‘A Very Royal Scandal’ Review: Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen Revisit Prince Andrew’s ‘Newsnight’ Interview in Sturdy Amazon Miniseries

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As a seasoned media analyst with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that “A Very Royal Scandal” is an intriguing piece of work, to put it mildly. The drama, much like the real-life events it’s based on, thrives in its prelude, offering a captivating glimpse into the world of high-stakes journalism and royal intrigue.

Amazon excitedly confirmed that “A Very Royal Scandal” will be released on September 19th, with the statement, “The much-admired ‘A Very… Scandal’ series returns!

My main inquiries revolve around the following points: Was “Scandal” incorporated to avoid giving the impression that A Very Royal Scandal is connected to a potential franchise stemming from 1996’s A Very Brady Sequel? Is it reasonable to assume that regular television viewers recognize and accept this hypothetical “Scandal” series as a franchise? Furthermore, even if we concede the existence of the “Scandal” franchise, what defines it? What common elements can be identified between the limited series, such as 2018’s A Very English Scandal, 2021’s A Very British Scandal and now A Very Royal Scandal? Despite sharing no characters, stars, writers, or directors, what unifying features do these series possess?

The initial two releases delved into pre-Internet controversies instigated by the British media, whereas “A Very Royal Scandal” unfolds in the last decade, with social media alerts playing a significant role. In “English,” “British,” and their respective counterparts were essentially duets centered around the dynamic between Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, as well as Claire Foy and Paul Bettany. Conversely, “Royal” offers limited interaction between Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen for approximately 25 minutes throughout the series. Therefore, what truly sets “A Very Dot Dot Dot Scandal” apart as a series might be its association with Blueprint Pictures as producer, its shorter three-episode duration, and arguably its quality, given that all installments are of high caliber.

Apart from it, the A Very Dot Dot Dot Scandal serves as a useful diversion since directly introducing A Very Royal Scandal could be challenging, as one might have to say something like, “Hey, do you recall Netflix’s film Scoop from April, which revolved around the infamous Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew? This is essentially the same storyline revisited. Yet, they’re both engaging if you appreciate that genre of entertainment.” The extended duration in this miniseries allows for a deeper exploration of the main characters’ emotions before and after the pivotal incident. However, if you find these additional aspects more than slightly implausible, they may not significantly enhance your viewing experience.

If you haven’t watched “Scoop”, the writers, Jeremy Brock, and directors, Julian Jarrold, strategically position the Newsnight interview in the heart of the second episode, making the most entertaining part of the series revolve around the anticipation.

In this narrative, we encounter Prince Andrew (Sheen), the adored second-born son of an unseen ruling monarch and a somewhat impetuous sibling to another yet-to-be-crowned monarch. Known for casually mentioning his military service in the Falklands during conversations, Prince Andrew is a loving father to Beatrice (played by Honor Swinton Byrne) and Eugenie (Sofia Oxenham), and has an amicable divorce relationship with Fergie (Claire Rushbrook), who is both brash and caring. In the past, he was also quite close friends with Jeffrey Epstein (portrayed by John Hopkins). Due to this friendship, he has faced minor scandals linked to Epstein and allegations from one of Epstein’s accusers. Despite his silence on the matter, it resurfaces after Epstein’s death in 2019.

As a devoted admirer, let me shift the focus to Emily Maitlis (Wilson), an esteemed presenter of Newsnight and executive producer of A Very Royal Scandal. Despite her widespread acclaim, Maitlis has encountered personal hurdles, such as a long-term stalker and more recently, allegations of bias following a well-deserved on-screen eyeroll at an inopportune moment. Post Epstein’s demise, Maitlis remains resolute in her pursuit for the first unguarded interview with Prince Andrew. She succeeds in securing it. The conversation revolves around Pizza Express and sweaty matters. Regrettably, the outcome is a wave of embarrassment.

Since the interview isn’t too distant in the past, similar to how A Very Royal Scandal followed Scoop, it flourishes as a prologue. Essentially, the dialogue is just two exceptional actors re-creating scenes that could easily be found on YouTube.

In “A Very Royal Scandal”, the authors employ ticking clocks as a recurring element to heighten tension. Maitlis’s character is portrayed as highly digital, while Prince Andrew’s world is deeply rooted in the analogue. The narrative primarily concentrates on fleshing out the personalities of these two key figures. It highlights their objectives in the “Newsnight” special, providing a foundation for how they will respond when it goes public and global reactions ensue, which forms the crux of the final hour.

In the portrayal of both Wilson and Gillian Anderson in “Scoop”, Maitlis is depicted as a character who is often anxious and unsure, prone to errors, yet capable of swift action when under pressure. She expresses frustration with the current state of journalism, voices indignation at the gender-biased interpretation of body language that seems to be overlooked in men, mirroring subtle criticisms towards Kamala Harris’ reactions during debates with Donald Trump. Maitlis is also strategically shrewd, akin to a skilled chess player, and her team includes Éanna Hardwicke’s Stewart MacLean and Clare Calbraith’s Sam McAlister, who played the Billie Piper role in “Scoop”.

In a departure from Rufus Sewell’s brooding portrayal in “Scoop”, Tom Sheen plays Prince Andrew with an air of self-doubt and insulation, a man whose life has been devoid of straightforward answers and self-confidence. The character’s clumsy demeanor is further exaggerated by the bulky costumes and heavy makeup that fail to fully disguise Sheen, but instead support his somewhat comedic performance. The cast also includes Edward Young, the Queen’s private secretary, portrayed by Alex Jennings, who wishes for Andrew to fade into obscurity before the Platinum Jubilee, and Amanda Thirsk, Prince Andrew’s personal secretary, played by Joanna Scanlan, who is once again depicted as the short-sighted mastermind behind this PR catastrophe.

For a span of two hours, “A Very Royal Scandal” is meticulously edited, shrewdly portrayed, and strategized, yet it fails to offer new insights, even with Maitlis’ direct participation. Despite the dialogue-heavy nature of the drama, Jarrold and production designer Noam Piper skillfully guide the action through a series of opulent domestic settings, providing viewers with an intriguing feeling of being a secret onlooker. Even when one anticipates the direction to mimic the visual style of “Newsnight”, Jarrold chooses instead for close-up shots that highlight the acting talents of the lead performers.

The final hour, the one meant to reflect on the significance of the cultural moment and its aftermath, is faultier in its approach. Maitlis comes to understand that the broadcast may have made the story about her and marginalized Epstein’s victims in a series that, by its very nature, makes the story about Maitlis and marginalizes Epstein’s victims. The borderline hypocrisy plays as more self-serving than self-aware. It doesn’t help that while A Very Royal Scandal makes no gestures to vindicate Prince Andrew — he’s a hubristic doofus — the show seems increasingly sympathetic, in part because Eugenie and especially Beatrice are very present and Byrne and Oxenham engender a lot of empathy, and in part because the rest of the Firm/Crown is so beastly to Andrew, whether he deserves it or not. 

The ending is surprisingly unremarkable and conjectural, wrapping up a series of events that has kept us captivated not once, but twice in the current year.

Now bring on A Very Brady Scandal.

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2024-09-19 19:25