In addition to the beautiful story that relate this charming series, I chose it also because it picked up some historical events that takes us back in time; and in the second season of the series we are served. It opened on a war setting, that announced the beginning of the first world war which has totally change the lives of the inhabitants, furthermore; the house is going to be transformed into a hospital and its gentlemen into soldiers and army agents, and its ladies to tender nurses.so how much does this war affect our dear characters? And does it change anything in the relation they had between each other (mainly downstairs, and upstairs relation)?

In 1916 the war blew up in Europe, and men has to enlist in the army; whatever their society class, Mathew crawly as the first episode of second season had shown, became an Officer on the front, he is now equal to the other, no classes matter, they are all in the same situation, fitting for the same ground; Thomas and William joined the war too, very horrible things happened there.

To sum up, Thomas has as usual find a way to save his neck, he gets injured on purpose in order to be sent home, William and Mathew fought courageously but they unfortunately get injured together at war. Matthew suffers a back injury that means he will likely never walk (or perform, shall we say, husbandly duties) again!  And William died peacefully after his marriage with Daisy who did not want to marry him but did it because he was dying.

In the house lot of things have changed too, starting with the décor, the small country hospital due to not enough room for all the recovering officers, Lady Grantham is approached by Isobel Crawley and Dr. Clarkson about turning Downtown Abbey into a convalescent home, and it is what happened, Cora is resistant, but the entire family is persuaded to help any way they can, and offering their home seems to be the best solution.

This shakes up the roles of both family and staff, but everyone get involved in this humanitarian aid; starting with Sybil, who went to a nursing school and become a nurse to help the injured soldiers, Mary, Edith and the servants provided assistance too. And we can mention that somehow this war has unify them and give to downtown abbey a more realistic image than in the first season which was more superficial in my point of view.

However; romance had been also present in this second chapter, and disillusion as well, mainly to poor Mary who had been announced that Matthew is now engaged to a young woman named Lavinia Swire, and it is not everything, not yet! Lady Edith’s fumbling lead in the romance department (it’s really not wise to set your sights on someone who’s already married), Lady Mary hooks up with Sir Richard Carlisle although it seems like more of a business proposition than a romance. Especially when he offers to cover up her indiscretion. And Sybil finds herself falling for chauffer Tom Branson, which is not at all befitting a lady of her status.

Ahh what a passionate season! Full of suspense and romantic intrigue, still the only good news we receive this season is that the war is over.so what next!