Meet the Villains of 'Downton Abbey'

Season 2 of "Downton Abbey" finally comes to PBS on Jan. 8. After such a long wait, it is time to reacquaint yourself with the villains of the first season.

O'Brien, Lady's Maid
Despite her senior position as lady's maid, O'Brien is resentful of her job, coworkers and the Crawleys. Coarse and self-serving, she regularly conspires with Thomas, but unlike him, she has a glimmer of conscience.

She mistakenly thinks Cora is replacing her and grows increasingly angry. She purposely leaves a broken piece of soap outside of the tub while Cora bathes. She rethinks her actions, but Cora falls before O'Brien can intervene. The fall causes Cora to miscarry her much-anticipated son. O'Brien is genuinely sorry for the accident and looks even more horrified after realizing Cora never planned to replace her.

Will regret soften her disposition or will it fuel more bad choices?

Thomas, First Footman
Another staffer who doesn't share the servant's camaraderie, Thomas is completely self-serving and pursues a promotion at Downton Abbey or elsewhere. He blackmails visiting Duke Crowbrough by threatening to reveal their summer tryst. The duke foils his attempt and refuses to hire him as valet. Thomas later misreads another prestigious guest, Kemal Pamuk, attaché to the Turkish Embassy, and makes a pass at him.

Angry that newcomer Bates is Downton Abbey's newest valet, he conspires with Daisy and O'Brien to get Bates fired. His plan ultimately fails, but drives Bates to jeopardize his job by revealing his past as a drunk and criminal. After tormenting the staff, Thomas secures a new job prospect and submits his resignation.

Is Thomas gone for good? Will he find a way to blackmail the inhabitants of Downton Abbey?

Lady Edith Crawley
Edith is somewhat lost in the Crawley family and lives up to the middle child stereotype. Her elder sister Mary receives most of her mother's attention as she desperately tries to find a husband before Mary's fickle attitude and fast nature dissuade all suitors. Younger sister Sybil is clearly her father's favorite. Edith is an afterthought and well aware of her status after hearing her mother compare her to Mary.

During the first episode of Season 1, the Crawleys learn that Robert and Patrick, Mary's fiancé, perished on the Titanic. Mary can hardly muster any semblance of mourning because she is thrilled to be free from the impending marriage. Edith is utterly inconsolable because she loved Patrick. Both are contentious over the behavior of the other.

Their rift grows as Cora ignores Edith and delivers a parade of eligible bachelors to Mary, who toys with their affections until she grows bored. She tries to connect with Matthew after Mary rebuffs him, but he is unimpressed. Later, Edith proudly attracts Sir Anthony Strallan after Mary rejects him. Using her beauty and charm, Mary wins him back to spite Edith.

Edith retaliates by sending a letter to the Turkish Ambassador in London. Although rumors of Mary's indiscretion with Kemal spread among high society in London, the plan backfires as Cora fervently tries to find a husband for Mary. After learning that Sir Anthony plans to propose to Edith, Mary pretends to make a harmless comment to him. He changes his mind because he thinks Edith will decline.

Will scorned Edith continue to up the ante in her rivalry with Mary?