Episode #2.1 (8 Jan. 2012)

November 1916. Matthew is fighting in the horrific Battle of the Somme but at Downton Robert, given a courtesy title as head of the local yeomanry but deemed too old to fight, and William, ... See full summary »

Director:

Ashley Pearce

Writer:

Julian Fellowes (written and created by)

Stars:

Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Bonneville	...	Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Jessica Brown Findlay	...	Lady Sybil Crawley
Laura Carmichael	...	Lady Edith Crawley
Jim Carter	...	Charles Carson
Brendan Coyle	...	John Bates
Michelle Dockery	...	Lady Mary Crawley
Siobhan Finneran	...	Sarah O'Brien
Joanne Froggatt	...	Anna Smith
Thomas Howes	...	William Mason
Rob James-Collier	...	Thomas Barrow
Phyllis Logan	...	Mrs. Hughes
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Sophie McShera	...	Daisy Robinson
Lesley Nicol	...	Mrs. Patmore
Amy Nuttall	...	Ethel Parks

Storyline

November 1916. Matthew is fighting in the horrific Battle of the Somme but at Downton Robert, given a courtesy title as head of the local yeomanry but deemed too old to fight, and William, forbidden by his father to enlist, feel frustrated as white feathers are given to non-combatants. Sybil also feels useless and goes to York for nursing training whilst Mary hides her disappointment when Matthew, home on leave, brings his betrothed, Lavinia Swire, to meet her. She nonetheless sees him off, giving him her lucky mascot, as he returns to the fighting, Back in the trenches he meets Thomas, sick of the war, who deliberately gets himself wounded. John returns from his mother's funeral, hoping to buy off his greedy wife Vera with his inheritance and marry Anna. However, now that he has money, Vera turns up and threatens to expose Anna's part in Mary's indiscretion with the Turk Panuk unless he leaves with her immediately - which he does. Fortunately a suspicious Mrs. Hughes has overheard ...

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Plot Keywords:

battle of the somme | white feather | dinner | lucky charm | loyalty | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 2012 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Highclere Castle, Highclere, Newbury, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Films, Masterpiece

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sybil's lament, "All the men I've ever danced with are dead," is based upon script writer/series creator Julian Fellowes' own Aunt Isie, who is quoted in Virginia Nicholson's book, "Singled Out", which discusses the lives of women after World War I.

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Goofs

When Sybil is at the breakfast table reading the letter of the death of another friend, she folds it closed and looks up. The camera cuts to Lord Grantham for a line but when it cuts back to Sybil, her head is down and she is reading the open letter again.

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Quotes

Anna Smith: I know you. You're doing something gallant here, making a sacrifice for my honor, but I don't want you to. I don't care. Don't you understand? I don't care what people say. I'd live in sin with you. If she's threatening to ruin me, then let her. It's nothing to me. The only ruin that I recognize is to be without you!

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Crazy Credits

Closing credits acknowledgement: "The red cross emblem used with kind permission of the UK Ministry of Defence and British Red Cross Society".

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Connections

References The Remains of the Day (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Downton Abbey - The Suite"
(uncredited)
Written by John Lunn
Performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London

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