Downton Abbey: Episode 1.1

Downton Abbey: Episode 1.1
ITV
9 January 2011
Historical Drama
DVD
B-

Cast that we'll be seeing again:

• Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
• Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley
• Jim Carter as Charles Carson
• Brendan Coyle as John Bates
• Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
• Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley
• Siobhan Finneran as Sarah O'Brien
• Joanne Froggatt as Anna Smith
• Thomas Howes as William Mason
• Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow
• Rose Leslie as Gwen Dawson
• Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes
• Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
• Sophie McShera as Daisy Robinson
• Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore
• Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
• Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley
• Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley

Also, Peter Agnelli makes his first of seven uncredited appearances as a Villager, while Jonathan Coy would be George Murray seven times, but mostly in the third season.  Helen Sheals makes her first of five as the Postmistress, later credited as Mrs. Wigan.  Lionel would be back twice as Taylor.

Julian Fellowes wrote this and all the other episodes of the programme, while Brian Percival would direct five more.  Fellowes also wrote the movie Gosford Park, which I think is superior (including Maggie Smith's dialogue), but after a slow start, this grew on me.  This is set in 1912, with the heir to the title estate, and his son, dying on the Titanic, throwing everything into confusion, both upstairs and downstairs.