No sooner had the series opener ended, ITV was back with Part 2 for the Bank Holiday and this didn't disappoint, though it seemed a little slow in places. Such as the downstairs staff getting up to their usual shenanigans to earn an extra shilling or two. Especially with Penge (Adrian Schiller) seeing it as another money making opportunity when the gas instalment doesn't go according to plan. Especially when rats fall from the walls and obviously Victoria (Jenna Coleman) hates rats. Inadvertently this was fodder for Cumberland (Peter Firth) and Conroy (Paul Rhys) to plot some more to have her certified and for a royal regent as Cumberland hastens to add, to be appointed. Things almost go that way when Melbourne (Rufus Sewell) informs Victoria of a vote in Parliament to end slavery in Jamaica, with Victoria thinking slavery had been abolished.
Even though the Whigs win, narrowly, with the Tories still advocating for slavery to remain otherwise the economy will suffer, Melbourne is adamant he will lose next time and thus he resigns as her PM. She takes this very hard and to heart and thrashes about in the rain with her umbrella, with her mother telling her she should look to Conroy at every opportunity. But she refuses. She thinks the Duke of Wellington (Peter Bowles) should be PM but he refuses on the grounds of age. However he puts forward Robert Peel (Nigel Lindsay). A man she instantly dislikes, as Wellington says later, he doesn't have the charm of Melbourne. Wellington even advises Peel to flirt with her when Victoria refuses him in wanting to appoint at least one or two Tory ladies in waiting.
Victoria puts her foot down, as she will have no friends and doesn't want spies. He wants her to show no favouritism towards her government, whichever party they're from and maintain a distinction between crown and parliament. However she thinks if she holds out long enough, she will get back her confidante and friend, Melbourne. He advises her the same in that she cannot refuse Peel and his wishes as he has every right to ask her to meet that request. Lady Emma Portman (Anna Wilson-Jones) offers to leave but Victoria insists her plan will work. As she also sits for a royal portrait for her birthday.
Penge decides the gas must go and uses the rat infestation in the most heinous way possible by telling the Baroness (Daniela Holtz) it will cost to get a rat catcher and that there's no use meddling in the 'natural order' and the gas needs to go. Mrs Jenkins (Eve Myles) burns her hand whilst attempting to light a lamp and Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) gives Miss Skerrett (Nell Hudson) some ice for her hand, there's an ice room in the palace. He also is intrigued by where she goes at night and follows her, pretty sure he's seen her face before. When she's accosted he realizes she's from Ma Fletcher's nunnery, a place of ill reputation and wonders how someone like her could've gotten work at the place. Francatelli "never forgets a face" and one would ask why he's so well informed of such a place. Creep!
Cumberland and Conroy feel they have a case against Victoria after she screams in hysterics when she spies rats on her birthday cake. Cumberland adding his grandfather had hallucinations. Her reaction was OTT as Conroy tells him. She informs her physician she is fine and summons Melbourne to court. However he still refuses to form a ministry for her as he must do what is right and uphold the constitution, which he so vehemently believes in. Victoria still has problems with her mother, Duchess of Kent (Catherine Flemming) undermining her and wanting Conroy to help her. Since he is the only one she has. Of course, adding Victoria doesn't love her. "Who's fault is that?" Victoria replies. Her mother giving her a copy of Shakespeare's King Lear with the passage about an ungrateful child underlined.
Wellington informs Melbourne of Cumberland and Conroy's plan and tells him he's the only one who can act since she won't accept a government headed by anyone else. As she attempts to unveil her portrait, the rope gets stuck and she can't do it. Melbourne helps her saying he will form a ministry if she asks him too. Leaving viewers to watch Melbourne some more. Baroness Lehzen decides not to have gas installed and the staff get their way. But Melbourne broke her heart and as she said also forsaking her when he practically walked out as her PM. I mean it was barbaric in leaving her to fend for herself when vultures were swarming overhead ever since she became queen.
It was a little funny when she complained of her chin on the coin (Doctor Eleven (Matt Smith) in Doctor Who was always getting comments and criticisms about his chin! ha) Another tantrum to add to her list of many. Liked her purple dress though!
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