A Very English Scandal: Season 1, Episode 3 (B+)
This was by far the least entertaining of the three installments, and understandably so, with even the show’s cheery theme slowed down to feel more dramatic as the trial went on. Though this story was framed as a comedy, it was actually a serious ordeal, one that demonized homosexuality and which, at least the way it’s portrayed in this realization, didn’t serve justice at all for the man whose life was nearly ended by order of one Jeremy Thorpe. The most poignant scene was when Thorpe’s lawyer sat with him and told him that he had similar indulgences but couldn’t understand why he’d go for a man like Scott and we saw flashes of the instances in which Thorpe wasn’t the one in power but instead the victim of violence and abuse. Watching his career slowly tank with his second-place finish and gradual removal from politics demonstrated that this case really did ruin him even if he was found innocent and celebrated it like a major victory. This project clearly aimed to show Scott in the more positive light, with the real Scott appearing at the end, still without his national insurance card. Going into this show, I knew nothing of Jeremy Thorpe’s career or this very scandalous affair that led to the trial that ended his career, and in just three hours this show managed to both inform and entertain me greatly. Ben Whishaw and Alex Jennings were both superb, but it’s Hugh Grant who deserves the most praise for a tremendous performance as Thorpe.
Series grade: A-
Series MVP: Hugh Grant
Showing posts with label A Very English Scandal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Very English Scandal. Show all posts
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Friday, July 20, 2018
Round Two: A Very English Scandal
A Very English Scandal: Season 1, Episode 2 (B+)
This second installment was a fine follow-up to the first, continuing along the story in the same buoyant fashion. I love that Jeremy started casually talking to Peter about where to dispose of the body the moment they stepped out of a heated Parliament session, never letting up on just how much he wants to happen even if the people he’s relying on to get it done are determined to stall so that eventually he’ll forget all about it. The moment that Jeremy actually saw Norman right in front of him riding a horse made clear that he’s never going to let it go, and the way that this hour ended cemented Jeremy’s closing threat from the first installment and made sure that, even if he wasn’t the one who (tried to) pull the trigger, Jeremy is going to go down for his act of attempted murder. There exists such a disparity between the life experiences of Jeremy and Norman, no starker than in how they respond to the deaths of the women closest to them. We didn’t see Jeremy cry for a moment, and instead he invoked the car crash as a way of baiting a political nemesis who tried and failed to take him down. Norman seemed genuinely horrified, and he’s fighting as hard as he can to stay on the right path after getting beat down by those well aware of both his sexual orientation and his addiction. Norman’s insistence while reporting on his affair with Jeremy on his status as a lover rather merely a footnote in his story was interesting, signifying the strength of the connection that goes far beyond simple tabloid fare.
This second installment was a fine follow-up to the first, continuing along the story in the same buoyant fashion. I love that Jeremy started casually talking to Peter about where to dispose of the body the moment they stepped out of a heated Parliament session, never letting up on just how much he wants to happen even if the people he’s relying on to get it done are determined to stall so that eventually he’ll forget all about it. The moment that Jeremy actually saw Norman right in front of him riding a horse made clear that he’s never going to let it go, and the way that this hour ended cemented Jeremy’s closing threat from the first installment and made sure that, even if he wasn’t the one who (tried to) pull the trigger, Jeremy is going to go down for his act of attempted murder. There exists such a disparity between the life experiences of Jeremy and Norman, no starker than in how they respond to the deaths of the women closest to them. We didn’t see Jeremy cry for a moment, and instead he invoked the car crash as a way of baiting a political nemesis who tried and failed to take him down. Norman seemed genuinely horrified, and he’s fighting as hard as he can to stay on the right path after getting beat down by those well aware of both his sexual orientation and his addiction. Norman’s insistence while reporting on his affair with Jeremy on his status as a lover rather merely a footnote in his story was interesting, signifying the strength of the connection that goes far beyond simple tabloid fare.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Pilot Review: A Very English Scandal
A Very English Scandal (Amazon)
Premiered June 29
There are many different ways to tell a story. Doing so through present-set conversations interrupted by flashbacks to key events is a very common one employed, and it can quickly become tiring if it’s not used properly. But there are cases in which it’s exactly right, and for this three-part BBC One miniseries available on Amazon Prime, it’s perfect. Where it proves most helpful is in covering a lot of material in a short period of time, with this first installment, running less than an hour, managing to paint an incredible portrait of its protagonist. Hugh Grant has been back in the spotlight lately after a successful career in the early 1990s and 2000s, and previously bounced back after his own public relations incident following an arrest for having sex with a prostitute. He has received accolades for his performances in “Florence Foster Jenkins” and “Paddington 2,” and the role of Jeremy Thorpe as written here is one he seems born to play. The way he speaks matches the tone and meter of this show, which is assisted by a wondrously buoyant score that makes this story extremely entertaining. Alex Jennings, who played the Duke of Winsdor on “The Crown,” is a great scene partner for Grant as Peter, who helped him suppress much of this scandal, and Ben Whishaw, who voiced Paddington and appeared in many films including “The Lobster,” does a great job making Norman into just the kind of person who could fall completely in love with this JT before spiraling out of control and becoming a total liability. I didn’t expect to want to continue with this show, but given its energetic pacing and sharp editing, I think I can stick around for two more episodes to find out how it all plays out.
How will it work as a series? Both men were involved in serious relationships with women that weren’t going well for different reasons, Jeremy’s because he is, as he says, 80% gay, and Norman because of his dependence on drugs and alcohol. Norman calling Jeremy’s wife to demand his insurance card means things are going to fall apart quickly, especially considering Jeremy’s response to those events, which should be plenty interesting and thrilling.
How long will it last? Reviews seem to be pretty good, and I think that Amazon audiences will want to watch both because of Grant’s involvement and because of this saga’s historical nature. Regardless, I think the whole story is told within these three parts, and therefore this is one of those rare miniseries that just won’t continue beyond its initial order unless there’s another similarly English scandal to be spotlighted.
Pilot grade: B+
Premiered June 29
There are many different ways to tell a story. Doing so through present-set conversations interrupted by flashbacks to key events is a very common one employed, and it can quickly become tiring if it’s not used properly. But there are cases in which it’s exactly right, and for this three-part BBC One miniseries available on Amazon Prime, it’s perfect. Where it proves most helpful is in covering a lot of material in a short period of time, with this first installment, running less than an hour, managing to paint an incredible portrait of its protagonist. Hugh Grant has been back in the spotlight lately after a successful career in the early 1990s and 2000s, and previously bounced back after his own public relations incident following an arrest for having sex with a prostitute. He has received accolades for his performances in “Florence Foster Jenkins” and “Paddington 2,” and the role of Jeremy Thorpe as written here is one he seems born to play. The way he speaks matches the tone and meter of this show, which is assisted by a wondrously buoyant score that makes this story extremely entertaining. Alex Jennings, who played the Duke of Winsdor on “The Crown,” is a great scene partner for Grant as Peter, who helped him suppress much of this scandal, and Ben Whishaw, who voiced Paddington and appeared in many films including “The Lobster,” does a great job making Norman into just the kind of person who could fall completely in love with this JT before spiraling out of control and becoming a total liability. I didn’t expect to want to continue with this show, but given its energetic pacing and sharp editing, I think I can stick around for two more episodes to find out how it all plays out.
How will it work as a series? Both men were involved in serious relationships with women that weren’t going well for different reasons, Jeremy’s because he is, as he says, 80% gay, and Norman because of his dependence on drugs and alcohol. Norman calling Jeremy’s wife to demand his insurance card means things are going to fall apart quickly, especially considering Jeremy’s response to those events, which should be plenty interesting and thrilling.
How long will it last? Reviews seem to be pretty good, and I think that Amazon audiences will want to watch both because of Grant’s involvement and because of this saga’s historical nature. Regardless, I think the whole story is told within these three parts, and therefore this is one of those rare miniseries that just won’t continue beyond its initial order unless there’s another similarly English scandal to be spotlighted.
Pilot grade: B+
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