'Downton Abbey': First impressions of series two

Published Aug 1 2011, 17:00 BST  |  By Catriona Wightman

Who could have guessed that Downton Abbey would be such a huge hit when it aired last year? The signs were always there - a starry cast, a big budget, a script from the Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes - but those ratings figures and watercooler moments could not have been predicted.

The success was obviously great for the show, but Fellowes then had to deal with the tricky second-series syndrome. Could he keep the quality up? Could he avoid making it just more of the same? Would fans be satisfied?

Well, when I finished watching the first episode of the second series last week, I actually giggled with joy. Downton Abbey is back, baby, and fans will not be disappointed.

It's difficult to talk about the episode without giving too much away - part of the fun of the instalment is that it introduces lots of plot points that you might not have been expecting. But you'll all have heard that World War I has hit Downton (after all, the first series ended with Hugh Bonneville's Earl Grantham announcing that the war had begun). We're in 1916 now, and everyone's been affected.

Some of the male characters are on the frontline (we get to see them in the trenches), while others are staying at home - not all out of choice. Fans of Lady Sybil will be pleased to hear that she's pursuing her quest for independence, spurred on by the war, which leads to a rather lovely scene with her visiting the kitchens. In fact, throughout the show the line between the servants and the family appears to have blurred slightly - there's just the slight sense that things are changing.



One of the characters who's convinced of this the most is new maid Ethel, played by the fabulous Amy Nuttall. It must be a bit nervewracking joining a huge show like Downton Abbey, but Nuttall absolutely sparkles. Ethel's the newest member of staff at the house but she's sure that times are changing and she won't be a maid forever. Of course, her ambition and scrappiness grates on some of the other servants - Miss O'Brien included. Oh yes, O'Brien's back to her old tricks, which means an awful lot of fun for us. We relish a good love-to-hate character.

You'll also get that with Maria Doyle Kennedy, who shows up as Bates's wife Vera. Scheming and shocking, she'll get people yelling at the television across the country. The other new character who pops up in episode one is the fantastically-named Miss Lavinia Swire, who's played by Zoe Boyle. Now, the character is lovely and sweet, but without giving too much away, we have a feeling that viewers might just take against her...

Of course, Maggie Smith is still on brilliant form as the Dowager Countess, spitting out fabulous remarks like there's no tomorrow. She got me laughing out loud and is a joy to watch. Some of your favourites from the last series might also get more screen time, too - Daisy, for example, seems to have grown remarkably since we last saw her and her portrayer Sophie McShera hinted to Digital Spy on Friday that she'll be getting more storylines this time around.



And while Downton Abbey's changing things up by introducing the war, all of your favourite parts of the first series are still there, from the beautiful production design to the romantic entanglements. The romances are a strong part of the first episode, with first kisses, big obstacles, rejections and love quadrangles all making an appearance. And then there are the humourous moments, arguments and surprises we enjoyed so much in series one. The end of the first episode, for example, will probably make you gasp and wince all at once.

Fellowes was hugely smart in introducing the wartime aspect to Downton Abbey - all the old certainties are gone (there's even electricity in the servants' quarters now). But, based on the evidence of this first episode, one thing hasn't changed - the quality of the show. The premiere is an extended instalment, but the time just absolutely flew by. And if there aren't grins across the country by the time Downton Abbey's first episode has come to a close, there is something very wrong.

Downton Abbey will air later this year on ITV1.

Are you looking forward to the new series of Downton Abbey? Leave your comments below!