Victoria: London Bridge is Falling Down {Roundtable}

Victoria must decide what action to take when a cache of guns is found in the Chartist’s headquarters, but Albert is more concerned about the Queen’s safety.

In this roundtable Roz and I are discussing both the personal and the professional aspects of Victoria’s life.

The Personal

Roz: Albert is such a good part of Victoria’s life, especially after all of the issues she had with her mother and those who wanted to unduly influence her. Her conversation with little Bertie is one that needed to happen. That destiny does control her life, and his, is well-meant as the country is in chaos with Chartists demanding rights. Feodora is another part of Victoria’s life that I can’t get a good handle on, but we also need more humanizing parts of Victoria’s life as Drina.

Cara: Is there anything sweeter than Albert. Sure, he’s misguided at times in his attempts to protect her, but he’s such a gentle, loving husband. That moment when said, “To me, you are the note that anchors me to this world, and I will do anything to keep you safe from harm”–I melted. Victoria is struggling to get comfortable with her sister around, and it appears as if we are meant to suspect her. I am not sure I enjoy the way Feodora is portrayed as possibly inappropriately cozying up to Albert. I looked up Feodora after last week’s episode, and it seems that the drama of the show does not depict reality. I appreciate drama, but I don’t care for it to needlessly pit two women against each other for nothing but the sake of a little intrigue. In other personal matters, how about Skerrett and Francatelli’s secret wedding. I hope the Queen keeps Skerrett on, in spite of the marriage. I really enjoy her character.

The Professional

Roz: Lord Palmerston is a gross sort of character but I know we need more external enemies for Victoria to battle. Abigail is someone I want to see more of as we find out what the Chartists are truly after (well we know they want the vote but is there anything else?) because that one Irishman turned out to be a plant by Scotland Yard. Wellington and Palmerston must be working together for more power. Men, why can’t you just let her make decisions on her own? She’s not that feeble.

Cara: Well, it appears we had reason to suspect Lord Palmerston for more than just being sleazy with the (literal) ladies. I was glad to see Victoria erring on the side of trust in her own people. She does genuinely seem to want to do what’s right by her subjects, even if she misses the mark here and there. I was annoyed by Lord Wellington telling her that change her mind was “a woman’s prerogative.” Barf. I mean, presented with new information, she adjusted her decision, just as she had previously done at his own request. But, we know that she faced the gender norms and stereotypes of her time, so I think it’s responsible of the showmakers to include the small slights she would have dealt with regularly, like Wellington’s comments and Palmerston’s condescension, which I’m glad Albert called him on.

Victoria continues on PBS Sundays at 9PM. Interested in what we had to say about the previous two seasons, see our recaps here.