The Palace

I don't know where to begin with how bad this show is, ITV has always struggled to compete in the drama stakes against the established quality of the BBC and the indie hipness of Channel 4, the unloved middle child with only the rare gem in the past decade. The palace however is a new low, From the poor acting and directing to the abysmal dialogue and plotting. ITV has never been well acquainted with reality in its Drama, (aside for when Paul Greengrass feels charitable towards the channel) the Bill is as about as far removed from actually policing in the UK as possible, But the Palace takes this to new depths, as it tries to depict the King actually having real power in what is largely a well paid ceremonial role. They have been many comparisons made to the West Wing, and while it is true they are both political dramas, its like Comparing Paul W.S Anderson to Steven Spielberg there both directors, And as with that comparison they really is nothing to compare one is superbly acted directed and brilliantly written by Aaron Sorkin.

If i was forced to watch this again i would seriously consider chewing through my own wrists to escape into what ever life is after this. If your desperate for British Political Drama buy House of cards on DVD, and if you like good Drama avoid the Palace like the Plague.

There is an underlying moral theme of doing the right thing vs doing the wrong (Royal) thing and covering this up to protect the Royal family throughout the series.

The complexities of relationships that a Royal Family holds with the public, politicians, the church, their staff and each other were well portrayed and mostly believable in each episode.

For the most part, the actors casted fit their roles quite well, with a few exceptions. The youngest Royal, Princess Isabel, age 17-18 in the series, played by Nathalie Lunghi, (age 22 in 2008), was made to look like a burnt-out '30-something' year old meth addict. Quite over-done in the makeup and over-acted scenes she had to do.

The same with several of the minor actors who played kitchen and wait and cleaning staff. Their scenes were so overacted they made themselves look like blubbering idiots who would NEVER be hired to work in a position requiring discipline, decorum and discretion such as working for a Royal Family. Very UN-Believable portrayals.

I blame this full on the Director, not the actors. They were just doing their jobs, as directed.

Overall, This was an 'easy to binge watch' 8 sessions series to escape from my little life's realities for a day and I learned a bit more about how and why things are done the way they are in the United Kingdom from medieval times throughout today.

This couldn't be further that the mark. Cheap two star fantasy based on writers and royalists that seem to know skerries more than the low brown writers. Note to prosecution re4 actors, writers. This thumb is a disaster. Stopped twenty mins when I realized that it was the Royals Mets Corrie. Please. Don't do it. Spare yourself. Producers should be ashamed. I hope the actors go onto big and better nor getting experience without showreels. Got a better one? Good. Keep it. Don't keep this drivel there. Sorry to the writers, producers and staff. But this was one of those 'well we'd better'.

No. No. You shouldn't have. I'm sure you are all talented so let's put this down to bar decisions - which I'm sure we are all capable or - lesson.. don't do this again.

A really enjoyable piece of British drama. Something you would expect from the BBC but this is produced by ITV. A great look at the fictional monarchy that this world has created. Mixing in real footage with the fictional story you can quite easy believe the characters are living in Buckingham Palace. Can't fault the acting, writing or the cinematography, all brilliant! Rupert Evans especially performs wonderfully as King Richard with the character development of the young man being slightly reckless with his life and then being thrust into the responsibility of being King. Rupert Evans takes the character in his stride and the audience grows along with him. Thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining and heartfelt. Can't wait for Series 2!

"The Palace" looks like one of those American post-adolescent dramas where beautiful young 20-somethings are scheming and screwing at every opportunity. Even the role of the queen, recently widowed, seems to have been written for Joan Collins.

Cheap, tawdry, and ridiculous though it is it makes amusing fluff, a pleasant diversion. If you want to laugh at young actors struggling a little too hard to look like they're taking themselves seriously and roll your eyes at the absurdity this could be a lot of fun. In fact, one has to wonder how much the creative staff for this silliness just saw the whole thing as a spoof. If anyone meant this show to be taken seriously it's an epic fail, but as a take-off on American dramas, it's really quite funny.