A Very Royal Scandal (AmazonPrimeVideo) Story :-
BBC journalist Emily Maitlis conducts a high-profile interview with Prince Andrew of the British royal family after a photograph surfaces showing him with a 17-year-old girl at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York residence.
A Very Royal Scandal (AmazonPrimeVideo) Release Date, Trailor, Songs, Cast :-
Release Date | 19 September 2024 |
Language | British English |
Genre | Drama |
Episode | 3 |
Cast | Michael Sheen, Ruth Wilson, Eanna Hardwicke, Joanna Scanlan, Claire Rushbrook, Nicholas Burns, Sam Troughton, Alexander Owen |
Director | Julian Jarrold |
Writer | Jeremy Brock |
Producer | Josh Hyams |
Certificate | 16+ |
A Very Royal Scandal (AmazonPrimeVideo) Review :-
The third installment of the Scandal series, A Very Royal Scandal, builds on the success of A Very British Scandal and A Very English Scandal, offering the most compelling story yet. This series delves into the controversial decision by Prince Andrew to sit down for a BBC interview with journalist Emily Maitlis, following the release of a 2001 photograph showing him with a 17-year-old girl at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York residence. Spread across three gripping hour-long episodes, the series plays out with the tension of a political thriller, reminiscent of Frost/Nixon and Scoop. It reveals the complex backstory behind the interview, with a sharp script and standout performances—Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis—ensuring a thoroughly engaging experience.
The series opens with the now-infamous BBC interview and then takes viewers back in time through flashbacks, unraveling the events that led up to it. Prince Andrew (played by Michael Sheen) is first alerted to the controversy when The Mail calls him to comment on a 2001 photo, taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s home, showing the prince with a 17-year-old girl. As public scrutiny intensifies, his advisor, Amanda Thirsk (Joanna Scanlan), convinces him to speak out in a BBC interview to share his side of the story. This decision horrifies Andrew’s press advisor, who resigns immediately in protest. The task of interviewing the prince falls to BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis (Ruth Wilson), whose probing questions soon become the talk of the press. The aftermath of the interview is so explosive that the royal family steps in to try to regain control of the narrative.
A Very Royal Scandal can be seen as a kind of spin-off from The Crown, focusing on a single member of the royal family. The series is visually striking, and the screenplay hooks viewers from the very beginning. While the pacing slows in the second episode, the powerful performances, especially from Sheen and Wilson, keep the story compelling. There seems to be a slight sympathetic tilt toward Prince Andrew, as the series largely presents his side of the story. However, this focus leaves out the female perspective, which could have added greater depth and balance to the narrative. Ultimately, it’s an engaging portrayal that, while intriguing, feels somewhat one-sided and open to interpretation.
A Very Royal Scandal (AmazonPrimeVideo) Trailor :-
Final Thought
Michael Sheen delivers a standout performance as Prince Andrew, perfectly capturing the entitled demeanor of a man who feels above reproach. His portrayal of Andrew’s arrogance and confidence feels strikingly authentic, with every mannerism mirroring that of the real prince. Ruth Wilson also shines as Emily Maitlis, though her accent choice seems unnecessary, especially given the inevitable comparisons to Gillian Anderson’s portrayal in Scoop. Nevertheless, it’s Alex Jennings who truly steals the show as the late Queen’s secretary. His portrayal is a masterclass in subtlety, blending suave authority with veiled threats, particularly in his tense interactions with Andrew’s team.
While the series delves into Maitlis’s character, it takes some liberties in depicting her as fame-driven, a portrayal that feels somewhat misaligned with reality. A Very Royal Scandal provides an intriguing exploration of the disastrous BBC interview, offering a rare glimpse into the royal family’s internal dynamics. Overall, it’s a compelling, if occasionally skewed, viewing experience, driven by strong performances and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the fallout.