Downton Abbey Season 2: Episode One

Downton Abbey Season 2

Well, after waiting patiently since this time last year, it is finally here! I hope you were able to catch the season opener of Downton Abbey. I made sure I was plastered to the TV screen at 9 o'clock. We are two years later and the Great War has been taking its toll on the whole of Europe, Downton Abbey included. Matthew and Thomas are at the front and Lord Grantham and William are champing at the bit to get to the action. The Dowager Countess is manipulating things behind the scenes as usual, and everyone else is trying to do their part and to keep up with the changing times.

Lady Sybil learning to cook in Downton Abbey Season 2

Lady Sybil has been trained as a nurse in York, and has come back to work in the Downton Hospital, helping tend to wounded soldiers sent back from the front. She has even learned basic cookery skills which makes her mother proud.

The Earl of Grantham and his heir presumptive- Downton Abbey Season 2

Matthew is now Captain Crawley (my, sounds like Vanity Fair now doesn't it?) and the Earl has been given an honorary title and kept at home to "help boost morale". Ouch!

Lady Mary heartbroken- Downton Abbey Season 2

Lady Mary has seen Matthew and his new fiancee Lavinia Swire, which has made her realize her true feelings for Matthew. Poor Lady Mary. Longing glances abound.

Lavinia Swire Downton Abbey Season 2

Matthew Crawley's fiancee Lavinia Swire is one of the more interesting of the new characters this season. What is her hidden secret?

Sir Richard Carlisle and Lady Mary- Downton Abbey Season 2

Sir Richard Carlisle is Lady Mary's new beau this season. Will he be her saviour or will he be just another in the long line of Mary's ex-suitors? Points to anyone who recognized Iain Glen as Mr. Preston from Wives and Daughters. He still makes my skin crawl!

Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Duchess in Downton Abbey Season 2

While we have other new characters such as the new Valet Lang, the cheeky new housemaid Ethel and Bates's evil wife Vera, the best lines still come from Dame Maggie Smith as the delightfully haughty Dowager Duchess Violet.

Violet: Oh that's a relief. I hate Greek drama. When everything happens off stage.

Violet: Ridiculous! You're not Toad of Toad Hall.

Violet: Amputation in the dining room? Resuscitation in the pantry? I forbid it!

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So, here's to another great season of Downton Abbey. Thank goodness for ITV and PBS Masterpiece Theater for giving us something to look forward to during the long winter months ahead.  I am so glad now that I didn't watch this online in the fall. It was worth the wait!

P.S. My husband, who I affectionately refer to as The Squire, watched this with me all last year and at the very end of the first episode of season 2 said:

 "What is this, a soap opera?"

To which I replied: "Um....yes!?!?" He is usually pretty perceptive, but I think the costumes threw him off. Yes, honey, this is truly a soap opera in costume, and I'm enjoying every moment.