The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) spent much of season 2 dishing out incredible one-liners — ''Don't be defeatist dear, it's terribly middle class" and ''Life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous'' — and scheming to bring Matthew and Mary together again. With her one aim of the last several years accomplished, Violet now faces a challenge as Cora's brassy American mother (Shirley MacLaine) will arrive at the estate in season 3.