Ep 1. Downton Abbey Season 2: Episodes 1 & 2

Downton Abbey Season 2 kicks off with Episodes 1 & 2, which take viewers on a tumultuous journey through the lives of the Crawleys, their staff, and the wider community as World War I rages on.

The opening scenes find the grand estate of Downton Abbey plunged into darkness, as the family and their servants prepare for a potential air raid. Lady Mary, still grieving the loss of her love, has thrown herself into war work, while her sister Lady Edith has her sights set on writing for a newspaper. Meanwhile, Lady Sybil has joined the nursing corps and serves on the front lines in France.

As the war rages on, the aristocratic Crawleys are forced to confront the changing social and political landscape of Britain. Matthew Crawley grapples with his newfound responsibilities as heir to Downton, while his mother Isobel starts a hospital in the village to care for wounded soldiers. The Dowager Countess, played with a biting wit by Maggie Smith, continues to deliver some of the show's most memorable one-liners.

Despite the war's toll on the community, life at Downton Abbey carries on. The downstairs staff are given plenty of moments to shine, including a subplot involving a stolen chicken, and the ongoing shenanigans between Lady Mary's maid Anna and valet Bates.

As always with Downton Abbey, the costume and set design are breathtaking, transporting viewers back in time to the early 20th century. In particular, the show's attention to period detail - down to the silverware used at mealtimes - adds an extra layer of immersion for audiences.

Overall, Downton Abbey Season 2: Episodes 1 & 2 sets the stage for another eventful and emotional season, as the Crawleys and their staff navigate the impacts of war and societal change in the years leading up to the Roaring Twenties.