I've decided to watch Victoria first just to keep my semi-fictional British monarchs in chronological order.

I actually think there are thematic connections between the upstairs and downstairs plots—we first see downstairs the anti-German sentiment that's going to hit Albert sooner or later, and they're definitely pushing the parallels between Skerett and Victoria in terms of how much their lives are constrained by sexism…

Maternal mortality in childbirth in the Western world rose dramatically—really through the roof—in the late 18th and 19th century, to the point that most women of the time saw so many of their female loved ones die that a good number chose not to marry as a result. (There's a lot of childbirth bystander trauma in…

I am really enjoying these reviews, especially since GV knows enough of the real history to reference it. I do think Charlotte haunted the real Victoria at every step, at least while she was young and childless, and the episode manages to bring that out subtly.

Though it may be only high-quality cheese, I found this so enjoyable! And surprisingly accurate for this kind of thing, especially with the Lord M relationship; you can see that her crush is real and understandable and requited, but they don't actually go all Hollywood route and show they actually having sex.

Yes, I thought it was interesting to skip over the death of Charlotte (who is such an interesting character!) and the succession crisis—it makes a lot of sense for the show's parameters, but it's such a big part of Victoria's origin story that there were literally insane politics surrounded her actual conception.

I hate to destroy a cherished myth, but the beef isn't actually named after him. (The name, though not the dish, is American.)

Have much 19th century British history do you know? I thought this was a really accurate depiction of their relationship (swelling musical score notwithstanding).

Really? I think what worked for so well for me is that while being basically sympathetic to Victoria—and basically accurate about the complex sexism she had to navigate—it also makes clear that this is a TERRIBLE system of government.

Insightful review as always. There were some frustrating things in this one, but Joan's closing monologue was well-worth all of them.

Such a great episode—I loved the Hitchcock stuff, seeing Rafael get a really meaty plot and work with it, and Gina Rodrigues moving me to tears in that final scene when she grapples with her own relationship with God.

I know! He's my favorite character despite a lot of very heavy competition!

Yes—seeing Rafael actually get something to do is exciting.

I think the fact that she immediately IDs Michael as Jane's "cop husband" rather than just husband in her first scene is suspicious. A minor point, but an insight into how she's thinking, which would make more sense if she's scheming illegally.

I think it would be more interesting (and in keeping with the general themes of the show) if Catalina is bad news/up-to-something and family both. It would certainly work the parallels with Rafael's and Petra's families.

No no no no! Those can't be my last words

Agreed. The first part, anchored on the competition plot, felt much stronger; the Doug Judy plot was predictable to the point of distraction this time around.

This is a great and dead-on accurate review.

I think Julian is toast either way.

I think it was revealed in episode 1 when Fake!Wells got out of his wheelchair, but there was massive denial on the part of the fandom (despite a total lack of subtlety in the show) until at least episode 9.