A Very Royal Scandal

Watched all three, back to back on the day it dropped on amazon. Amazing fantastic brilliant was my opinion of this excellent beautifully constructed drama. Ruth wilson as Emily Matis, and Michael sheen as Andrew were as they always are fantastic in there roles as was all the supporting roles with for me a special nod for the actor who played the Queens Private secretary. I personally also thought it was better than the BBC version they did a little while ago although that was also very good. So I highly recommended this amazon three part drama. Please don't think because you watched the original interview, that's it . Because it's far more than that.

The first thing I need to complain about is the cinematography. For some reason the film is presented in a letterbox format, so we have black bars above and below the picture. The other thing, certainly in the first episode, is that many of the scenes are made in darkness. Maybe it's intentional, but it really makes it hard to see what's going on. Not well lit.

So far as the acting is concerned, as usual, Michael Sheen inhabits the character of Andrew very well. Not a nice man, we're led to believe.

Emily Maitlis, played by Ruth Wilson, is also believable, though we don't really get an in-depth understanding of her character. She also has adopted a weird kind of accent, a cross between Miranda Hart and Maggie Thatcher.

This show on Prime is apparently Season 3 of "A Very English Scandal" instead of its own title called "A Very Royal Scandal" as it is advertised. I searched for "Royal" and was at a loss. I checked the date, and it should be available, but it wasn't there. Just for fun, I selected the Hugh Grant series and went to Season 3, and there it was!

So far, only through one episode, but it's really well done (assuming you know a bit about the story in advance). It's hard to write a review this long without giving anything away. I guess I'll add by saying it's odd they chose to start this miniseries where they did, an interview that's about to happen with no context as to why the interviewer is so flummoxed.

Happy viewing! Hope others find this useful in locating the show.

I've viewed the first (of 3) episodes and really enjoyed it. It's a 'grown up' production, beautifully filmed and with a pace and editorial that engages you from the start. The acting is superb, particularly Michael Sheen as Price Andrew. It's a substantial piece of work covering the before, during and after the interview and I very much look forward to watching the 2 remaining episodes. It's fun too!

PS - the reviewer ExiledRoyal notes that as the production is shot in letter box format, the top and bottom black bars are frustrating. The reviewer might like to adjust the settings on their television so that the set can adjust to the format. I get a full screen with no image miss and no black bars.

I like Ruth Wilson as an actress, but I think Gillian Anderson's portrayal as Emily Matliss just pipped her, I think they should/could have put this into 2 episodes, I found myself drifting in the third although maybe then they would have cut the best line in the drama "I would have offered you tea but we've had to let the the staff go" this line delivered by "Fergie" played brilliantly by Claire Rushbrook, to the equally excellent Alex Jennings playing the Queens deliverer of bad news ,Sir Edward Young,this line probably sums up the weird world that they live in. Make it yourself you entitled so and so,shout all us commoners!

Was he guilty ? Maybe, Was he innocent ? Maybe Was/is he an idiot? No maybe's about this one .