BBC1’s A Very British Scandal (review): A beautiful and fascinating story

Paul Bettany and Claire Foy play the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, who divorced in a highly public and dramatic manner in 1963. It’s difficult not to get the idea that The Crown inspired a Very British Scandal, and not only because Claire Foy played Queen Elizabeth II in the first two seasons.

• The trio supposedly remembers the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Ian (Paul Bettany, well known for his role as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and Margaret’s high-profile and, at the time, spectacular divorce (Foy).
• However, the first hour takes place 16 years ago, when the two first met in Scotland.
• A Very British Scandal is a sumptuous, slow-paced, and frequently amusing feast that showcases Foy and Bettany’s superb acting: The writing by Phelps is subtle yet powerful, with the numerous periods of stillness revealing as much as what is said loudly.
• However, the pre-title sequence foretold their marriage ending in a dramatic court fight. We were invited to select sides as Ian embraced his actual identity as a rude, spoiled child.
• The couple grew apart more after moving into Ian’s Scottish pile.
• A Very British Scandal’s opening hour does a beautiful job of making us sympathize with Margaret, a lady who was reviled and disgraced in the press at the time.

The new drama from screenwriter Sarah Phelps (Dublin Murders, The Pale Horse) premiered tonight and will continue for the next two weeks. Shares everything of Netflix’s hugely popular royal drama’s silent car excursions, panoramic landscapes, upper-class anxieties, and seriousness.

As the title suggests, it’s also a little less polished. The three-parter is said to be inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Ian (Paul Bettany, well known for his role as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and Margaret’s high-profile and, at the time, spectacular divorce (Foy).

However, the first hour takes place 16 years ago, when the pair met on a train to Scotland for the first time:

Duke, played by Bettany, is a shamelessly flirty yet undoubtedly charming bachelor. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind and is unsatisfied with his position in life (he was expecting more money from the duchy).

Margaret was a stuttering socialite who liked one-night hookups and parties where the primary draw was racing wind-up toy penises. He’s married, and she’s just divorced, but that doesn’t stop them from falling in love and having a lot of sex.

A Very British Scandal is a sumptuous, slow-paced, and frequently amusing feast that showcases Foy and Bettany’s superb acting:

Phelps’ writing is subtle yet powerful, with the many moments of silence conveying as much as what is uttered aloud. Julia Davis plays an opulent party host, and Phoebe Nicholls plays Margaret’s disapproving mother, and the supporting cast is just as funny.

You can’t help but pull for the couple, even though they appear to be incredibly selfish and unconcerned about the people their relationship disturbs. They’re personable, and against the backdrop of the early 1950s, they seem to be folks ahead of their time.

However, the pre-title sequence foretold their marriage ending in a dramatic court fight. We were invited to select sides as Ian embraced his actual identity as a rude, spoiled child.

In the second part of the show, they sowed further hints of their disagreement:

Margaret was furious when her new husband carried her across the threshold during their wedding reception (she is less flashy than her reputation would have you believe, and much less so than Ian).

The couple grew apart more after moving into Ian’s Scottish pile. When Ian purchased his ex an elegant mink coat, a full-fledged brawl nearly erupted, but Margaret had to foot the price.

The goal is to recast a historical “sin” via a 21st-century prism, similar to the previous series, A Very English Scandal, which recreated the Jeremy Thorpe incident. A Very British Scandal’s opening hour does a beautiful job of making us sympathize about Margaret, a lady who was reviled and disgraced in the press at the time.

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