Sunday, March 5, 2017

TV: Victoria (2016)****

Let me just start with the fact that I thought the last episode of this season was fantastic. It felt like a totally different director than the rest of the episodes, but it turns out the same director handled episodes 6, 7 and 8.

So, honestly, I'm a sucker for good love stories and the story of Victoria and Albert is pretty darn good. There was a movie, Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend and the chemistry between Blunt and Friend can't hold a candle to Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes, who are real-life lovers.

Not only did they have great on-screen chemistry, but I enjoyed their portrayals of the characters. But don't you go to the bathroom during the other characters' screen time! I also enjoyed the side stories of Mr. Francatelli and Ms. Skerret; The push and pull between the butler Mr. Penge and Baroness Lehzen and British Government as a character.

Victoria opens on the princess, confined to Kensington Palace, discovering that she is now the Queen of England. A teenage girl now has to learn how to be queen, decide who she can trust, and most importantly, marry and produce an heir to the throne. That's a lot of pressure when all you want to do is enjoy your new freedom. She is pressured to give her cousin Albert a try and it turns out he's the one. They get married and together they navigate the political and social sharks.

Awesome acting moment: In the last episode, during Victoria's confinement aka labor,Victoria (Jenna Coleman) looks to her left and right, trying to gather strength from the eyes of the people who are closest to her, and in her face you can see the fear of childbirth, but the resolve that there is nothing else to do, but to push.

I'm giving Victoria four stars ****. I can very easily watch this over and over, it is another beautiful Masterpiece production, the acting befits the amount they spent on the production and I want an opportunity to group hug with Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes. Waiting patiently for my chance.


This series aired on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre in 2017.

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