"Downton Abbey" Season 5 opens in 1924 when the Labour party is in power. The aristocrats are uncomfortable seeing that the prime minister comes from a working class. The change in the political climate and in the society's outlook is seen when a committee, planning the building of a war memorial, asks Robert Crawley to give them the land to build it on, however they do not want him to chair the committee. They are looking at his butler Mr Carson to hold the position of the chairman. The decreasing influence of aristocrats and the growing clout of the working class are likely to be explored more in this season of "Downton Abbey."

If Mr Carson is uncomfortable with the wind of change, someone like Daisy is hoping for a better future and a new life. She wants to be prepared for it. However, she struggles with her studies. She will continue to struggle in episode 2 and Mrs Patmore is likely to come with a solution that may prove to be a "chink of light" in Daisy's life. According to the description of the episode, it is Mrs Patmore who "comes up with an idea that might solve everything."

The episode 2 of Season 5, according to the official description, will be picking up the developments of the premiere episode and take it further. If some thought that Barrow would not trouble Baxter anymore, after she told Cora Crawley about her dark past, then they were wrong. The official description says, "Thomas meanwhile continues his bullying of Baxter, doing his best to ruin things for him at the house if she doesn't play his game -- and it looks like he could even mess up her friendship with Molesley too, if he continues." It is possible that he is seeing his position in the house as a permanent one after he saved Edith's life.

The description suggests that Mary is likely to go away with Lord Gillingham, so that they could know everything about each other as lovers, without telling anyone, except Anna. "Mary puts her reputation on the line, making Anna a reluctant accomplice," according to the description of episode 2.

In the final moments of Episode 1 of "Downton Abbey" Season 2, Robert caught Lady Anstruther and Jimmy in a compromising position. He has given the orders to fire Jimmy but the description says, "following what happened the night before, Robert is left with a very difficult decision."

And, according to the official description of Episode 2, "Rose's attention is on a slightly more light-hearted issue, meanwhile, as she does her best to present the benefits of having a wireless at Downton."

"Downton Abbey" Season 5 Episode 1 saw 8.43 million viewers tuning in to watch the episode in U.K.