I’ve Been Dreaming of Downton: Season Two

 

My Downton Abbey rewatch continues as the Crawley's and the lives of all those around them adjust to the changing times brought on by WWI. Of all the seasons this one is probably my favorite. It was good to see the Crawley's come down from their ivory tower and join the rest of the world. Seeing how the war broke down so many social barriers was fascinating. 

• I love how this season literally started off with a bang. Basically, with Matthew in the French trenches dreaming of Downton.

• It's been two years since season 1 left off so England is right in the middle of the war. There's been a great deal of development with the characters especially the Crawley sisters.

• Mary is still grieving her decision to turn down Matthew's marriage proposal two years before and must now cope with a new young woman in his life.

• Sybil becomes a nurse and discovers she has a wonderful gift in medical care. However, she's frustrated that her own family seem firmly stuck in the past and expect her to return there after the war.

• Edith comes into her own when she learns how to drive and finds out she also has a gift for service, but as typical with the middle Crawley sister, her happiness is always short lived.

• There's a lot of love stories. Like A LOT! Mary and Matthew, Lavinia and Matthew, Sybil and Branson, Anna and Bates, Daisy and William, Edith and....well 

• Thomas is as awful as usual. He was bad enough when he was a footman, but his new position at Downton he obtains through the war makes him 10x worse. His never-ending bullying of others, staring down his nose and insisting he's not a servant while spending all his free time in the servant's hall....he's just the worse.

• Cora was amazing in her new role as the hospital manager. I loved how she took charge of her home and stood her ground with Isobel. Also, her terrible acting when Isobel announced her future plans that weren't including Downton (all per Violet's scheme).

• Daisy and William's storyline was a bittersweet one, however Daisy...I just want to shake her. Seriously, just make someone happy and stop thinking about yourself. Now I know that Daisy's stubbornness about her feelings toward William is because she's not used to being loved by other people, but still it was dragged way too long.

• Sybil and Branson's love story was an unexpected twist in the show. Originally Branson was only supposed to be in a few episodes in season 1 and then leave at the end. However, the writer's saw a potential storyline with Branson and the family and kept his character.

• I love that Sybil and Branson eloped and Mary, Edith and Anna all go on their own rescue mission for them.

• Bates and Anna. First happy, then sad, then happy again, then shocked, then in despair. And it becomes an endless cycle with them.

• Lavinia was such a sweetheart. She deserved so much better.

• Mary's "Why?" after Carlisle's proposal is iconic.