Downton Abbey continued last night on Masterpiece Classic with episode two. After a great opening on PBS last Sunday to a record 7.6 million US viewers, this four-part Edwardian drama continues to charm and amaze me. The blending of the upstairs and downstairs lives of the residents of this stately manor house is compelling drama, with moments of total surprise and shock from both quarters. This new co-production by Masterpiece PBS and Carnival ITV was a huge hit when it aired in the UK last year. The second season has just been announced and UK viewers will be dished up eight new episodes next Fall and a Christmas special in December. Great news for North American viewers also since the second season will most likely air shortly after in January 2012.
The second act of a play or opera is always my favorite. We have been introduced to the characters (the aristocratic Crawley family of Downton Abbey) the conflicts have been set up (death of the immediate male heirs) and the hook dropped (the entail must be broken) for us to take the bait. Now we can get to know the personalities at play and watch the drama unfold. In addition, several themes are developing, but two dominant ones in episode two were discovering or honoring our place in life, and harboring secrets and their consequences. Here is a synopsis from Masterpiece.
As Matthew (Dan Stevens) and Isobel (Penelope Wilton), the newly-arrived Crawleys settle into life in the village, Isobel offers her experience with modern medical techniques at the hospital to Doctor Clarkson (David Robb), to the considerable consternation of Violet, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith). Both Matthew and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) bristle at the prospect of being matched to one another; still, Matthew indulges Mary’s clever barbs even as a suitor in the form of The Hon. Evelyn Napier (Brandan Patricks), the wealthy son and heir to Viscount Branksome is invited for a foxhunt, accompanied by the handsome attaché at the Turkish Embassy, Kemal Pamuk (Theo James).
Downstairs, secrets reflect the ambitions, shames and desperate hopes of the servants, as housemaid Gwen (Rose Leslie) tries to hide the contents of a heavy box set atop the wardrobe in her room; the butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) abandons his customary dignity as he skittishly raids the pantry; and Lord Grantham’s valet Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) refuses to share the source of his debilitating pain to his co-workers. Their concern and camaraderie markedly contrast the festering discontent of the footman Thomas (Rob James-Collier) and Miss O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran), Lady Grantham’s (Elizabeth McGovern) personal maid.
A sinister stranger Charles Grigg (Nicky Henson) barges into the house, demanding to speak to Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), and an attractive stranger captivates Mary before setting into motion a chain of events that put the fate of Downton Abbey on even less stable ground.
Many plots churning; some resolved; others only leave us craving more of this multi-layered, well-acted, beautifully produced period drama. I always enjoy the surprise element and dutifully promise not to reveal any major spoilers, but the reaction by Lord Grantham when Mr. Carson’s secret from the past arrives and plants himself in his library is classic, the Dowager Countess continues to steal every scene with all her sarcastic lines, and Lady Mary’s push of propriety is an eye popper.
The Victorian costumes and English locations arrive regularly in jaw dropping splendor. The scenes of the foxhunt were especially picturesque, evoking a time when everything had its place in order of social dictum. Victorian-era fox hunting as a sport is as complicated socially as any Regency-era Ball at Almacks. People, horses, hounds, foxes, you name it. Everyone, and everything had its place. A perfect example for writer Julian Fellowes to use to display the pomp of the aristocratic lifestyle that the upstairs residents of Downton maintain, and the downstairs servants must cater to.
My favorite scene of episode two was during the family dinner at Downton with the Crawleys, Matthew and Isobel. As Violet, the Dowager Countess takes pot shots at Mrs. Crawley for volunteering in “her” hospital and disagreeing with the doctors treatment of a sick laborer, Lady Mary, the chip off her grandmother’s ole shoulder, taunts Matthew about his middle-class kind not riding or hunting, “unusual among our kind of people.” Ouch. If you watch closely the reaction by the people who are observing the discussion, Ladies Edith and Sybil, you can see the tension mounting in their keen interest and surprise, and, the temperature of the room rise by the withering looks like poison darts of disapproval issued by Lady Grantham to the Dowager and her daughter Mary. Ha! Not one to take a hint from her lowly American mother, Lady Mary continues to taunt Matthew’s usurper position as heir by telling him the story of Andromeda, with sacrificial maidens, sea serpents and heroic young Gods to the rescue. Matthew gets the point exactly and offers a retort worthy of any Jane Austen hero. Bravo!
Episode three of Downton Abbey continues next Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm ET (check your local listings)
Futher reading:
- Watch episode two of Downton Abbey online at Masterpiece until Feb 22, 2011
- Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode one
- Downton Abbey Entailed? Understanding the Complicated Legal Issues
- Upstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Downstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Visit the Downton Abbey web site at Masterpiece Classic
- Read my preview of Downton Abbey
© 2007 – 2010 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
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“the temperature of the room rise by the withering looks like poison darts of disapproval issued by Lady Grantham to the Dowager and her daughter Mary.”
The aristocracy have always been exceptional practitioners of the telling look. They can wither the confidence of any outsider. Generally though, the ones I have met these days, have gone out of their way to be exceedingly attentive and interested in me. Almost to the point of embarrassment. I feel like saying, “well, tell me about you, for goodness sake!”
The telling look! I’ve tried to perfect that all my working life as a teacher. A very powerful skill.
I bet Maggie Smith is excellent at the telling look. She has been excellent at using, “the look,” all her career as an actress.
I noticed you referenced, Almacks.
All the very best,
Tony
I already “hate” Thomas and O’Brien, so I believe that this drama is very good! :)
I adore Maggie Smith. I’d never before seen Theo James, the actor who plays the attaché. Hope to see more of him.
It’s a very good series. Of course, I loved Gosford Park, and was even willing to overlook the mystery plot lifted directly from Agatha Christie.
I used Google to find reviews of the program. The first post — it wasn’t really an article — condemned it because the first episode featured a kiss between two people of the same sex. How sad.
The dinner scene with the Andromeda story is one of my favourite scenes of the whole series! I love how Matthew gives as good as he gets – bet Mary didn’t expect he would know the story!
I really like the story between Mary and Matthew – they remind me rather of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett! I just hope Mary and Matthew have a happy ending too!
The expressions of everyone at the dinner are priceless. In fact, throughout the whole series, you really can read a 1000 words in most of the characters expressions!
I, too, enjoyed the dinner scene. Matthew easily matches wits with the Crawley cousins despite the upper- crusty thought that the lower classes are lower in intellect as well as finances. I was shocked, however, at the behaviour of Mary in her final encounter with Pamuk. It seemed a push beyond what had been revealed of her character before this point. The writers are keeping us on our toes!
I, too, loved this episode, everything about it. Matthew Crawley’s comment worthy of Jane Austen was terrific one. He is sure keeping us hopping wondering where he’s going, romantically. You think he’s headed toward Mary but he goes looking at churches with Edith but then wonders how Mary is getting on.
I thought Thomas was shockingly indiscreet and deserved more comeupance (sp?) than he got. Whew, that was a turn of events that I didn’t see coming!
Can’t wait for the next installation. And I’m practically salivating over the announcement that there’s more to come.
comeuppance- there, that’s corrected now.
What a night. I stayed glued to that TV. Can’t wait to see next week’s. I read some website that filming begins in March 2011 for series 2. Can’t wait.
Another great episode. I am loving this series and I’m so glad a second season has been announced :)
[...] My review of episode two of Downton Abbey [...]
I watch these online and am a bit worried PBS has not posted Episode Two yet! Do you think it will be up soon?
Odd isn’t it that the link to view episode 2 is not live yet? I think that maybe it is on oversight, and it is technically a holiday. Hopefully tomorrow.
I really enjoyed the fox hunt, and my, is Mr. Pamuk gorgeous or what? It really surprised me what happened to him. It seemed so sudden and unnatural.
I like Mary and Matthew together. He’s quite a cute sea monster. ;)
Well, I have hopes that Mary will mature a bit but oh my isn’t it a shame that earnest sisters seem destined to play “second fiddle” I may not be able to wait for the series to unfold weekly now that I know it’s available for purchase. I have to keep fighting the impulse to contact my local chapter of “Daughters of the British Empire” with a request that we all have “tea” after the episodes air to talk it all through….love, love, love Maggie Smith as the dowager. She was truly born to play this role.
Anyone else think that Mary doesn’t deserve Matthew? She’s been nothing but unpleasant and I find her to be 100% unsympathetic. As of right now, I hope they DON’T get together!
Pamuk storyline… hilarious! Did not see that coming and I loved the absurdity of it all.
I kept staring at Matthew the whole time, convinced I’d seen him in something else. Then it hit me: he was Edward Ferrars in the 2008 BBC/PBS Sense and Sensibility. Clearly someone in England is paying attention because he’s a great actor and very nice eye candy!
P.S. More Maggie Smith please! Maggie Smith makes everything better, sharper and funnier.
I love this series and really enjoyed Episode Two. I also loved the dinner scene. I love Maggie Smith! Her dowager Countess has hilarious lines.
I was torn between the Golden Globes and this and had to choose one. Thanks for this thorough review, Laurel Ann, now i know how much I’ve missed! ;)
I just posted my own review of Part Two. Well said as always Laurel Ann! This series is SO good. One scene I forgot to address in my review but absolutely loved was the Andromeda scene at dinner…the way Mary’s story backfired on her just cracked me up. Well done, Matthew! :)
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode two [...]
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode two [...]
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode two [...]
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode two [...]