Victoria: A Show of Unity {Roundtable}

On Victoria this week:

After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visits Ireland. Intrigue, conflict, and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate. Feodora is left to her own devices in the Palace.

MASTERPIECE
Victoria, Season 3
Episode Five
Sunday, February 10, 2019; 9-10pm ET
After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visit Ireland. Intrigue, conflict and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate.
Picture Shows: Queen Victoria played by Jenna Coleman
For editorial use only.
Courtesy of Justin Slee/ITV Plc for MASTERPIECE

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

The Personal

Roz: Oh Albert! Why are you only now admitting that you’ve been conversing with Feordora about Victoria since her arrival? I get that you’re frustrated with what’s going on, but you should be communicating with your wife, not her sister.

I also like that we see Turner in her new role, even if Victoria wants to still say it’s Skerrett.

MASTERPIECE
Victoria, Season 3
Episode Five
Sunday, February 10, 2019; 9-10pm ET
After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visit Ireland. Intrigue, conflict and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate.
Picture Shows: Prince Albert played by Tom Hughes
For editorial use only.
Courtesy of Justin Slee/ITV Plc for MASTERPIECE

Cara: There was so much personal this week. I like Feodora less and less as she continues to whisper and maneuver herself for position, but Roz is right that it’s very frustrating to see Albert not be open with Victoria. The Duchess of Monmouth’s personal entanglements are definitely going to be problematic. With the Duke being such a horrible person, it’s a little frightening to think how this could end. And, I find it hard to believe that the show has managed to make Lord Palmerston more likable. He’ll never be a favorite, but I’m a little in love with his wife, and so I can’t help but let a little of that reflect on him.

The Professional

Roz: Ireland is a potentially dangerous place to be after the Famine and in the wake of so many issues between Catholics and Protestants, though it’s great to see Victoria take the matter on and see what needs to be seen. In seeing the Catholic Cardinal is also a poignant moment of conciliation between Ireland and England, especially after all of the drama with an assassination attempt.

MASTERPIECE
Victoria, Season 3
Episode Five
Sunday, February 10, 2019; 9-10pm ET
After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visit Ireland. Intrigue, conflict and romance all blossom during a stay at the Palmerston estate.
Picture Shows: Queen Victoria played by Jenna Coleman
For editorial use only.
Courtesy of Justin Slee/ITV Plc for MASTERPIECE

Cara: As a person of Irish decent, I know what comes later for Ireland, so it’s hard to see the beneficial results of this trip. But, the attitudes we’ve seen from Victoria so far show a great sympathy for the Irish and a desire to treat the country respectably. This visit hints at problems that will only get worse, so it’s good that she is beginning to take a closer look.

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