by Frankie Fanelli
Belgravia is a new six-part period drama that was released April 12 through collaboration by Epix and ITV. Brought to you by the Julian Fellowes, Nigel Marchant, Gareth Neame, and Liz Trubridge, a team of people who also created and produced Downton Abbey.
Belgravia is a period drama set in 19th century England on the brink of, and later in the aftermath of, war. Much as you’d expect based on its predecessor, the set, makeup, and costume design in this series is stellar, not only in its accuracy but in the way it adds to the characters themselves- easily allowing us to distinguish class from class and understand the social standings and temperaments of our characters. Even the filming locations that were dressed up in blast from the past facades and extras shine as the eponymous, wealthy London neighborhood of Belgravia.
However, there’s another way this show resembles its predecessor Downton Abbey: its story pacing and writing tends to be so relentless and unnuanced that the characters and story at times grows to become cartoonish and the pacing of the show to lull, a dangerous space where viewers develop the potential to lose interest.
Despite two fresh faced teens dominating the foreground of nearly all the marketing for this series, I was surprised to learn that the series truly centers around the older women in the series, those long past the years of striving for love, money, or marriage. These women, Anne Trenchard (Tamsin Greig) and Caroline, Countess of Brockenhurst (Harriet Walter), are two members of high society- one coming from old money and one who comes from new money made through industrialization and knows her place because of it- feuding over inheritances, upholding their reputations, and hiding a secret that’s haunted the two families for decades.
Without a doubt, the story is compelling. Between the strict societal codes that are so scandalously crossed by the younger characters, the fervent whispers of dark secrets, reputations and fortunes on the line, and a would-rather-be-forgotten past coming back to haunt our two leading ladies, there’s plenty to keep watching for.
Despite this, the enthralling portions of the show are done well, just as you’d expect from the seasoned cast of actors this show boasts, and the characters explore grief, the inherent fear of secret-keeping, and the cutthroat attitude of 19th century aristocracy in extremely compelling fashion.
TV Wasteland 