Downton Abbey Episode 2 on MASTERPIECE on PBS

All the presentable servants-poor Daisy's not included!

I love January this year!  Normally, January is a very cold, dreary month in this part of Ontario, Canada (for me anyway) but this year it is Downton Month!  Can PBS arrange their schedule so that next year has something equally amazing to look forward to every Sunday night in January?  I'd say it sounds like a good cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder wouldn't  you?

So, my head is spinning after last night's episode.  Poor Lady Mary, she really did have an exciting time of it last night.  And I must say, I really enjoyed the almost constant looks of consternation on Maggie Smith's face as the Dowager Countess had to deal with Matthew's mother over the hospital issues.  Gwen, the housemaid had me rooting for her and her little typewriter.  I did wonder, however, how she was practicing typing without anyone knowing about it.  And I must say, I am liking Lady Mary and Lady Sybill more and liking Lady Edith much less.  I mean really, throwing herself at Matthew like that...really!  And I thought Lady Mary treated poor Evelyn Napier rather poorly when her head was turned by the Turkish diplomat...you know...whatshisname.  Oh, well, Mr. Napier is in the recurring character category so we can hope to see him again perhaps.

Dame Maggie Smith as the formidable Dowager Countess

If you need help keeping the names and numbers of all the players straight, the list below may help.  I got the info from Wikipedia, but there are major plot spoilers on the Downton Abbey page (think Wiki leaks for Period Drama), so do not go there if you haven't seen the entire series.

Crawley family

Actor	Character
Dame Maggie Smith	Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Hugh Bonneville	Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Elizabeth McGovern	Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Penelope Wilton	Mrs Isobel Crawley
Dan Stevens	Matthew Crawley
Michelle Dockery	Lady Mary Crawley
Laura Carmichael	Lady Edith Crawley
Jessica Brown-Findlay	Lady Sybil Crawley

Staff

Actor Character Position Jim Carter Charles Carson Butler Phyllis Logan Mrs Elsie Hughes Housekeeper Lesley Nicol Mrs Patmore Cook Brendan Coyle John Bates Lord Grantham's Valet Siobhan Finneran Sarah O'Brien Lady Grantham's Lady's maid Rob James-Collier Thomas First Footman Thomas Howes William Mason Second Footman Joanne Froggatt Anna Smith Head Housemaid Rose Leslie Gwen Dawson Housemaid Sophie McShera Daisy Kitchen/scullery maid Allen Leech Tom Branson Chauffeur Andrew Westfield Lynch Groom Kevin Doyle Molesley Matthew Crawley's Butler and Valet Christine Lohr Mrs Bird Matthew Crawley's Cook

Recurring characters

David Robb	Dr. Clarkson	Family Doctor
Robert Bathurst	Sir Anthony Strallen	Family friend and Lady Edith's romance
Brendan Patricks	The Honourable Evelyn Napier	A possible husband for Lady Mary
Samantha Bond	Lady Rosamond Painswick	Lord Grantham's sister
Charlie Cox	Duke of Crowborough	Family friend and Thomas' lover
Jonathan Coy	Mr George Murray	Lord Grantham's lawyer
Nicky Henson	Mr Charles Grigg	Former friend of Carson's

The Earl and Countess of Grantham

In Downton Abbey news, ITV in Britain has commissioned a Downton Christmas special to air after season two in the fall of 2011 finishes.  Yippee!!!  Christmas at Downton.  I can't wait!  Lord only knows when we will get them over here, but if Masterpiece/PBS is smart, it will try for sooner and not later.


And finally, with respect to the Golden Globes, yay to Colin Firth for winning best actor.  I watched the Golden Globes pre-show and the first hour before I switched to Downton Abbey and then back for the final half hour of the GGs.  Heaven forbid he get a Harley Davidson and risk his life!  We need many more years of film making Colin...