Trouble in paradise with Victoria (Jenna Coleman) and Albert (Tom Hughes) then as they argue over the children, her being here when she wants to be in London and with Palmerston (Laurence Fox). With Feo (Kate Fleetwood) interfering as much as possible to ensure there is a drift between them. After the excursion to Osborne House which Albert designed himself and the library room, which Palmerston refers to as "cosy" Victoria also finds herself warming to Palmerston, if she did indeed. After attempting to take a swim in the freezing old sea with Palmerston arriving to see her 'beached' so to speak. Really you'd think they would have protocols and rules of just anyone turning up willy nilly out of nowhere on the beach. It is an island after all, but how safe is that.
Albert and PM Russell (John Sessions) exchange unpleasantries about Palmerston and they don't like him, however Russell would have him on his side rather than across the bench with the riff raff hecklers of the rival party. Nothing changed in Parliament then! Palmerston has invited the Hungarian Lajos Kossuth (Simon Gregor) to speak and is having dinner with him. However Victoria doesn't want him here as there's growing descent over his "regicide" talk. However Palmerston insists on it. As well as him wanting to get it on with Sophie (Lily Travers) who is enamoured with him and also wants his attention. Starved for love, as they might call it. However he's not everything he seems to be, as Emma (Anna Wilson-Jones) tells him. She doesn't want him seeing Sophie or dallying with her since it would be a repeat of their own dalliances, and Henry couldn't give her what she wants. Being married he won't leave his wife. As Sophie is still woeful of her son being carted off to boarding school. Also hot on her heels is Joseph (David Burnett) and he is there when Palmerston rejects Sophie, offering a hankie but also wanting more. Not to mention his mad dash skinny dipping moment into the sea. A repeat from last series but he's on his own here.
Speaking of last series, it's just an overture to Ernest and Harriet and their unrequited love, well more forbidden, as she too was married. Palmerston saying it was "shockingly excellent about Sophie's husband not being here. She question shim being shocked and he adds that is excellent still.
Feo hates her room and she changes it with Sophie which finds Palmerston in a bit of a pickle. Victoria thinks she can return home now as it's safe but she doesn't want to leave. Thus a good opportunity for Feo to blackmail Palmerston as he enters Sophie's room but is shocked to discover that it's actually Feo's naked shoulder that he's kissed! Ample opportunity for her to stay here then since she tells him how the Queen and Albert don't like him.
Albert built this house for the purposes of the children and their education which he thinks is a good way to build into their game time. Enacting the Peninsula Wars. But Bertie isn't interested in learning even when he tries. Victoria has had enough and at dinner accuses Albert of bullying her children. After Bertie tells him, "I don't bloody know" in response to Albert's question. Now where'd he ear that? Which he takes offence to as he's never bullied them. She tells him to respect her or to continue the conversation in private and Albert retaliates by remarking that if there was any respect to give he would. Thus she throws a glass of her wine at him. Which of course Feo relishes and so did Palmerston.
She was actually getting her own back at him since he said she craves love and approval of her people, as does Palmerston so they're two peas in a pod. Which makes her change her mind about Kossuth and tells Palmerston to go ahead with the dinner, as they come to an understanding. Penge (Adrian Schiller) fires Joseph as he missed church since he says he was bathing in the sea. However when Sophie hears of this, she gets him reinstated by saying he was running an errand for her and she was to blame. Looking to get her jollies with Joseph now. But the number of times she feigned to forget his name. Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) gives his resignation and Skerrett (Nell Hudson) follows suit telling Victoria she's married to him and Victoria is angry and despondent. Victoria returns to London and tells Albert she can stay if he wishes.
With Feo pitting each of them against one another by telling Albert that Victoria's got baby brain but it's not permanent. Albert asking if he shouldn't have anymore children. Then she brings up Victoria's grandfather who was funny in the head. When they return, Albert locks his door and Victoria calls him "my darling" now when she wants him. But otherwise he could do no right in her eyes. The way Feo looked at Victoria when she got out of the carriage to the adulation of her people, that look of sheer evil!
At least this ep has some true stuff going on with Palmerston entering the wrong room at Windsor Castle and Albert not being happy with that. Victoria couldn't be Queen at Osborne which is all that she wanted to be. So he was right when he said that she needed her subjects. As well as Victoria throwing wine at Albert. However she did go swimming and not used the line of her not being
a fish. Bertie's learning difficulties were real as opposed to Vicky who was the brains. Lajsos Kassuth was a revolutionary of the time, as well as being a journalist and lawyer, his opinions were considered dangerous at the time cos of his nationalistic views. Here he is shown to be ridiculed when he finally gives his speech, which gives pleasure to Palmerston and Russell as he was doing what his Queen wanted.
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