Downton Abbey

2010 • ITV
4.6
895 reviews
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (7)

1 Episode One
9/26/10
Season-only
New series set in an Edwardian Country House in 1912 following the lives of the Crawley family and their servants. The sinking of the Titanic leaves Downton Abbey's future in jeopardy. However, the eldest daughter, Mary is quick to put her intended marriage behind her and move on. The arrival of the new valet, John Bates, shocks the servants and O'Brien and Thomas scheme to make his stay at Downton as short-lived as possible.
2 Episode Two
10/3/10
Season-only
Everyone is anxious at the arrival of Matthew Crawley, the heir presumptive, and his mother, Isobel. Matthew encounters problems settling in to this new life whilst Isobel and Violet are immediately at daggers drawn. Carson is mortified to be confronted with his past and Gwen seems to have a secret correspondent.
3 Episode Three
10/10/10
Season-only
Mary is instantly attracted to handsome Turkish attaché, Kemal Pamuk. However, their romance is cut brutally short, sending ripples of unease through the house. No one is more interested than O'Brien in Pamuk's movements. Gwen is humiliated when her secret is exposed. Bates goes to extreme lengths to cure his limp.
4 Episode Four
10/17/10
Season-only
The fair arrives in the village and Mrs Hughes finds herself the centre of speculation when she meets a former suitor who makes her question her position at Downton. Violet and Isobel are in conflict over a medical ailment affecting Molesley. Elsewhere, Carson fears there is a thief at Downton.
5 Episode Five
10/24/10
Season-only
The village is preparing for its annual flower show. Isobel and Violet are in conflict over Violet's long-held Best Bloom title. Mary is introduced to a potential suitor, Sir Anthony Strallan, yet she appears to be more interested in Matthew. A valuable snuff box goes missing and Mrs Patmore tearfully reveals her fears to Carson that her career may be coming to an end. O'Brien engineers a way for Edith to be revenged on Mary.
6 Episode Six
10/31/10
Season-only
Sybil's political aspirations land her in trouble. Matthew and Mary's relationship takes an unexpected twist whilst the question of the wine thief is brought to a head with a shocking revelation by Bates. Edith may have found an admirer at last. Branson is more lovesick than ever.
7 Episode Seven
11/7/10
Season-only
Cora's news throws Matthew's future into jeopardy and makes Mary question the proposal. Thomas finds a new future for himself and so does Gwen. But Mary, by her lack of decision, may have lost hers. A grand garden party at Downton brings events to a head, but all this pales into insignificance in the face of Robert's shock announcement.

About this show

The costume drama series, Downton Abbey, written and created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, stars Academy Award-winner Maggie Smith as a Dowager Countess of an Edwardian English country house in 1912. The series portrays the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them, in a time before the last vestige of century's old tradition were stripped away by World War and the modern age. The all star cast also includes Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
895 reviews
Abacab
October 22, 2014
Old story lines, poor acting and terrible lazy directing! If the writer has no more good ideas then please stop making this programme it should have finished on a high because the latest season is terrible. There is virtually no plots or decent new story to keep veiwers interest. We are not fools so please do not keep regurgitating old weary plots from the past we want NEW things to keep us viewing. Poor poor poor from a disappointed Downton fan.
27 people found this review helpful
Eleanor Clark
January 14, 2017
Starts off amazing but after seasons one and two the writing gets trashy and lazy. Many characters are killed off, or written out. The character development is poor and it soon becomes clear that they are mostly just plot devices. The story lines go round in circles. I would watch the first two series but the rest aren't worth it particularly as time moves too quickly and many historical facts and details about ages etc. get skipped over.
20 people found this review helpful
Sandra Adams
September 21, 2015
Excellent costume Drama set from 1912 onwards about The Earl of Grantham, the rest of the Crawley family, his wife, 3 daughters & his mother the Dowager Countess, as well as the staff of the Abby. Loved this series right from the start, very well acted, it was like being there watching them living their lives. I will be sad when the final series ends.
7 people found this review helpful