Library Journal Review

When last we left Masterpiece Classic's Downton Abbey at the close of Season 1, England had just joined World War I and a number of plot lines were left hanging ("Best Video 2011," LJ 1/12, p. 44-45). Viewers of Season 2 will not be disappointed. The crisis of the Great War and its aftermath dominate the action. Downton provides manpower on the fighting field from both upstairs and down, with the rest of the family rising to the occasion. They turn their sumptuous mansion into a convalescent home, although Carson, the butler, still fusses over serving dinner with no footmen! What makes this series so enthralling is the evolving characters, their relationships with one another, and their responses to the inevitable societal changes brought about by the war. As well, it is never predictable. PBS has tackled this period in English history before, but never better than in this Emmy Award-winning series. Bonus features include a close-up on the fashion and uniforms used in the program. VERDICT An excellent cast, which includes the wise and witty Maggie Smith, and a first-rate production make this a series for every public library patron. Downton Abbey is about as perfect as television drama gets.-Joan -Greenberg, Warminster, PA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.