Downton Abbey

Everyone: it’s going to be all right, nothing bad can happen now because Downton Abbey is back. We can all take refuge in a version of the past where everyone knew their place and was jolly well grateful for it, too.

As we return, Matthew Crawley is going through hell on the battlefields of the Great War (“When I think of my life in Downton it seems like another world”), while back home in Yorkshire the decent, honourable Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) wants to fight but can’t, even though he’s dressed for it as Lord Lieutenant. “I will be in uniform a lot of the time in future; the Lord Lieut is responsible for the army in the county while the war is on.” (As always, Julian Fellowes’ dialogue is packed with exposition).

Downton’s ladies are nursing broken hearts. Sybil sniffles at bad news and wonders, “Sometimes it feels that all the men I have danced with are dead.” Crikey, are you that bad a dancer, love? Adding a sliver of ice is the splendid Dowager (Maggie Smith), on fine form appraising a newcomer: “I suppose looks aren’t everything.”