Downton Abbey 2 Episodes 1 - 9

Downton Abbey's Granthams and their family of servants have already weathered scoundrels, scandals, and a momentous succession crisis. But by November, 1916, the Great War has rendered everything — and everyone — changed. Even Downton Abbey itself, like its residents, has risen to the call of duty and transformed.

At the war front, life intensifies for Downton's young men in the face of untold horrors. Meanwhile, at Downton, war makes new and often unjust demands. Some rise to its call for a stiff upper lip and a useful turn, and others see change as an opportunity for either growth or exploitation. Far from the trenches, there remains no shortage of scheming, meddling, and dangerous attractions.

As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact. Maggie Smith (David Copperfield, Gosford Park), Elizabeth McGovern (A Room With A View), Michelle Dockery (Return to Cranford), and Dan Stevens (Sense and Sensibility) return with an all-star cast to season two of Julian Fellowes' Emmy Award winning drama, Downton Abbey.

Full Episode Guide at bottom of this page

EPISODE ONE

EPISODE TWO

EPISODE THREE

EPISODE FOUR

EPISODE FIVE

EPISODE SIX

EPISODE SEVEN

EPISODE EIGHT

EPISODE NINE - Christmas Special

Series Two (2011)

(1916–19)

No. overall	No. for series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original airdate	Viewers (in millions) UK viewers sourced by BARB; figures include ITV1 HD and ITV1 +1 broadcasts	Running time (excluding commercial breaks)
8	1	"Episode One"	Ashley Pearce[9]	Julian Fellowes	18 September 2011	11.41 [nb 2] 4.2 (PBS)[14]	67 minutes
November 1916. The episode begins with a scene in which Matthew is fighting as an officer on the Somme. He speaks of returning to Downton during his leave, which is coming soon. However, he has news that he is newly engaged to Miss Lavinia Swire. When Lady Mary learns of Matthew's engagement, she tries to hide her dismay and tells the other ladies that a Sir Richard Carlisle, a newspaper mogul known more for expediency than ethics, is coming to visit her. However, when she is alone with Anna, she breaks down in tears at the news of Matthew's engagement. Meanwhile the servants are preparing for a benefit concert to help fund the local hospital.[15] However, with Bates in London attending his mother's funeral and Thomas fighting in the war in the medical corps, the servants are hard pressed to keep Downton running. A new housemaid, Ethel, has arrived, but O'Brien immediately dislikes her and repeatedly pulls pranks on her. Bates tells Anna that he may finally get divorced from Vera and asks Anna to marry him in her stead. However, these plans are short lived when Vera turns up in Downton and threatens to expose Anna's part in Lady Mary's indiscretion with the Turk Pamuk unless he leaves with her immediately. Mrs. Hughes overhears Bates and Vera's conversation and later informs Mr. Carson of Vera's plot. Mr. Carson then brings this information to Lord Grantham, who immediately regrets how he dismissed Bates. Meanwhile, Sybil, anxious to do her own part in the war effort, begins training as a nurse, and at her departure, Branson reveals his feelings for her. Matthew and Mary, who patched things up when he attended the fundraiser, struggle with their respective situations. Matthew and Mary clearly still care for each other, but with Matthew engaged and returning to war, the timing couldn't be worse. Mary sees him off at the train station, giving him her lucky mascot, which he carries while fighting. The episode ends with Matthew meeting Thomas in the trenches on the front lines. Matthew and Thomas share tea in the midst of the fighting, and when Thomas expresses the irony that the footman is sharing tea with the lord he once served, Matthew tells him that "War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don't." Thomas, who was already clearly sick of the war, takes these words to heart and purposely gets himself wounded so that he no longer has to fight.
9	2	"Episode Two"	Ashley Pearce[9]	Julian Fellowes	25 September 2011	11.77 [nb 3]	53 minutes
April 1917. With many of the male staff serving in the war, Carson finds himself under pressure to make sure that duties are carried out to his exacting standard. He ends up finding himself forced to accept female staff serving in the dining room. Lord Grantham needs to hire a new valet and ends up employing Lang, who has just returned from the war. William is happy after he receives an important letter. Mrs Patmore finds out some devastating news about her soldier nephew. Thomas returns from the war (after intentionally getting himself wounded and therefore discharged from active duty) and begins work alongside Lady Sybil in the local hospital. After a patient is brought in suffering with gas blindness, Thomas finds himself becoming attached to the young Lieutenant. Molesley takes an interest in Anna. Matthew learns of his temporary transfer back to England for a recruitment drive in the north while fighting in the trenches. Carson advises Mary that if she still loves Matthew she needs to tell him before it is too late.[15] Meanwhile, Lavinia (Matthew's new fiancee who is staying with Mrs Crawley) is reunited with an unwelcome face from her past.[19]
10	3	"Episode Three"	Andy Goddard[9]	Julian Fellowes	2 October 2011	11.33 [nb 4]	53 minutes
July 1917. The village hospital is not large enough to accommodate the large influx of wounded soldiers coming back from the front, so Downton is turned into a convalescent home for many of them. O'Brien is shocked that Isobel Crawley seems to be giving most of the orders while Cora is relegated to the background and suggests that Thomas might be able to aid her from his position at the hospital. Violet strongly believes that Mary and Matthew are still very much in love and so, with the help of Rosamund, tries her best to end Matthew's engagement to Lavinia. She is also still convinced that there is much more to Lavinia's relationship with Sir Richard than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Anna runs into Mr Bates in the village, and they feel they may have a future together, as Bates has a plan to deal with his ex-wife. Back at Downton, things are more highly charged, as William asks Daisy to marry him just before heading off to war and Mrs Patmore reacts very badly to a chance remark.
11	4	"Episode Four"	Brian Kelly[9]	Julian Fellowes	9 October 2011	11.30 [nb 5]	53 minutes
Early 1918. Ethel's flirting with Major Bryant ends up with her being fired. Later in the episode, she returns and admits being pregnant. Preparations get under way for a concert at Downton. Tensions flare between Isobel and Cora, Edith receives worrying news about Matthew and William, and Branson declares his feelings for Sybil again. Lord Grantham learns that Bates works at a nearby pub and goes to visit him. Lord Grantham receives a letter from Carlisle, which causes him concern and forces an uncomfortable conversation with Mary. Mrs Bird's soup kitchen receives a helping hand from Daisy and Mrs Patmore.
12	5	"Episode Five"	Brian Kelly[9]	Julian Fellowes	16 October 2011	11.59 [nb 6]	53 minutes
Mid-1918. Lord Grantham receives some shocking news from the front; both Matthew and William have been wounded in France. Unfortunately, William has sustained serious damage to his lungs and is unable to recover, prompting him to ask Daisy to marry him before he dies. Meanwhile, Matthew has suffered a serious spinal-cord injury and is paralysed from the waist down. He is told that he will never walk again or father children. Lavinia insists that this changes nothing and that she is not concerned about having a sexual relationship and children but only wants to care for him. However, Matthew tells her to forget him and sends her away, while Mary attempts to nurse him back to health. A new maid, Jane, is hired by Carson and Mrs Hughes, despite her being a war widow with children. Mrs Hughes has also been secretly helping Ethel and her baby, as Ethel's lover Major Bryant has ignored her pleas. Despite not truly loving William, Daisy is pushed into marrying him by Mrs Patmore, who wants William to die happy, and by William's wishes that Daisy be left with a widow's pension so that she can be looked after. They marry while William is bed-ridden, surrounded by the other staff, Edith and the Dowager Countess. William dies in his sleep, not long afterwards, with Daisy by his side. Bates is taken aback when Vera promises to expose old secrets about Mary and Pamuk's death, as he has paid her to divorce him and he thought she was satisfied. When Mary discovers this, she confesses everything to Richard Carlisle and asks him to help; this obliges her to accept his offer of marriage. He accepts and expresses his pleasure that she is now in his debt. She returns to Downton, and he succeeds in binding Vera to an exclusive contract with binding confidentiality obligations, thereby silencing her. He announces his engagement to Mary in the newspaper without informing her. Carlisle tricks Vera into signing a contract, preventing her from selling the story to anyone else, but on finding out, she warns that she will still bring ruin to Bates.
13	6	"Episode Six"	Andy Goddard[9]	Julian Fellowes	23 October 2011	11.33 [nb 7]	53 minutes
November 1918. A Canadian officer, badly disfigured by burns, asks to be brought to Downton, claiming a relation to the family. Lord Grantham agrees, assuming he is some distant relation, sharing common ancestry but he stuns everyone by declaring that he is Patrick Crawley, the supposedly deceased heir. His story is that he survived the Titanic disaster but suffered from amnesia so he was unable to identify himself and lived as a Canadian until a wartime experience restored his memory. Most at Downton vehemently deny the possibility even though he remembers many details that only Patrick is likely to have known. However, Edith believes him, growing attached to him as he claims that he was always in love with her, rather than Mary. But, Lord Grantham's investigation casts doubt on the Canadian officer's claim, revealing that Patrick Crawley had a friend who emigrated to Canada. This leads to the burned soldier's sudden departure; he leaves behind a note for Edith that is deliberately ambiguous as to his identity. Meanwhile Matthew is getting used to his condition, constantly cared for by Mary; her continued interest displeases Sir Richard Carlisle. Carlisle and Cora conspire, to Lord Grantham's disgust, to bring back Lavinia, who resolves that she will never leave Matthew. Cora is worried about Isobel's aggressive management of Downton Abbey as a convalescent home until Violet slyly directs Isobel to the plight of refugees as a cause that has greater need of her nursing skills than the convalescent duties. Ethel hears the distressing news that Major Bryant has been killed. Carson debates whether to accept Sir Richard's tempting offer to leave Downton and be the Carlisles' butler after Sir Richard's marriage to Lady Mary; at the same time, Sir Richard makes it clear to Mary that he is uncompromising. Lady Sybil receives an ultimatum from Branson regarding his marriage proposal to her. Bates is shocked to find the legality of his divorce threatened, as Vera reveals that he paid her to leave him, and he goes to London to make another attempt to settle matters with her. Upon his return, he receives the news that she is dead. Soon afterwards, the war ends with the Armistice.
14	7	"Episode Seven"	James Strong[9]	Julian Fellowes	30 October 2011	12.26 [nb 8]	53 minutes
1919. As the residents try to return to normal life following the armistice, Matthew begins to be able to feel his legs. One day, seeing Lavinia drop a heavy tray, he suddenly gets up from his chair. Major Clarkson admits that he knew of this possibility from another physician but was sceptical about it and did not want to raise false hopes. Matthew announces that he and Lavinia intend to be married soon. Violet informs him that Mary is still in love with him, but Matthew feels obliged to marry Lavinia since she was prepared to sacrifice her life for him. Meanwhile, Richard Carlisle distresses Anna by asking her to spy on Mary, and his behaviour leads Carson to reject his offer of employment. Bates realises that Vera committed suicide in order to frame him for her murder. When Major Bryant's parents visit Downton to see where their son convalesced, Mrs Hughes contrives a meeting between them and Ethel and her baby. However, Mr Bryant angrily refuses to believe her claim. Thomas embarks on a new money-making scheme in the post-war black market. Lord Grantham is attracted to the new maid Jane and illicitly kisses her on one occasion. Contemplating life after the war, Sybil makes the drastic decision to elope with Branson. However, Mary discovers her plan and, along with Edith and Anna, seeks them out and persuades Sybil to return and plead her cause openly to their parents.
15	8	"Episode Eight"	James Strong[9]	Julian Fellowes	6 November 2011	12.45 [nb 9]	67 minutes
April 1919. As preparations are under way for Matthew and Lavinia's wedding, Lady Sybil's expressed wish to marry Branson shocks and horrifies her parents. Lord Grantham is strongly opposed to the idea, but his threats of social disgrace and disinheritance do not dissuade Sybil. Grantham then attempts to bribe Branson, but Branson's intentions are sincere, and he refuses. Lady Grantham, Carson, and Lavinia are taken ill by the Spanish flu. Thomas' black market venture was a spectacular failure, leaving him penniless and without a job, but Carson's illness gives him a chance to become useful in the house. Matthew finds himself alone with Mary and tells her what Violet said to him. Both acknowledge that they cannot marry, as it would be terribly cruel to Lavinia. However, they kiss just as Lavinia is coming down the stairs. When her illness delays the wedding, Lavinia tells Matthew that she heard and saw everything. She feels they should end their engagement but Matthew refuses. Fearing that Lavinia’s illness might bring together Matthew and Mary, Richard Carlisle comes to Downton Abbey. Daisy is distressed by William’s father’s request that she visit him. Ethel is surprised when Major Bryant’s parents want to see her, but his father wants to take her child away permanently. Eventually, she decides to keep the child. Lord Grantham finds himself unable to control his desire for Jane, who willingly responds. However, their night-time encounter is interrupted and remains unconsummated, and Jane decides to leave. With the possibility of legal trouble regarding Vera's death, Anna insists that she and Bates should marry so that she may be able to support him through his difficulties as his wife. They marry in secret, with Lady Mary's permission, and she arranges for them to spend their wedding night in a guest room. Cora becomes seriously ill, and Clarkson fears the worst. O’Brien tirelessly cares for her and tries to ask for her forgiveness. However it is Lavinia who succumbs to the flu and dies, saying that it is best for Matthew. Racked with guilt, Matthew tells Mary that any relationship between them is now impossible. Somewhat chastened by the recent events, Lord Grantham reluctantly gives his blessing to Sybil and Branson. The episode ends with Bates’ arrest for the murder of his late wife.

[edit]Downton Abbey: Behind the Drama

A 46-minute-long documentary compiled in anticipation of the Christmas 2011 two-hour special broadcast, Behind the Drama features behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the series and short interviews with Julian Fellowes, the writer, actors (Elizabeth McGovern, Joanna Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Thomas Howes, Leslie Nicol, Sophie McShera, Allen Leech) and other members of the team that produces Downton Abbey. It was shown in the United Kingdom at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 21 December 2011 and narrated by Hugh Bonneville. 4.5 million people watched the show.^[38]

[edit]Christmas Special (2011)

(1919–20)

No. overall	No. for series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original airdate	Viewers (in millions) final ratings are sourced from BARB[6]	Running time (excluding commercial breaks)
16	CS1	"Christmas at Downton Abbey"	Brian Percival[9]	Julian Fellowes	25 December 2011	12.11 [nb 10]	92 minutes
December 1919 and January 1920. The household is bustling with all the Christmas preparations. Mr Bates is convicted of the murder of his ex-wife Vera despite testimony from the Earl of Grantham. Towards the end of the episode his death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Also the relationship between Matthew and Lady Mary takes another twist. She jilts her fiancé, Sir Richard Carlisle, despite his threatening to reveal her dark secret regarding Kemal Pamuk through his media connections and newspapers. After much worry and fear that he will see her as damaged, Lady Mary decides to tell Matthew that she had a one night stand with Pamuk. Although shocked by this information to begin with, he soon decides he does not care that she is not a virgin and in the final scene he proposes to her but only after she insists he get down on one knee. She accepts. It is revealed that Lady Sybil and Tom Branson are now married and that Sybil is pregnant.

Downton Abbey's Granthams and their family of servants have already weathered scoundrels, scandals, and a momentous succession crisis. But by November, 1916, the Great War has rendered everything — and everyone — changed. Even Downton Abbey itself, like its residents, has risen to the call of duty and transformed.

At the war front, life intensifies for Downton's young men in the face of untold horrors. Meanwhile, at Downton, war makes new and often unjust demands. Some rise to its call for a stiff upper lip and a useful turn, and others see change as an opportunity for either growth or exploitation. Far from the trenches, there remains no shortage of scheming, meddling, and dangerous attractions.

As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact. Maggie Smith (David Copperfield, Gosford Park), Elizabeth McGovern (A Room With A View), Michelle Dockery (Return to Cranford), and Dan Stevens (Sense and Sensibility) return with an all-star cast to season two of Julian Fellowes' Emmy Award winning drama, Downton Abbey.

Full Episode Guide at bottom of this page

EPISODE ONE

EPISODE TWO

EPISODE THREE

EPISODE FOUR

EPISODE FIVE

EPISODE SIX

EPISODE SEVEN

EPISODE EIGHT

EPISODE NINE - Christmas Special

Series Two (2011)

(1916–19)

No. overall	No. for series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original airdate	Viewers (in millions) UK viewers sourced by BARB; figures include ITV1 HD and ITV1 +1 broadcasts	Running time (excluding commercial breaks)
8	1	"Episode One"	Ashley Pearce[9]	Julian Fellowes	18 September 2011	11.41 [nb 2] 4.2 (PBS)[14]	67 minutes
November 1916. The episode begins with a scene in which Matthew is fighting as an officer on the Somme. He speaks of returning to Downton during his leave, which is coming soon. However, he has news that he is newly engaged to Miss Lavinia Swire. When Lady Mary learns of Matthew's engagement, she tries to hide her dismay and tells the other ladies that a Sir Richard Carlisle, a newspaper mogul known more for expediency than ethics, is coming to visit her. However, when she is alone with Anna, she breaks down in tears at the news of Matthew's engagement. Meanwhile the servants are preparing for a benefit concert to help fund the local hospital.[15] However, with Bates in London attending his mother's funeral and Thomas fighting in the war in the medical corps, the servants are hard pressed to keep Downton running. A new housemaid, Ethel, has arrived, but O'Brien immediately dislikes her and repeatedly pulls pranks on her. Bates tells Anna that he may finally get divorced from Vera and asks Anna to marry him in her stead. However, these plans are short lived when Vera turns up in Downton and threatens to expose Anna's part in Lady Mary's indiscretion with the Turk Pamuk unless he leaves with her immediately. Mrs. Hughes overhears Bates and Vera's conversation and later informs Mr. Carson of Vera's plot. Mr. Carson then brings this information to Lord Grantham, who immediately regrets how he dismissed Bates. Meanwhile, Sybil, anxious to do her own part in the war effort, begins training as a nurse, and at her departure, Branson reveals his feelings for her. Matthew and Mary, who patched things up when he attended the fundraiser, struggle with their respective situations. Matthew and Mary clearly still care for each other, but with Matthew engaged and returning to war, the timing couldn't be worse. Mary sees him off at the train station, giving him her lucky mascot, which he carries while fighting. The episode ends with Matthew meeting Thomas in the trenches on the front lines. Matthew and Thomas share tea in the midst of the fighting, and when Thomas expresses the irony that the footman is sharing tea with the lord he once served, Matthew tells him that "War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don't." Thomas, who was already clearly sick of the war, takes these words to heart and purposely gets himself wounded so that he no longer has to fight.
9	2	"Episode Two"	Ashley Pearce[9]	Julian Fellowes	25 September 2011	11.77 [nb 3]	53 minutes
April 1917. With many of the male staff serving in the war, Carson finds himself under pressure to make sure that duties are carried out to his exacting standard. He ends up finding himself forced to accept female staff serving in the dining room. Lord Grantham needs to hire a new valet and ends up employing Lang, who has just returned from the war. William is happy after he receives an important letter. Mrs Patmore finds out some devastating news about her soldier nephew. Thomas returns from the war (after intentionally getting himself wounded and therefore discharged from active duty) and begins work alongside Lady Sybil in the local hospital. After a patient is brought in suffering with gas blindness, Thomas finds himself becoming attached to the young Lieutenant. Molesley takes an interest in Anna. Matthew learns of his temporary transfer back to England for a recruitment drive in the north while fighting in the trenches. Carson advises Mary that if she still loves Matthew she needs to tell him before it is too late.[15] Meanwhile, Lavinia (Matthew's new fiancee who is staying with Mrs Crawley) is reunited with an unwelcome face from her past.[19]
10	3	"Episode Three"	Andy Goddard[9]	Julian Fellowes	2 October 2011	11.33 [nb 4]	53 minutes
July 1917. The village hospital is not large enough to accommodate the large influx of wounded soldiers coming back from the front, so Downton is turned into a convalescent home for many of them. O'Brien is shocked that Isobel Crawley seems to be giving most of the orders while Cora is relegated to the background and suggests that Thomas might be able to aid her from his position at the hospital. Violet strongly believes that Mary and Matthew are still very much in love and so, with the help of Rosamund, tries her best to end Matthew's engagement to Lavinia. She is also still convinced that there is much more to Lavinia's relationship with Sir Richard than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Anna runs into Mr Bates in the village, and they feel they may have a future together, as Bates has a plan to deal with his ex-wife. Back at Downton, things are more highly charged, as William asks Daisy to marry him just before heading off to war and Mrs Patmore reacts very badly to a chance remark.
11	4	"Episode Four"	Brian Kelly[9]	Julian Fellowes	9 October 2011	11.30 [nb 5]	53 minutes
Early 1918. Ethel's flirting with Major Bryant ends up with her being fired. Later in the episode, she returns and admits being pregnant. Preparations get under way for a concert at Downton. Tensions flare between Isobel and Cora, Edith receives worrying news about Matthew and William, and Branson declares his feelings for Sybil again. Lord Grantham learns that Bates works at a nearby pub and goes to visit him. Lord Grantham receives a letter from Carlisle, which causes him concern and forces an uncomfortable conversation with Mary. Mrs Bird's soup kitchen receives a helping hand from Daisy and Mrs Patmore.
12	5	"Episode Five"	Brian Kelly[9]	Julian Fellowes	16 October 2011	11.59 [nb 6]	53 minutes
Mid-1918. Lord Grantham receives some shocking news from the front; both Matthew and William have been wounded in France. Unfortunately, William has sustained serious damage to his lungs and is unable to recover, prompting him to ask Daisy to marry him before he dies. Meanwhile, Matthew has suffered a serious spinal-cord injury and is paralysed from the waist down. He is told that he will never walk again or father children. Lavinia insists that this changes nothing and that she is not concerned about having a sexual relationship and children but only wants to care for him. However, Matthew tells her to forget him and sends her away, while Mary attempts to nurse him back to health. A new maid, Jane, is hired by Carson and Mrs Hughes, despite her being a war widow with children. Mrs Hughes has also been secretly helping Ethel and her baby, as Ethel's lover Major Bryant has ignored her pleas. Despite not truly loving William, Daisy is pushed into marrying him by Mrs Patmore, who wants William to die happy, and by William's wishes that Daisy be left with a widow's pension so that she can be looked after. They marry while William is bed-ridden, surrounded by the other staff, Edith and the Dowager Countess. William dies in his sleep, not long afterwards, with Daisy by his side. Bates is taken aback when Vera promises to expose old secrets about Mary and Pamuk's death, as he has paid her to divorce him and he thought she was satisfied. When Mary discovers this, she confesses everything to Richard Carlisle and asks him to help; this obliges her to accept his offer of marriage. He accepts and expresses his pleasure that she is now in his debt. She returns to Downton, and he succeeds in binding Vera to an exclusive contract with binding confidentiality obligations, thereby silencing her. He announces his engagement to Mary in the newspaper without informing her. Carlisle tricks Vera into signing a contract, preventing her from selling the story to anyone else, but on finding out, she warns that she will still bring ruin to Bates.
13	6	"Episode Six"	Andy Goddard[9]	Julian Fellowes	23 October 2011	11.33 [nb 7]	53 minutes
November 1918. A Canadian officer, badly disfigured by burns, asks to be brought to Downton, claiming a relation to the family. Lord Grantham agrees, assuming he is some distant relation, sharing common ancestry but he stuns everyone by declaring that he is Patrick Crawley, the supposedly deceased heir. His story is that he survived the Titanic disaster but suffered from amnesia so he was unable to identify himself and lived as a Canadian until a wartime experience restored his memory. Most at Downton vehemently deny the possibility even though he remembers many details that only Patrick is likely to have known. However, Edith believes him, growing attached to him as he claims that he was always in love with her, rather than Mary. But, Lord Grantham's investigation casts doubt on the Canadian officer's claim, revealing that Patrick Crawley had a friend who emigrated to Canada. This leads to the burned soldier's sudden departure; he leaves behind a note for Edith that is deliberately ambiguous as to his identity. Meanwhile Matthew is getting used to his condition, constantly cared for by Mary; her continued interest displeases Sir Richard Carlisle. Carlisle and Cora conspire, to Lord Grantham's disgust, to bring back Lavinia, who resolves that she will never leave Matthew. Cora is worried about Isobel's aggressive management of Downton Abbey as a convalescent home until Violet slyly directs Isobel to the plight of refugees as a cause that has greater need of her nursing skills than the convalescent duties. Ethel hears the distressing news that Major Bryant has been killed. Carson debates whether to accept Sir Richard's tempting offer to leave Downton and be the Carlisles' butler after Sir Richard's marriage to Lady Mary; at the same time, Sir Richard makes it clear to Mary that he is uncompromising. Lady Sybil receives an ultimatum from Branson regarding his marriage proposal to her. Bates is shocked to find the legality of his divorce threatened, as Vera reveals that he paid her to leave him, and he goes to London to make another attempt to settle matters with her. Upon his return, he receives the news that she is dead. Soon afterwards, the war ends with the Armistice.
14	7	"Episode Seven"	James Strong[9]	Julian Fellowes	30 October 2011	12.26 [nb 8]	53 minutes
1919. As the residents try to return to normal life following the armistice, Matthew begins to be able to feel his legs. One day, seeing Lavinia drop a heavy tray, he suddenly gets up from his chair. Major Clarkson admits that he knew of this possibility from another physician but was sceptical about it and did not want to raise false hopes. Matthew announces that he and Lavinia intend to be married soon. Violet informs him that Mary is still in love with him, but Matthew feels obliged to marry Lavinia since she was prepared to sacrifice her life for him. Meanwhile, Richard Carlisle distresses Anna by asking her to spy on Mary, and his behaviour leads Carson to reject his offer of employment. Bates realises that Vera committed suicide in order to frame him for her murder. When Major Bryant's parents visit Downton to see where their son convalesced, Mrs Hughes contrives a meeting between them and Ethel and her baby. However, Mr Bryant angrily refuses to believe her claim. Thomas embarks on a new money-making scheme in the post-war black market. Lord Grantham is attracted to the new maid Jane and illicitly kisses her on one occasion. Contemplating life after the war, Sybil makes the drastic decision to elope with Branson. However, Mary discovers her plan and, along with Edith and Anna, seeks them out and persuades Sybil to return and plead her cause openly to their parents.
15	8	"Episode Eight"	James Strong[9]	Julian Fellowes	6 November 2011	12.45 [nb 9]	67 minutes
April 1919. As preparations are under way for Matthew and Lavinia's wedding, Lady Sybil's expressed wish to marry Branson shocks and horrifies her parents. Lord Grantham is strongly opposed to the idea, but his threats of social disgrace and disinheritance do not dissuade Sybil. Grantham then attempts to bribe Branson, but Branson's intentions are sincere, and he refuses. Lady Grantham, Carson, and Lavinia are taken ill by the Spanish flu. Thomas' black market venture was a spectacular failure, leaving him penniless and without a job, but Carson's illness gives him a chance to become useful in the house. Matthew finds himself alone with Mary and tells her what Violet said to him. Both acknowledge that they cannot marry, as it would be terribly cruel to Lavinia. However, they kiss just as Lavinia is coming down the stairs. When her illness delays the wedding, Lavinia tells Matthew that she heard and saw everything. She feels they should end their engagement but Matthew refuses. Fearing that Lavinia’s illness might bring together Matthew and Mary, Richard Carlisle comes to Downton Abbey. Daisy is distressed by William’s father’s request that she visit him. Ethel is surprised when Major Bryant’s parents want to see her, but his father wants to take her child away permanently. Eventually, she decides to keep the child. Lord Grantham finds himself unable to control his desire for Jane, who willingly responds. However, their night-time encounter is interrupted and remains unconsummated, and Jane decides to leave. With the possibility of legal trouble regarding Vera's death, Anna insists that she and Bates should marry so that she may be able to support him through his difficulties as his wife. They marry in secret, with Lady Mary's permission, and she arranges for them to spend their wedding night in a guest room. Cora becomes seriously ill, and Clarkson fears the worst. O’Brien tirelessly cares for her and tries to ask for her forgiveness. However it is Lavinia who succumbs to the flu and dies, saying that it is best for Matthew. Racked with guilt, Matthew tells Mary that any relationship between them is now impossible. Somewhat chastened by the recent events, Lord Grantham reluctantly gives his blessing to Sybil and Branson. The episode ends with Bates’ arrest for the murder of his late wife.

[edit]Downton Abbey: Behind the Drama

A 46-minute-long documentary compiled in anticipation of the Christmas 2011 two-hour special broadcast, Behind the Drama features behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the series and short interviews with Julian Fellowes, the writer, actors (Elizabeth McGovern, Joanna Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Thomas Howes, Leslie Nicol, Sophie McShera, Allen Leech) and other members of the team that produces Downton Abbey. It was shown in the United Kingdom at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 21 December 2011 and narrated by Hugh Bonneville. 4.5 million people watched the show.^[38]

[edit]Christmas Special (2011)

(1919–20)

No. overall	No. for series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original airdate	Viewers (in millions) final ratings are sourced from BARB[6]	Running time (excluding commercial breaks)
16	CS1	"Christmas at Downton Abbey"	Brian Percival[9]	Julian Fellowes	25 December 2011	12.11 [nb 10]	92 minutes
December 1919 and January 1920. The household is bustling with all the Christmas preparations. Mr Bates is convicted of the murder of his ex-wife Vera despite testimony from the Earl of Grantham. Towards the end of the episode his death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Also the relationship between Matthew and Lady Mary takes another twist. She jilts her fiancé, Sir Richard Carlisle, despite his threatening to reveal her dark secret regarding Kemal Pamuk through his media connections and newspapers. After much worry and fear that he will see her as damaged, Lady Mary decides to tell Matthew that she had a one night stand with Pamuk. Although shocked by this information to begin with, he soon decides he does not care that she is not a virgin and in the final scene he proposes to her but only after she insists he get down on one knee. She accepts. It is revealed that Lady Sybil and Tom Branson are now married and that Sybil is pregnant.