You couldn't help but think you'd seen it all before in this episode. What with Cumberland (Peter Firth) back again in the hopes Victoria (Jenna Coleman) would die in childbirth and being accused of setting an assassin upon her. It was hard to see him as not being behind the attempt. Also that Edward Oxford (Harry McEntire) of the 'Young England' movement was of unsound mind. He kept a tight lip and perhaps he was only being used as a patsy by Cumberland, but it didn't appear he had written the letters to himself, putting aside the scene where the maid brought him a letter.
Cumberland vehemently denying he would even contemplate regicide. However his past actions and record speaks for itself. I love the Latin legal phrase, res ipsa locquitur (the thing speaks for itself!) He was a bit too eager to deny and was on the defensive. When I say his past record speaks for itself well, he had been accused of such actions before and he even told Victoria how he's done away with the Constitution in Hanover. Thus ruling as an iron king. Especially as he also tells her perhaps next time she's out the violets will be much 'harder.' Now if that wasn't a threat, disguised as a warning.
Even Leopold (Alex Jennings) suspected him.
However Victoria just wanted the birth to be over with, asked for a wet nurse and even went out driving, as she was fed up with being cooped up. Another reason why it was so easy for Oxford to take a pot shot at her, whether or not the gun was loaded was beside the point. Victoria almost getting harassed by Captain Childers (Andrew Scarborough) who had written her so many letters wanting to take her away from the "German tyrant." He could provide everything for her, barring his sanity. Oxford is questioned, refuses to speak and ends up being found non compos mentis (of unsound mind) by a jury of twelve men and at fist Victoria is shocked to hear of this. He attempted to kill the queen of England and almost faints at the news. Since she wants to be free and if Oxford were to be acquitted, then she and her baby won't be able to go out. Albert (Tom Hughes) promising to keep her safe. She loses her temper at Albert though it's no fault of his for the way she's feeling, he did want to see her safe. That's why he went out with her, then he spotted Oxford in the crowd coming towards her. but who makes a move like that pushing though the people if he's got assassination in mind!
Victoria accepts the verdict at the end since she is queen (how many times has she said that now?) and she swore to uphold the laws of England at her coronation and no matter their personal feelings that is what she will do. Albert also intercepts her letters instead of Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) reading them, especially since Penge (Adrian Schiller) sees her throw away the one from Captain Childers, who 'attacked' Victoria with a bunch of violets. Ernst (David Oakes) is back awaiting the birth of his nephew and returns the Duchess of Sutherland's (Margaret Clunie) hanky to her. Telling her how he dreamed of the curls on her neck. She is enamoured with him of course, but won't jeopardize her marriage. Although he tells Albert is was nothing but harmless flirtation and he's over it. Their conversation is about love and how they thought they could not find the real thing, but they have with each other.
He gets Brodie (Tommy Knight) to deliver a note to her and meets her in her boudoir, where they do kiss and he sees her with her hair on her neck and she gives him a lock of her hair, which he shows Albert, disproving his disapproval (ha) of him from Albert in that he did nothing wrong. The staff also speculating about the queen's health. Mrs Jenkins (Evie Myles) refuses to believe anything will happen to her and lets her feelings known. As Penge says childbirth is a nasty business. Everyone telling Victoria again how she should rest, including her mother (Catherine Flemming) who's been telling Victoria stories of her carriage ride across Europe so that Victoria could be born in England. As well as her uncle Leopold reminding her of Charlotte. How he didn't let her eat sweets cos her doctors advised against it and Victoria loves her sweet cherries.
Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) asks Skerrett (Nell Hudson) to go with him as he's been offered a position at an establishment but she prefers her employment here. As well as Eliza (Samantha Colley) telling her not to go cos of her situation. She fell for a man and ended up with children. Yeah she wasn't too put out accepting his help when she needed it with the fever going round and eating his food now as well!
Skerrett changes her mind but Francatelli has already left. She was accosting the new chef! Ha. Skerrett also tells Victoria that her friend who had a baby was so glad she did and loves them. The moment finally arrives and well, no privacy for the queen during childbirth it seems, as she gives birth, at least close the damn door and finally calls out to her mother. She has a baby girl and Albert is proud of her, wanting to call her mother. She promises the next one will be a boy. With a despondent Cumberland who realizes he's missed his chance of being king.
Seems for many Ernst is the new Melbourne, ha, and it's a toss up between the two brothers between the fans!
However the real Queen Victoria was fired at on 10th June 1840 in her carriage with Albert. Her would be assassin was an unemployed 18 year old, Edward Oxford. However he was only the first of a number of assassins who who attempt to take her life. Why was she that unpopular. Or was it just to make a name for themselves, as Oxford says in this ep how he will be remembered by Young England and others. Victoria even wrote about the incident in her diary. Mentioning how Lord Melbourne paid her a visit after the attempt. (No such luck here it seems for fans of Lord M!) Oxford's family wanted him declared of unsound mind, as the guns did not contain anything other than gunpowder and Victoria herself didn't think Cumberland was behind the plot. Oxford was finally released in 1867 and travelled to Australia where he changed his name to John Freeman and died a year before Victoria. Some fascinating history here, which not many know of.
Victoria will return in 2017 - as we knew it would. Before that there will be a Christmas Special.
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