Series 2 is upon us and there's not much changed since series 1. Her family is still 'plotting' against her, Albert (Tom Hughes) doesn't want to burden her with the affairs of state and the country so soon after her confinement as Peel (Nigel Lindsay) put it. Yet she has to strive on and do what she thinks is best for the country even if Albert et al disagree. Such as the Army stranded in Afghanistan, as Peel said why were they over there to begin with. Victoria (Jenna Coleman) not being told about the harsh conditions and the decision to withdraw them from Kabul (spelled Cabool.) She even has trouble with baby Victoria, wondering when she will like her or not. She can stomach sitting in that awful chair no longer, she's had a baby, not been ill. But she can't even venture out without going to church and being removed from all sin. As she said she's the one who had the baby.
But her, "I am the queen" she can do what she likes was begging to grate a bit. We know you are, no need to rub it in constantly. Even the food at the palace is substandard and they wouldn't even feed it to the dog. As new chef Craddock (clearly no relation to Fanny!) holds a knife on one of the kitchen hands for taking a stale loaf of bread. The royals disgust shown by the cockaleekie soup at dinner. Yuk!
Victoria gets a new Mistress of the Robes in Lady Buccleuch (Diana Rigg) as she chose her from Peel's list and she's not much for doing anything, bringing along her niece, Wilhelmina (Bebe Cave). Ernest (David Oakes) finding that the Duchess of Sutherland (Margaret Clunie) has left and returned to her husband. His first meeting with him and ours at Victoria's christening, where he refers to his wife as "an ornament." Much to Ernest's chagrin.
As Albert's family arrive and her uncle Leopold (Alex Jennings) proceeds to suggest along with Albert's father, the Duke of Coburg (Andrew Bicknell) that she should have more children and spend more time in the nursery, wanting a future grandson. Albert finding Ernest is the only one he can converse with besides Peel, but he can't confide in Peel about Victoria. As Earnest tells him she should respect her more. She attends Albert's inspection of his regiment and approves of their fashionable uniforms, whereas Albert finds them impractical for fighting and has designed his own, such as a more practical helmet. She replies she'd feel brave wearing one of those feathers in her cap, more like. She doesn't however, want to attend affairs of the state which have got to do with the sanitation commission. Pooh is not in the order of her business, her baby's or her subjects either!
Her uncle plots to pour "oil over water" which he claims he's good at doing and once again suggests that she should be spending more time on the baby. As she proceeds to tell him "what my country needs is a Queen not a brood mare." She receives news that the soldiers crossing the Khyber Pass have been massacred and there's only one survivor, hence victory was not theirs. She meets with Dr Brydon (Alexander Owen) who tells her about his friend who was singing 'God Save the Queen' and her picture doesn't do her justice. She feels she should address the people at the ceremony for the ship named Trafalgar, in honour of the victory at Trafalgar, but Peel and Albert decide against it. However Wellington (Peter Bowles) suggests she should go and give the country a moral boost, since the victory came after a defeat. Albert refuses to accompany her as he's got a sanitation meeting so she attends alone. Until Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) tells Albert about Victoria as a child. He turns up to hear her speech to rapturous applause.
Mrs Jenkin's has left and Mrs Skerrett (Nell Hudson) is now in charge and has been tasked with bringing back Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley). But he refuses no matter how much he's paid and whether the Queen requested it or not. But she gets Lord Alfred (Jordan Waller) who has a brother at the Reform club and he has to return, but he's not too happy about the sate of the kitchen and is abrupt towards Skerrett. Who tells him she came after him but she was too late. She gets a new dress maker when she's in tears. Wilhelmina has designs on Earnest it seems as he plays the piano.
Victoria and Albert finally make up and fall into bed again as if nothing has changed, cos yeah, there's babies to be made. See nothing's changed from first series as I said. Diana Rigg being more of a Dowager's presence from Downton Abbey to add some comic relief. Apparently Lord Melbourne (ratings anyone??) returns next ep, should liven things up and there's a Christmas special for this year too.
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