Ep 1. Series 2, Episode 1

The show Downton Abbey is a British period drama television series that follows the Crawley family and their servants as they navigate their lives in the early 20th century. Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off, with the family and their staff dealing with the effects of World War I.

Series 2, Episode 1 begins with a dramatic montage of the Crawley family and their staff preparing for the war effort. Lord Grantham is appointed as the local recruiting officer, and his wife Lady Grantham leads the local Women's Volunteer Service. The house is turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers, and the staff are all involved in various ways.

Meanwhile, the family is dealing with personal issues as well. Lady Edith is still reeling from being jilted at the altar, and Lady Mary is struggling to come to terms with her own feelings for the family's new heir, Matthew Crawley. The Dowager Countess, Lady Violet, provides some much-needed comic relief as she schemes to keep the family's estate intact.

The tension builds as the family's eldest daughter, Lady Mary, receives a proposal of marriage from a wealthy suitor named Sir Richard Carlisle. Though Lady Mary is initially reluctant to accept, her mother Lady Grantham pushes her to consider the match as a way to secure the family's financial future.

As the episode progresses, we see the effects of the war on the family and their staff. Lady Sybil defies convention by training as a nurse, and her sister Lady Edith takes on a new role as a columnist for a local newspaper. Meanwhile, the family's valet Bates faces an uncertain future as he is accused of a crime and must stand trial.

Overall, Series 2, Episode 1 sets the stage for a dramatic and emotional season. The characters are all dealing with difficult issues, both personal and national, and the sense of impending doom is palpable as the war rages on. Fans of the show will be eager to see how the storylines unfold over the course of the season.