Jenna Coleman’s teenage queen takes the throne
In a world of young popes, be the young queen.
But as much as her inexperience gets her into trouble, it also makes her bold.
Victoria is an impetuous and, in Colemans hands, vulnerable queen, andVictoriais just as magnetic.
Credit: ITV
To quote an impossibly British title card, the monarchy is in crisis.
She goes to bed one night a sheltered young woman.
She wakes up the queen.
Sir John likes to be kept in the loop all the better to control you, my dear.
Hes looming and slimy.
His sideburns are terrible.
Melbourne is tired of governing; he tells his friend hed rather retire and contemplate the rooks.
He knows as well as she does that the rooks must wait.
Her resolve doesnt last long.
The next day, the queen is expected to receive each member of the privy council by name.
In a few days, shell belatedly accept his offer to serve as her private secretary.
For now, she has a request: Shed like to be known by her middle name.
It was hard to see things clearly, Victoria tells Melbourne of her old, dark home.
Flora might spend all of her time with Sir John and the duchess, but her motives seem pure.
The whole country seems very concerned with how short Victoria is.
Melbourne steps in and arranges a rescue, and he and Victoria share a dance.
She obviously has a crush.
He stays in his lane, suggesting Victoria call it a night.
But what happens at the ball does not stay at the ball.
Are they having an affair?
Melbourne clears his throat behind her.
Uh, no, maam.
The one generally precludes the other.
To make matters worse, Floras bump is actually the result of a tumor.
Flora sighs: I am beyond peaches, maam.
When Victoria apologizes genuinely for her mistake, she seems surprised not to be immediately forgiven.
Flora is near enough to death to stop being polite and start getting real.
After Flora dies, Victoria is almost frozen with guilt, and her reputation takes a hit.
She leans on Melbourne to find the strength to keep going, which he knows something about.
Melbourne lost a son.
Knowing and working with Victoria has given him a reason to continue.
If he can do it, so can she.
The closer Victoria gets to Melbourne, the more determined his opponents are to oust him.
And if I insist?
You cannot, maam, Melbourne replies.
But you cannot insist.
The Tories can smell weakness; his days as prime minister are numbered.
He directs her to Sir Robert Peel (Nigel Lindsay).
Melbourne reminds her she cant go around ignoring the peaceful transfer of power just to suit her interests.
Victoria is going to have to work with Peel, and its going to require some sacrifices.
To avoid the appearance of favoritism, Melbourne says, hell have to come to dinner less often.
She might also have to replace some of her ladies with Tories.
Somewhere in London, Melbourne sinks further into his armchair and pours another drink.
Peel might not be a charmer, but he isnt being unreasonable, either.
And Peel cant lead the government without the queens support any more than Melbourne can without Parliaments.
It looks like Victoria does have the power to insist, after all.
People are already questioning her sanity behind her back.
But Cumberland only has the one chess move, and Wellington can see right through it.
I was not aware that you were fighting a war, maam, Wellington says.
Because you are not a young woman, Duke, the queen replies.
And no one, I suspect, tells you what to do.
But I have to prove my worth every single day, and I cannot do it alone.
Is there a 19th-century equivalent to dropping the mic?
He tells Melbourne about Cumberlands false rumors and suggests the prime minister put them to rest.
Fresh out of reasonable excuses, Melbourne agrees to serve Victoria again.
Seems I cannot manage unaided, Victoria admits.
But Melbourne already knew that.
Now back to those rats.
While Victoria is busy with upstairs affairs, events downstairs are just as dramatic.
Penge, whose business is candles, is horrified to learn Lehzen wants to install gas lights.
But Penge might not even be the most calculating person on staff.
The chef, Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley), eventually recognizes Skerrett from a house of ill repute.
Is she just trying to start a new life, or does she have a bigger plan?
If Francatelli keeps her secret, what will he make her do in return?
And can you imagine demanding a new pair of gloves every time you went outside?
