart. I had done quite a few period dramas at that point and I was ready not to do another one and then these scripts came along and the Matthew/Mary relationship was just such fun – I am really glad I didn’t turn it down.”

Speculation amongst fans, following the publication of this interview, is that Stevens wanted to leave to expand his career and not be tied down by Downton‘s time requirements. Some fans have countered that given the show’s small episode order per series, it really shouldn’t be a problem for him to juggle a television and stage or film career.

At the least, we can rest easy knowing that the showrunners didn’t necessarily want this to happen. It was sad to see Matthew Crawley and Dan Stevens leave Downton Abbey, and the ramifications of his death will surely play out through much of series 4 (which begins filming soon).

Read our recap of last night’s series 3 finale here.