The Return of Downton Abbey: Never A Dull Moment

Downton Abbey: It's Back! Tune in to PBS Sundays at 9, on Masterpiece Classics.I am one of the few, the proud, the viewers who waited to watch the second season of "Downton Abbey" on PBS, and I am so glad I did. The reward of anticipation was great, and I loved it (all while screaming at the television). There has been a great deal of discussion on the internets over whether or not the second season is as good as the first, most of which says it's not, but I really don't care. It's better than so much dreck out there that even at its worst, it's compulsively watchable.

Lots of twists and turns take place in the two-hour premiere of season two--we come in two years after the last episode, and the Great War is in full swing. Matthew's in the trenches, as is Thomas (albeit temporarily); O'Brien's still up to her dirty tricks, all the while acting like Mrs. Danvers; Anna and Bates are happy and madly in love, but of course you KNOW that can't last. Sybil and Edith both step out of their social positions to take on honest work, while Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes stubbornly cling to their own places as loyal servants.

I do wish Gwen had shown up--she's the servant who Sybil helps get a job as a secretary in season one. I suppose she's gone for good, but there's plenty of other good stuff to be had. And the first hour of the show was almost pleasant due to the absence of Thomas, who alas had to return to simultaneously wreak havoc and elicit sympathy. It's unfortunate that the only gay person (to my knowledge) on the show is a mean-spirited coward.

And Mary--oh, Mary. You cause so much conflict within me. Do I want you with Matthew? And who is this Lavinia woman Matthew is engaged to, and what's her secret? And if Mary does end up with Matthew, will she kill him in the sack the way she did that Turkish diplomat? Only time will tell. And only time will bring more delicious lines from Violet Crawley, whose perfect delivery of, "What is this 'driving' mania?" brought me almost as much joy as perhaps the Best Line of All Time from Anything, Ever: "What is a weekend?"

Check out last night's premiere below.

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 2: Episode 1 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.