Downton Abbey Season 3 Sneak Peek

Cast photo from ITV.com

ITV has released the new cast photo for the third season of Downton Abbey.  The new season, which is set in 1920, is supposed to air in the UK next month (though I can't find an official date) and in January 2013 in the States.

I am SO looking forward to the costumes of this season. I mean, look at Mary's dress in the photo above....swoon!!  The chiffon, the lace, the shoes, the beading!!!

So apparently this season is going to see a birth (Sybil's baby?), a marriage (Matthew and Mary--looking forward to the gown!) a death (eep, wonder who?), and a mother-in-law (Shirley MacLaine as Cora's mother).  I'm really looking forward to the scenes between Shirley MacLaine and Dame Maggie Smith.

Some more gossip from the Downton Abbey Wiki include O'Brien and Thomas having a falling out, Branson having a hard time with his in-laws (though we could definitely see that one coming...), a subplot around Catholicism (perhaps involving Branson), and Lady Mary learning to drive...

Who are you most excited to see again?  What storyline do you want to see develop??