'Anatomy of a Scandal' Review: Slow burn, but offers satisfying closure with stunning performances
If you know anything about UK politics, then you must realize that Britain has seeped deep into scandals and every single politician is under the microscope. In 2004, a news report stunned everyone when it alleged that Boris Johnson, the current PM of the UK, had an affair with the journalist Petronella Wyatt. Since then, a lot of scandals have come out of UK’s political system. Taking inspiration from such instances, Netflix’s ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ follows a member of the UK Parliament who gets accused of rape by one of his political aides.
The trial begins and all the dirt comes to the surface. The show, based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Sarah Vaughan, takes a look at the power and privilege that politicians hold in society. When James (Rupert Friend) is accused of rape, he bluntly tells his wife Sophie (Sienna Miller) about his affair with Olivia Lytton (Naomi Scott), who has put allegations of rape against him. But he vehemently denies those charges and when the trial starts, Sophie is seen supporting her husband.
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As the trial moves forward, we see barrister Kate Woodcroft (Michelle Dockery) representing Olivia in the court and shredding James’s integrity. But she would have to be at her best to put him behind bars because he has close connections with the UK Prime Minister. With such a stunning storyline and hard-hitting performances, the Netflix show manages to keep viewers glued to their screens. At times, the series tends to lose its momentum and walks toward a misplaced dedication to the sexiness that nearly put it off the rails.
However, the series manages to keep itself on track by providing enough juicy material. The series is complex and talks about the famous and empowering ‘MeToo’ movement. The six-part series is gripping when Sophie realizes that her marriage and her life with James have always been a lie. Meanwhile, all the courtroom proceedings are riveting as well. Every episode finishes with a revelation that keeps the momentum going, but a ridiculously interesting twist, in the end, takes the series to a whole new level.
Sienna Miller as Sophie is the soul of this series and gives a performance that would be remembered for years. Meanwhile, Michelle Dockery gives a stunning performance that will encourage you to stand up and applaud her. Her performance is multi-layered and when we get to know about her character’s past, you realize why she is still struggling to process something that happened to her decades ago.
Rupert Friend and Naomi Scott are also extraordinary in their roles. Especially, Friend who makes you feel angry with how privileged he is and how he uses his powerful stature to get out of things.
‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ might not be perfect, but stunning performances and riveting sequences make the series a must-watch. Vaughan, who worked as a political correspondent for The Guardian in the past, will be proud of the makers for adopting her novel in such an efficient manner.
‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ is currently streaming on Netflix.