Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey - Season 2 (DVD, 2012, 3-Disc Set)

The saga continues in the Second Year of this great British drama. We become embroiled in WWI and see scenes of a very real war front.

No one is exempt from the war--both servants and royalty are drawn into it with a sense of loyalty to the Crown. Our hero from the first season, Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), of course, is an officer. Two of the servants from Downton become his assistants--Thomas and William. We sit on the edge of our seats hoping that they will make it through unscathed, as we actually care what happens to them.

Meanwhile, back at the home front, even the royals become involved in the war effort. Daughter Sybil becomes a nurse in a hospital treating the wounded. Daughter Edith learns to drive and goes to work on a farm. Eventually, Downtown Abbey starts housing the wounded as they recover much to the chagrin of Dowager Countess Violet (Maggie Smith). She continues to steal every scene that she is in.

The romance between Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Matthew (Dan Stevens) becomes even more complicated as he proposes to a Londoner Lavinia Swire, and Mary retaliates by doing the same with a pre-Photoplay gossip magazine publisher--Sir Richard Carlisle.

And the downstairs romance between Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and John Bates (Brendan Coyle) continues as his estranged wife makes her ugly appearance and really stirs things up.

We actually hate footman Thomas as he wrangles his way out of serving in the war and then works his way to becoming Carson's boss. And we actually detest O'Brien, Lady Crawley's maid, who is constantly making choices that get other people in trouble.

We are just as entranced with this dvd as we were with the first. Beautifully photographed and marvelously scored, it is just as good as the initial series.

Now we await Series Three.

You will not be disappointed with either of these dvds.

The Downton Abbey Season 2 DVD set I purchased was the original BBC set--probably a gift for financially supporting public television-- and in unopened condition. Needless to say, I was absolutely delighted to receive it, and in a timely manner, too. after watching season 1 on netflix, I was very anxious to continue the saga with season 2. Downton Abbey is, in my opinion, destined to become a great and continuing success for PBS and I look forward to season 3,4,5......

This series on PBS is fantastic and I wanted to own it for myself. I would recommended this DVD set to everyone!

I recommend this DVD, I have the first season and wanted the second one, I really enjoyed both. If you love classics, this is a good one to watch.

Excellent PBS series with a true collection of British wacks. Enjoy the characters and the time era. Look forward to the next season.