In November 2019, amid a flurry of renewed rumors about his long-standing relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and accusations of sexual misconduct with Virginia Giuffre, an alleged 17-year-old victim of sex trafficking, Prince Andrew felt compelled to address the elephant in the room. He granted a detailed, 49-minute interview to Emily Maitlis, the fierce and astute host of the evening news program 'Newsnight.' During this grilling session, Prince Andrew revealed no remorse for his association with Epstein. The interview was peppered with bizarre revelations, such as his claimed inability to sweat due to an adrenaline disorder, and notably, his alibi that he couldn't have slept with Giuffre on the date she specified because he was attending a pizza party in the mundane town of Woking. As many will vividly recall, this saga unfolded just half a decade ago, and it proved disastrous for the queen's beloved son: he was swiftly sidelined from public duties and eventually resigned from all his royal responsibilities.
Prince Andrew's entanglements with Epstein stretched back years. Perhaps that's why each episode of 'A Very Royal Scandal,' which chronicles the events leading up to, during, and after the fateful interview, begins with the ominous ticking of a clock, symbolizing a reputational time bomb ticking away. This is the third installment in the loosely connected 'A Very X Scandal' series, which debuted in 2018 with a story starring Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe, a British MP accused of a homosexual affair with a younger man and later of conspiring to murder him. The allegations at the heart of the new series are repulsive, easy to overlook amidst the absurdity, yet the tawdry melodrama holds undeniable tabloid appeal — a royal prince accused of sex crimes amidst connections to America's most infamous sexual predator.
It bears mentioning that 'A Very Royal Scandal' wasn't the first to dramatize this dark chapter in recent royal history. Netflix beat it to the punch with 'Scoop,' a 100-minute film starring Gillian Anderson as Maitlis, detailing the build-up to and aftermath of the interview that shattered Prince Andrew's family, career, and social standing. (Rufus Sewell portrayed Andrew. Both actors bore an uncanny resemblance to their real-life counterparts.) Released in April this year, 'Scoop' received a tepid critical reception, blending into the streaming era's endless churn, and has since been largely forgotten.
Yet here comes 'A Very Royal Scandal,' with its premiere episode serving as a refresher course on events that transpired so recently and were already transformed into light entertainment just five months prior in 'Scoop.' While 'Scoop' focused largely on the perspective of a street-smart TV producer played by Billie Piper, her character takes a backseat in 'A Very Royal Scandal,' which instead shines the spotlight on Maitlis and Andrew, their backgrounds interwoven throughout the episode. This time, they are brought to life by Ruth Wilson of 'Luther' and 'The Affair' fame, and the ever-versatile Michael Sheen, who seems to collect portraying public figures like Pokémon. (He has previously portrayed journalist David Frost in 'Frost/Nixon,' soccer manager Brian Clough in 'The Damned United,' and Prime Minister Tony Blair in three separate films.)
I suspect a significant portion of the audience's allure towards this series stems from their eager anticipation of witnessing how Wilson and Sheen embody their characters, for transformation stands as the cornerstone of such narratives. Recall 'Lincoln,' where our fascination primarily lay in observing Daniel Day-Lewis morph into the iconic, top-hatted president. Similarly, the allure of 'Darkest Hour' resided in Gary Oldman's artificial weight gain, his elaborate makeup, and prosthetics playing a pivotal role in securing him an Oscar. By the series finale of 'The Crown,' what captivated us more than anything was the portrayal of the diametrically opposed Dianas. We are enthralled by impersonations, regardless of whether the subjects are renowned news anchors or disgraced royals. Hence, the pressing question arises: How adeptly have they undergone this transformation? This theme will reemerge when the infamous interview is recreated (spoiler alert: its recreation was inevitable, with all these episodes released simultaneously). However, for the time being, Sheen resembles a bulkier, white-haired version of himself, yet his mannerisms are uncannily spot-on. Wilson bears no resemblance to Maitlis physically, but his voice is uncannily accurate, albeit somewhat cartoonish. As an avid listener of Maitlis's podcast, 'The News Agents,' I believe I could differentiate between them if blindfolded, albeit marginally.
The episode kicks off mere moments before the legendary interview, a scene brimming with frantic energy: Maitlis, tardy for the sit-down that would catapult her to fame, lugging bags of spare attire to ward off any last-minute wardrobe mishaps, hustles into Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, Andrew, exuding grandiosity and pomposity, makes his grand entrance into the interview room, accompanied by his loyal aide Amanda Thirsk (played by Joanna Scanlan). As he strides down one of the palace's ornate corridors, he curtly dismisses an inquiring servant with a "fuck off," establishing this as a defining trait in Sheen's portrayal. Their contrasting demeanors serve as a subversion of how they will feel under the interview's scrutinizing lights. Andrew exudes calm, composure, dominance, combativeness, and confidence. In stark contrast, Maitlis is visibly nervous, heading to the bathroom not for a nervous relief but to indulge in some chocolate. (In an interview on 'The News Agents' with her co-host Lewis Goodall, Maitlis revealed that prior to the interview with Andrew, her primary concern was her stomach audibly growling.)
A brief flashback to 2011 reveals Andrew being informed by an aide that the tabloid newspaper 'Daily Mail' is probing into his alleged assault of Giuffre, an incident conveniently forgotten by him. The aide mentions a photograph of them together, seemingly taken in Ghislaine Maxwell's house. This man, steeped in inherited privilege—perhaps the zenith of legally acquired privilege—dismisses the accusation with the nonchalance one would shoo away a fly buzzing around their cucumber sandwich. Any wagers on this photograph surfacing later? Don't be absurd. You cannot wager on (fictionalized accounts of) historical events!
Returning to the present—specifically 2019—Maitlis listens to a radio report about Theresa May's doomed Brexit deal while her husband prepares the children for school. Later, during a pitching session at the BBC, the prospect of an interview with Andrew arises. Maitlis argues passionately in its favor, but only if Epstein is on the agenda. Through this, we glimpse Maitlis as a tenacious news junkie, tired of the Brexit monotony shared by much of the British public by the late 2010s. She is unafraid to hold her guests accountable on 'Newsnight,' even if a harmless eye roll lands her in trouble. "I got a bit stroppy," she confesses to her doting husband upon returning home at an ungodly hour, fixing herself a glass of ice-cold vodka. The show boldly draws parallels between Maitlis and Andrew, highlighting their shared experience of fiery public scrutiny.
