CinemaSerf 2024, Nov 19

Long before "Margaret Meldrew", Annette Crosbie was quite an accomplished actress and she shows that off well here as Queen Victoria - the matriarch of a family of 9 children with her Consort Prince Albert (Robert Hardy). Their heir was "Bertie" (Charles Sturridge and Timothy West span his 68 year lifetime) and this lengthy, detailed and stylish 13-parter traces the life (and plentiful loves) of this Prince through from boyhood until the end of his 10-year reign as King and Emperor when the British Empire was still pretty much at it's zenith. The first few episodes focus more on his temperamental mother; of her relationship with her husband; her indifferent relationship with her "ugly" children and the politics of the time - her favouritism of Lord Melbourne over Sir Robert Peel; expansionism of the Empire and the addressing of the many social privations of many of her subjects. As the chronology progresses, we are introduced to the decent, but somewhat wayward young man whom, from the outset, instinctively rebels against the constrictions of his parents causing arguments and conceivably, even, the premature death of his father. His affairs de coeur cause his mother, his wife Princess Alexandra (Helen Ryan), and frequently the government no end of hassle as he bulldozes his way through life waiting - for 60 years - to ascend to the throne. Once there, however, he proves to be a popular, considered individual with an adeptness on a particularly tricky international stage that proves useful in preventing conflict between the great powers of the time. It's got an excellent cast supporting along the way - Richard Vernon, a very young Charles Dance, Francesca Annis, Felicity Kendal, André Morell, Jane Lapotaire, Michael Hordern and Sir John Gielgud and the writing gives ample opportunity for the them to create characterful performances and the attention to the detail of costumes is first class. West comes into his own as the King, his performance as the rakish but intelligent man evolves well, demonstrating the frustrations of someone who has waited a very long time for his job to become vacant. Of course, virtually all of it is speculation, but what this series offers is a plausible critique of life at the top of the British Empire and also of a vulnerable, flawed collection of human beings who were at the apex of every ruling family in Europe by the end of the 19th century. Well worth sitting through; makes for a great binge-watch!