1916 opens in the throes of the Great War. Uncertainty and worry have taken up residence in the great house of Downton Abbey. Some newcomers arrive, met with varying degrees of welcome; some young men are absent, desperately clinging to survival in the trenches of France; and some men remain at Downton, their discontent festering.
Robert, ever the honorable patriarch, struggles with the uneasiness of a diminished house and the suspicion that the uniform he wears is empty. The Crawley women, too, attempt to find their place in the new climate, as Isobel helps chart a new course for one sister and Branson exerts his influence over yet another. Among the servants, love is in the air - O'Brien being, as always, the exception - until Bates makes a decision that crushes the hearts of the two people who love him most. What an incredible, mesmerizing premiere. We have been introduced to new characters with cheeky housemaid Ethel Parks and Mr. Bates wicked wife Vera. The war is in full swing and we know we in for a tragedy as so many members of the household enlist and serve in trenches of WWI. Robert, ever the honorable patriarch, struggles with the uneasiness of a diminished house and the suspicion that the uniform he wears is empty. The Crawley women, too, attempt to find their place in the new climate, as Isobel helps chart a new course for one sister and Branson exerts his influence over yet another. Among the servants, love is in the air - O'Brien being, as always, the exception - until Bates makes a decision that crushes the hearts of the two people who love him most. The costumes in this episode were stunning. Seeing the men in their red coats always takes my breath away. It is still very early in the season so I am keeping an open mind to plot and character development.
