Downton Abbey (Season 2 - 2011)
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Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoe3CoxcYm0
As I said in my review for Season 1, I hate this genre. And yet, here I am again, watching Downton Abbey Season 2. Granted, I will say that I was asking myself why I was watching Season 2 through most of Episode 1 and that's only because I forgot some of the smaller things that happened in the first season. By the second episode, I was back into the groove of the series and ready for more. By the time the last episode of the "season" was done, I was begging for more. At least I won't have to wait long for Season 3 since I'm just waiting for it to be transferred to my Library.
As for this season, I will say it was much better than the first. But why? I think because they more or less shifted some of the focus off of Mr. Bates and Anna's story, and gave a good arc for Daisy, who is turning out to be my favorite on the show. Having her deal with the implications of leading William on and then marrying him on his death bed was good for the character as well as the show itself. I hope to see her get more screen time in Season 3. They did end up giving Bates and Anna a good curve ball with his arrest for murder.
Even though Matthew and Mary's story was paint by numbers predictable in where it was going and how their problems for this season would wrap up, I still found it to be a good ride. Thomas and Mrs. O'Brien were still the same which is a good thing. You have to have "villains", even if they really aren't. They need to give Edith more to do. Kind of wasted here for the most part. I liked that they gave Sybil something to do as she became a Nurse, but honestly, I found her romance with the Chauffeur to not be entertaining at all and to some degree boring.
But other than that little misstep, overall, this season was better and I highly recommend this as a Rent. If that is not enough for ya, Maggie Smith steals all her scenes. So good and so frickin' awesome. And not to be outdone, there is Lesley Nicol as Patmore.
Downton Abbey DVD Screencaps
Coming soon...