All three of them are successful, to a degree. This episode introduces Edith’s interest in learning to drive, Sybil’s interest in learning to become a nurse, and Mary’s interest in trying to move on from Matthew. It’s Ethel’s resistance to being content with her lot in life throughout this episode that always hinted for me that her future was yet to be decided, but would come at a difficult price.īut Ethel isn’t the only one hoping for something new: upstairs and downstairs alike, new loves in the form of romantic and professional interests. But it’s Miss O’Brien in her desire to manipulate and scheme who puts Ethel in her place (at least temporarily). Plenty of which revolve around one of the new faces to the show: the new maid, Ethel, whose grand vision for her future earns the ire of most of the Downton staff. Hughes’ keen instincts instead: I know both of them will be okay and eventually find a future together, so instead of worrying about certain beloved characters, I find it easier to take solace in some of the humorous bits of this episode instead. But coming back to Downton Abbey as a comfort show in the time of COVID-19 quarantine has me laughing at Mrs. Carson made it through (both the heart attack and the later bout of Spanish Flu). When I watched this scene and the resulting health scare play out the first few times, I remember it was far more stressful to watch and pray Mr. Hughes famously predicts that unless he eases up a bit, he’ll give himself a heart attack.

And with it, it’s brought all the best things a new season of a British historical drama should offer: new faces, new loves, and new heartbreaks. He says it himself even before our favorite title credits: “When I think of my life at Downton, it seems like another world.”īut even Downton has started to transform into another world, a new normal as World War I’s influence is neither lost on the village nor the Abbey.

Of course, it’s easy to believe that an international war would allow that, but it’s such a stark change from Matthew bidding Mary farewell at a Downton garden party and reappearing in the midst of battle. Rewatching the show, it feels like out of all of the seasons, Season 2 expanded the world of Downton Abbey and all of its respective changes and developments more than ever. We’ve made it to Season 2 and it starts off with a bang! Quite literally, as we’re thrown into Matthew’s experience at the Battle of the Somme.

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