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Sunday 8 October 2017

Victoria 2.7 "The King Over the Water" Review

                                               Image result for victoria the-king-over-the-water
The penultimate episode in series 2 sees Victoria (Jenna Coleman) heading for Scotland instead of hanging around the palace after two failed attempts on her life.  The perpetrator attempting to get a waxwork model of his into the waxworks as he sees those who have defied Victoria have been emblazoned as such.  Though makes you wonder if they could read the flyers/posters why they needed their five minutes of fame even back then.  She takes her staff and servants and once again Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) is left holding the babies much to her chagrin and the Duchess of Buccleuch (Diana Rigg) is relieved they're not going Continental this time round!  In fact it's her chance to have cock-a-leekie soup once again.  Don't know why Albert (Ton Hughes) asked what it was called again, as he did have this in another episode.  And no it's not "sock" soup either, though that could've been funny foreshadowing to Victoria darning a sock further into the ep as she and Albert go out and decide to return riding their own horses, away from the rest of the party.

Of course that was after listening to the dull rendition of The Heliotrope which Albert had to stop far from when it was even finished, much to everyone's relief.  Earnest (David Oakes) tries to engage in conversation with the Duchess Harriet (Margaret Clunie) but she doesn't want his "condolences" and she doesn't even like that word, let alone wanting to begin where they left off, preferring to remain aloof.  As Victoria and Albert go fishing, it seems everyone has eyes for everyone else, such as Earnest catching a whopper and watching Harriet, whilst Alfred (Jordan Waller) and Drummond (Leo Suter) do the same.  Don't know what Wilhelmina (Bebe Cave) was doing though, it appears she was over Earnest now as she didn't gaze at him longingly in the carriage and doesn't want to part company with Alfred or Drummond.

As Victoria and Albert get lost, which was bound to happen, everyone searches for them frantically and his Grace the Duke of Atholl (Denis Lawson) is berated  for 'losing' them to begin with.  With Alfred and Drummond going off together in search and chancing upon the cliff edge where they wouldn't be found for days if they went over.  Well if they survived the fall that is. Otherwise they'd enjoy being lost in the wilderness by their lonesome!  Albert and Victoria find a cottage where the old man invites them in cos they'll get lost if they leave tonight and won't make it back alive.  With Victoria rushing for the warmth of the fire.  Here they're fed fried trout, as well as a wee dram.  Victoria darns her first sock and Albert says he owns a factory.  Victoria adding she owns it and he does her paperwork.  As for the search, you'd think you were watching a scene from The 39 Steps.  Richard Hannay had no problems finding his way around the Highlands!

As they take over the couples' bed, they don't want to leave here.  Although they are found the next day, revealing that she is Victoria as the soldiers find them.  Returning back the others are glad to see them, but Earnest knows that Albert isn't happy to be back and it's obvious to him.  As they head in for dinner, Alfred and Drummond make their escape to be with the servants and their highland reel, as does Skerrett )Nell Hudson) with one of the guards.  However she says she has someone back in London.  Alfred and Drummond take the plunge as Drummond says he does care for his fiance but he won't grow to love her.  Finally sharing their kisses, they get spied upon by Wilhelmina.  Really she can't lave them alone.  Also forgiven for thinking they'd do a 'Mr Darcy' and jump into the wee pond, luckily they didn't!!

Harriet says it's her fault that the Duke was killed since the horse wasn't even broken in yet.  Earnest reassuring her it wasn't her fault.  But a tragic accident.  Finally she later takes hold of Earnest's hand.  Victoria tells the Duke that she loved reading about Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora and how she told her governess she wanted to be a Jacobite.  Which he says wouldn't be possible. he also tells her of James II and how when he left and knew the country wouldn't accept a Catholic King, he threw the seal into the River Thames.  But a monarch must govern every one of her subjects.

Back in London, Victoria prepares for the State opening of Parliament and also gives Skerrett a list for Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) for dinner.  As Skerret bursts into song, as does Francatelli.  Victoria returns and removes her robes and crown, again you'd think it was the J'Adore ad (well almost) since she kept all her clothes on!  Telling Albert she's got socks to darn and he should cook the fish on the open fire.  Obviously Victoria didn't really get lost in her travels to Scotland, though in reality she did enjoy the idvllic life of Scotland and to be a normal couple away from her duties.

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