Downton Abbey (TV Series) Episode #2.3 (2011) User Reviews

Downton Abbey becomes a hospital

[jpismyname · 9/10 · 20 December 2017]

Lady Cora and Mrs. Crawley clash as they run the beautiful estate turned convalescent home, and the Crawleys adjust to their new life and help the wounded. Anna locates Bates with the help of Lady Mary, who, meanwhile, finds it hard to reveal that she still loves Matthew.

Lady Edith is finally recognized for her good work, and I feel glad for her. Mrs. Crawley acts bossy, which annoys Lady Cora. Miss O'Brien still feels guilty for what she had done to Lady Cora, and she tries to make things right by making her mistress happy.

Thomas in charge? Not if Carson and Mrs. Hughes have their way!

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

History marches on as the war comes to Downton, turning it into a convalescent home and news of the Russian Czar and his family reaches England. At the suggestion of the continuously scheming O'Brien, Thomas is made manager and this upsets Isabel who expected to be in charge and puts him at odds with Carson and Mrs. Hughes who can't forget Thomas's previous actions. Pretty much the entire family participates, and it's up to Cora to keep Isabel in line. To be honest, Isabel does go a bit far, humorously for the audience and irritatingly so for the Crawley's.

Anna discovers that Bates is in the area and learns that the attempted reconciliation with Vera has been nothing but disaster. Tom discovers that he has been rejected by the army for a heart murmur. Mrs. Hughes worries about Ethel who dotes too much on a wounded officer. Mrs. Pathmore gives Daisy what for after finding out that Daisy wants to let William know she doesn't love him, giving us a hints of the tragedy to come.

Mary learns the truth about Lavinia, and makes a rare noble gesture which disturbs Granny and Aunt Rosamund's plans. Anna desperately tries to stop Branson from making a horrible mistake when she finds a note he dropped for Lady Subil. It's not what she or the rest of staff thinks though, yet a bit gross. War goes on, and so does the soap opera. Mary isn't too pleased by the general's announcement of who the unsung hero of Downton Abbey is, giving me a big hurrah at the end! Team Edith here, and always nice to see uppity Mary getting shot down even though her facade of nobility has both Carson and Anna fooled with her inner viciousness.

A Whole New Ballgame

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 2 August 2020]

As soldiers arrive, there is more conniving from Barrow and O'Brien. Mary continues to show real integrity as she gets to know Lavinia, who is no villain though treated like one. Branson continues to stir the pot with his socialist views, looking for trouble. Meanwhile, Grantham's new valet who has replaced Bates, Lang, is a shell shock victim and there are many moments of pain for him. Mrs. Pathmore gets some really sad news. And Anna also finds out something that will lead to a good deal of future drama.

Downton is a hospital??????

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 14 May 2022]

Downton is deep into aiding the WWI effort by converting its hallowed halls of the aristocracy into a convalescent hospital for wounded officers. Lady Grantham and Cousin Isobel Crawley are co-admins of this altruistic endeavor, and like two bulls locked at the horn, fought for power of its management, while daughters Ladies Mary, Edith and Sybil assist with caring for the recuperating soldiers. Mary, granny and Aunt Rosamund dig deeper into Matthew's fiancé Lavinia's background, while downstairs Mrs. Patmore pressures the scullery maid Daisy into accepting William's affections before he leaves for the front, and Anna and Bates are re-united when Lady Mary discovers him working in a pub in a nearby village. Matthew returns to Downton from the trenches and brings his "candle in the wind" fragile fiancé Lavinia to Downton where she reveals her past association with Mary's beau, Sir Richard Carlisle to her. Matthew departs for the front kissing his fiancé's hand while Lady Mary watches with regret. If she had not taken aunt Rosamund's advice and refused his first proposal, it could be her hand that he is honoring. Many of the residents of this stately grand manor house are contemplating their place at Downton. It appears that everyone, but saintly housemaid Anna and former valet Mr. Bates, had their knickers in a knot: cat fight showdowns, begrudged departures, revelations about beaus, scheming, plotting, and skullduggery galore, loved ones missing in action, sex in the storeroom, and a shocking final reveal. Even granny, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, was in competition for some of the best zingers of the night. Phew. I am breathless by it all. What was so enthralling about this episode was the amount of new information, new twists, and resolutions we were fed. I felt like I was at a carb loading party before a marathon. Just when one thinks that the plots is bursting at the seams with drama and pathos, screenwriter Julian Fellowes adds another layer.