Downton Abbey (TV Series) Episode #2.5 (2011) User Reviews

Always watchable

[furbaby · 8/10 · 17 June 2020]

Watchable as always, although the scene where Matthew was brought into Downton was ridiculous as he looked as though he'd come straight from the battlefield. He would have been treated firstly at an aid post or dressing station before being transferred to a field hospital. He certainly would not have been sent straight back to England.

To the reviewer who commented on "going up to London" being an error - not at all! It is a convention that still lingers today. One always goes "up" to London no matter whether one is north, south, east or west of the capital, just as one always goes "down" to the country, even if it is supposed to be Yorkshire.

War ends, the future awaits

[skinnybert · 8/10 · 10 August 2023]

Plot, plot, plot -- none of which would matter if the actors didn't carry it. But they do. Shout-outs for Sophie McShera's Daisy on this one: her character is largely stuck on one note here, but it's an important one, and she comes off very convincing. Also of course Maggie Smith, who manages to find the comedy in the drama, and Jim Carter / Hugh Bonneville.

Standout shots: when the hour of war comes to a close, and most of the cast assemble in the main hall to observe its end. As the chimes ring out, the camera lingers a moment for each pair of faces present. This is closely followed by Bonneville and Carter discussing their particular plot line, with a nice closing shot of the actors standing in the house's open doorway, facing out toward the uncertain future.

A marriage

[jpismyname · 10/10 · 20 December 2017]

It opens with a chilling scene of a battle. William and Matthew are wounded. Bates' wife goes to Richard Carlisle to expose the secret. Daisy marries a dying William, and it is really sad.

I really find Daisy a little irritating.

This is also one of the Dowager Countess' finest moments on this series. She is witty and she is famous for her one-liners and burns, but she also has a good heart. Maggie Smith is really perfect for this role. She is definitely my favorite character, and I wish she has more screentime.

That ending is really heartbreaking.

Downton Abbey is always rewatchable

[GusherPop · 10/10 · 14 May 2022]

1918 promises the war drawing to a close, yet uncertainty still reigns. With its ruined aristocratic houses, rationing, and fallen officers, war's aftermath opens some doors for the present and former servants and slams shut others. Meanwhile, Isobel's post-war plans create an indomitable, if unlikely, alliance. But when a mysterious stranger arrives, Downton faces more turmoil. It was interesting to see how both the upstairs and downstairs residents of Downton react to the changes of the impeding close of WWI. We begin to see the final impact of five years of hardship, human loss and economic devastation on England and at Downton. War widows Daisy and Jane face the fact that there are so few young men left that they will most likely not re-marry; many of the injured men like Matthew Crawley and Major Gordon will require long-term care; opportunists like Thomas will be drawn into quick money schemes like the black market; and carpetbaggers like Sir Richard Carlisle will be ready to swoop in and purchase estates from hard hit families. The social and economic structure of the English aristocrats will never be the same. The plot line introducing Patrick Gordon as the imposter (or not) heir and his non-English manners and speech is over the top and trite. Didn't this same situation happen in a Dynasty or Dallas episode from the 1980's? In addition, with the announcement this past week of actress Shirley MacLaine as Cora's American mother into the cast for season three, will we be witness to two mighty matrons: the Dowager Countess Violet and Cora's mother verbally sparing? They seem perfectly suited for a throw down of polished English values v progressive American ideals. But please Mr. Fellowes, no cat fight in the Downton fountain.

War takes a tragic turn.

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 5 February 2020]

If the sight of the dowager countess having a fight with that new fangled contraption known as the telephone doesn't have you laughing with tears, try out the actual tears from sadness in this episode that has Matthew wounded and William on the verge of death. This brings Isabel back, a bit less aggressive and concentrating on her son, and Daisy torn over a serious ethical issue. Vera Bates returns for another chance at extortion, and even O'Brien and Thomas are shocked by how low she will go. Lavinia returns as Matthew's fiancee, and the two women who love him bond together for support. Will Matthew be able to walk again, let alone sire children?

As for Mrs. Hughes, she's out to aide Ethel who has given birth to a wounded officer's child, feeling guilty over having sacked her. For her sternness, Mrs. Hughes is quite good hearted, and Ethel will be a trial for her. When the father returns, he's rather cold, adding to Ethel's heartbreak. Emotions are strong for the badly injured William and for the dainty Daisy, not in love with him but torn over breaking his heart and her own. Mary turns to Richard Carlisle over the blackmail and finds him to be rather cold towards her predicament, using it against her in their pending engagement. His visit with Vera Bates is chilling for both amoral charaxters. News of the czar's assassination gives more historical timeliness towards the end of the war.

The makeup on the ailing Matthew is downright scary, making him look nearly dead with its ghastly paleness. The family must rally around Daisy and William as he faces the grim reality of his death, and Daisy must lie to him so he can die in peace. The sadness of the family in seeing this profound moment even has the dowager countess touched. This is one of the most profound moments in the series history, and certainly a highlights for the supporting but core character of Daisy.

Love it!!

[llewellynf1974 · 10/10 · 4 June 2020]

I was initially very very anti Downton Abbey when it first showed in 2010, I had not watched a single episode at the this time and only started a week ago. I guess the reason was everyone was talking about it nonstop and it eventually became annoying and irritating.

Now that I've given it a chance, it's really amazing and my favourite actress - Maggie Smith is a powerhouse as always!

I did notice one thing, although filmed in Berkshire - it's supposedly set in Yorkshire, yet several times you'll hear the cast say 'I'll go up to London..." not 'down' to London. A rather glaring error and wondered if anybody else picked it up?

Brutal

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 3 August 2020]

The main focus is the critical situations of Matthew and William and Daisy's betrothal. Matthew is a real mess and has to deal with something that no man wants to. Thomas and O'Brien may have gone too far. Bates's wife is still around but now her focus is only on Bates. There are some tender moments here and the episode is rife with pain. Sibyl and Branson are starting to plan ahead. Meanwhile, a soup kitchen is being set up in Isobel's home and O'Brien's efforts to tell on other people aren't all that effective.