Downton Abbey - Get the DVD or Blu Ray

I received the Downton Abbey Season 2 DVD set today, two weeks before the finale episode would air on PBS and I can't wait to sit down and finish the series tonight at home. The DVD is pretty similar to the first edition with 3 discs and the cover looks almost the same, except many of the male cast is in uniform and their are even more cast members. The special features listed are few: Fashion & Uniforms, Romance in a Time of War & House to Hospital. Which I assume are mini behind the scenes look or photo montages. I expect after the series is completely over they will release extended DVDs or a Blu-Ray set with additional special features since the series is so popular.

I just watched the entire first season of Downton Abbey again to prepare for series 2. I think I enjoyed it more the second time around, so it's definitely a movie that I enjoy owning on DVD. Although it seems to be more of a television series now with the seasons coming out and each part labeled as "episodes". Season 2 began airing on PBS every Sunday night on January 8th 2012 in the U.S. If you missed it, you can check out PBS for re-airing times now!

This lens does NOT contain spoilers. But I will say I enjoyed season 2, but not quite as much as the first mini-series. I don't like war mixed in with my period movies, but once that was over, I did like the end of series 2 and the Christmas special. I can't wait for series 3 to come out, which will probably be a least another year, since the last information I read was that it was still being written and the Downton Abbey writer is working on a new Titanic series right now. If you can't wait for series 3, check out these Free Downton Abbey Printable Paper Dolls and act out your own costume drama at home. (these would be cute for little girls who are a fan of the show, or mature ladies as well!)

I do not want to ruin either season of the mini series if you haven't seen it yet, that's why I just provide basic info here on this page!

Don't worry, more Downton Abbey is on it's way!

Watch Downton Abbey on Netflix, episode 1-6 of the full unedited UK version is available to watch instantly and you can sign up and get a free month: Get started with Netflix

All the movie versions that you can buy or watch online are the full version of the original uncut UK version so you won't miss anything.

Downton Abbey is also available for download on itunes and Amazon's instant streaming movies, so if you prefer to get your movies that way, check it out!

Who are the cast and characters in the mini series? The series has had a total of 33 main characters with their own storyline during the course of the show so far. That is a lot of people to keep track of!

The Aristocrats:

* Robert, Earl off Grantham played by Hugh Bonneville
* Cora, Countess of Grantham played by Elizabeth Mcgovern
* Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, matriarch of the family played by Dame Maggie Smith
* Lady Mary Crawley, the oldest daughter, played by Michelle Dockery
* Lady Edith Crawley, the middle daughter, played by Laura Carmichael
* Lady Sybil Crawley, the youngest daughter, played by Jessica Brown-Findlay

The "New" Rich:

* Isobel Crawley played by Pennelope Wilton
* Matthew Crawley played by Dan Stevens

The Servants:

* Mr Carson, the Butler, played by Jim Carter
* Mrs. Hughes, the Housekeeper, played by Phyllis Logan
* John Bates, Lord Grantham's Injured Valet played by Brendan Coyle
* O'Brien, Lady's Maid played by Siobhan Finneran
* Mrs. Patmore, the Cook, played by Lesley Nicol
* Thomas, First Footman, played by Rob James-Collier
* Anna, Head Housemaid, played by Joanne Froggatt
* Daisy, Scullery Maid, played by Sophie Mcshera
* William, second Footman, played by Thomas Howes
* Gwen, Housemaid, played by Rose Leslie
* Branson, Chauffeur, played by Allen Leech

New Characters in Season 2:
* Sir Richard Carlisle, Self-made man in the Newspaper industry, played by Iain Glen
* Lang, New Staff, Valet, played by Cal Macaninch
* Vera Bates, wife of John Bates, played by Maria Doyle Kennedy
* Lavinia Swire, daughter of a London solicitor, actress Zoe Boyle
* Ethel Parks, Housemaid, cast member Amy Nuttall
* Doctor Clarkson appeared in season 1, but has a larger role due to the war, played by David Robb
New Characters in the Christmas Special:
* Lord Hepworth, guest at Downton during Christmas, played by Nigel Havers
* Marigold Shore, Lady's Maid to Lady Rosamund Painswick, played by Sharon Small

Downton Abbey, Season Two originally aired on PBS in the United States on January 8, 2012.

Series two has aired in the U.K. and was met with mixed reviews. Some saying the writing seemed rushed and plot points were a bit unrealistic. It aired in 8 part episodes on ITV.

In the U.K. there will also be a Christmas Special that takes place after Series 2 from Christmas Eve 1919 to shortly after New Year, 1920. We will see a glimpse into how the Crowley family celebrates the holidays. It seems like they are saving up material for a future 3rd series that is in the works, since the 2nd series did as well with viewers as the first one did.

News on series 2 new cast member Amy Nuttall From seductress to housemaid Ethel. She is said to play a new housemaid who is not popular among the rest of the servants because she speaks before she thinks.

More information on Season 2 of the series.
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Season 2 of Downton Abbey starts in 1916 during the midst of the first world war. Things are changing during this time period and the divide between the upper and lower classes is becoming murky. All able bodied men join the military to fight for their country and those left behind in service are starting to question their life work and if service is really a worthwhile occupation. All the characters will develop and grow due to the onset of war. There will also be some new love interest (think military officers!) Highclere Castle (the house that is used as Downton Abbey) was a military hospital during WWI and it will be so in Downton Abbey Series 2.

Other new cast members include: Lachlan Nieboer, Zoe Boyle and Daniel Pirrie.

The house that played the role of Downton Abbey, is Highclere Castle in Highclere Park, Newbury RG20 9RN, United Kingdom. The inside of the castle were actually used for the main rooms in the film. Highclere is currently owned and lived in, but you can visit and take a tour if you are ever in England. Fans of the show will soon be able to take a seven-day tour around Oxfordshire, England to visit filming locations used in the series including Highclere Castle.

The website for the castle is http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/

NO! It was an original screenplay writen by Academy Award winner - Julian Fellowers (Gosford Park - Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 2002). Watch this interview on YouTube with writer / creator Julian Fellowes 'Downton Abbey' Interview. He starts out speaking about the inspiration that Highclere Castle had as the setting for the entire series. They used all the principle interiors in the house. His favorite rooms are the library and the great hall.

Julian Fellowes is set to start a new TV series based on the Titanic. You can read about the four part mini series based on the Titanic.

Jean March, co-creator of Upstairs Downstairs says: "Hackles were raised when Marsh suggested that Downton Abbey, one of the unexpected hits of the year, was a thinly-disguised facsimile of the original Upstairs, Downstairs, which ran from 1971 to 1975 and has been watched by an estimated 1 billion people worldwide."

Congrats for Downton Abbey being up for 4 Golden Globe nominations in 2012 and winning the golden globe for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television!

Cast nominations include:

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Maggie Smith as Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Elizabeth McGovern for playing wife of the Earl of Grantham

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Hugh Bonneville as The Earl of Grantham

I hope the future seasons will get nominated as well.