A Very English Scandal

Sure thing, the English did a great job again. A slightly gay topic and excellent acting performances? Sure thing! Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw are putting on quite a show. Hugh Grant is putting in his best performance in a very long time and Ben Whishaw gave me a reason to make me find out that he is actually gay. And the topic itself? It’s strong in itself and it doesn’t matter what nationality or religion you are. And three hour-long episodes on top of all that? No problem. If you know from the start that this story will feature powerful acting performances and if it is clear to you that the director had a good time playing with the camera, you can rest assured that nothing and nobody will be boring you here. Quite the contrary. (14.11.2018)

It never occurred to me in my wildest dreams that Hugh Grant could play a dramatic role so brilliantly the way he did in this miniseries, which was based on true events. I dare say he gave one of the best performances of his career here. His ambitious and at times unbelievably sleazy Liberal Party chairman Jeremy Thorpe literally gives me chills. Ben Whishaw was also great as Grant's counterpart in the role of Norman Scott's effeminate lover. The theme of concealing homosexuality in the British political scene of the 1960s and 1970s is immensely powerful in itself. Although the series revolves around a serious scandal involving the highest echelons of society, everything is served with sharp British humor, which adds much-needed lightness and momentum to the story. (85%) (16.03.2020)

The strength of A Very English Scandal does not lie in its authenticity or its subject matter, but rather in the complexity, precision, and convincing performances of the actors. The miniseries is strong both in its screenwriting and in its direction and casting. It can masterfully balance on the edge of several genres and will be appreciated by fans of British television production because A Very English Scandal is as British as it gets. The essentially serious theme is mixed with black humor and irony, perhaps with the exception of the last episode, which is more of a courtroom drama and does not avoid a touch of pathos in some scenes. In terms of the acting, the series has no weaknesses, and Hugh Grant deserves absolute recognition for his portrayal of a member of the upper class and a representative of political power. It is one of the best performances of his long acting career, and those who know him from stereotypical romantic comedies might be shocked by the range of roles he can choose and how he can sell such a repellent mixture of cowardice, snobbery, and arrogance. His counterpart is Ben Whishaw in the role of an effeminate homosexual who, despite his seemingly fragile exterior, does not exhibit cowardice and can surprise. A Very English Scandal is a story about a society coming to terms with homosexuality and about the transformations of British politics in the second half of the 20th century. It is highly professional and entertaining. Overall impression: 90%. (01.03.2020)