Victoria was a lavish production and an opener which is sure to bring back many viewers for the remainder of the episodes. It wasn't filmed or written in a way that was boring or tedious but kept up the right amount of info to make it watchable and wasn't loaded with historical facts to make it a documentary rather than a drama. As you know any production has its fair share of dramatic licence to make it more interesting.
From the news of William IV's death, which seemed to be relished by all at Kensington Place, even a smile on the 18 year old Victoria's (Jenna Coleman) face, as she realizes she is now queen. Though she knew she would be Queen one day, hence doll 123, as she later tells Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell) whom she affectionately calls "Lord M." Doll 123 was the one that she crowned when she found out the news. However as I was saying, she wasn't groomed for the part of being queen and educated in that extent. No protocols or royal rules, seems her mother, Duchess of Kent (Catherine Flemming) and Sir John Conroy (Paul Rhys) wanted her to be a 'puppet' queen, with them ruling the roost and telling her what to do. As will be seen in part 2, as they advocate for a regency by making her out to be 'unwell' in the head (putting it mildly) and unfit to rule. Mad like George III, whose son was regent due to his incapacity.
However she did show herself to be more independent, if naive and inexperienced in matters of court, state, decorum and diplomacy. Also falling and being enamoured of Melbourne, as really he was her first encounter with a man, she would be infatuated by him, having lived such a sheltered life. He who was married to Lady Caroline Lamb of Lord Byron fame.
Scandals at court with thinking Lady Flora Hastings (Alice Orr-Ewing) was with child and going ahead and getting her examined, more her heart desires, in hoping she could get rid of Conroy and convince her mother to do the same; rather than thinking with her head and again demonstrated her inexperience and not listening to Melbourne, even though she made him her private secretary. But at every turn she was under scrutiny and the move to Buckingham Home (as it was then called) still didn't help. Seems her 18 years should have been in preparation for this moment, as I said and yet there was always the doubt that others tried to place on her in preventing her from her own style of monarchy. Like changing her name to Elizabeth as Alexandrina wouldn't do. However Victoria was a typically English name.
At least we got a reprieve from the tension during the ads with the Sainsbury's 'ads', I mean the one with placing peaches on pizza, wouldn't do it myself, but it was probably peachy keen that they had a line about peaches in this episode too, where Victoria asks a dying Lay Flora if she'd like some peaches. "I am beyond peaches!"
Jenna Coleman was at her best with a mix of adolescent immaturity, to wanting power, but in the sense of doing things her way and perhaps learning from her mistakes, finally and to succeed on her own and desperately wanting her mother away from here, taking Conroy with her. Conroy was menacing as he lurked in every possible nook and cranny, as was the drama in the "downstairs" staff, selling off items from the palace, including her old gloves. The chemistry between Victoria and Melbourne was apparent, but of course we know from history this went nowhere. It was rather more an on screen chemistry here between Jenna and Rufus, who looked nowhere near like the real Melbourne. Also being let loose on the champagne at the coronation ball, choosing her own ladies in waiting, which have nothing to do with her height and finally learning how to salute the Household Cavalry. Hiding the pain and keeping a face of dignity in public.
Victoria was drama at its best and easily made up for the loss of Downton Abbey which we'd be getting pretty soon if it was still around! At least Melbourne got a city named after him in Victoria, Australia, now there's some sort of ironic connection there! Ha. So he wasn't as redundant as some people made him out to be. Don't you think the Whigs should've kept that party name? They had much more success with it back then. More so than the Liberals they became.
My sister mentioned how Jenna should've played Victoria in Doctor Who and that would've been the icing on the cake. Having a Clara in a different dimension who was such royalty, as Jenna once again hows she was not only superb as Clara Oswald, but excels as Victoria. We are amused..! Wonder how ratings will fare when Victoria goes up against the return of Poldark next Sunday.
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