Spoilers abound, GOING NUTS

[tripp3235]

So thanks to clairiere we now have a pretty detailed recap of the first episode.  I'm impressed she can hold off reading it, I cannot.  Anyone interested in reading, http://www.itv.com/presscentre/downtonabbey/s2ep01week38/default.html.

As for my own thoughts here they are under the cut:

Comments

Re: came from the downton community...

[tripp3235]

-Ethel might find out from Daisy, possibly realizing how Pamuk really died (or where he really died). What I'm curious about is will Vera be the one to inform Richard (who may use that secret to hurt the Crawley family if he doesn't get what he wants from Mary). I must say I always expected Richard, being a newspaper baron, to have some sources and to figure the secret out on his own. I'm going to be really irritated if he hears it from the valet's estranged wife. I didn't expect to like him but I did expect him to have better powers than that.

-I couldn't believe William would receive the feather but not Branson. I'm sure they both receiving it together will save time for filming as well as illustrate the differences between both men.

-I always thought Dan's comments about class divide would have been more about his relationship to William. We know William will wind up serving under him and both men will be reported MIA. Could they wind up together? I also thought it might be a nice way for Matthew to hear about the softer side of Mary since she helped William go home to see his dying mother one last time.

-Branson declaring himself to Sybil can be premature since almost all the men on this show seem to get ahead of themselves with the women. Mary had only just realized she was in love with Matthew when they kissed and then he goes and proposes. Same for William and Daisy, and in this case she was only using the kiss to console poor William and he jumped the gun. Maybe the've been friends but with Sybil talking about nursing and war and all, Branson misconstrues what she says. I'm sure they are a couple, but whether Sybil has romantic feelings for him at this time we won't really know.