Victoria

[eve_prime]

Today I watched the first two hours of the new BBC series about the first years of Victoria's reign. It's reasonably historically accurate, although I am certain that Lady Flora Hastings' notorious "examination" did not coincide with Victoria's coronation. The real problem with the show, from my perspective, is the awkward inclusion of the "downstairs" staff, as if that's what makes a British costume drama successful. Gwen from Torchwood looks strangely dowdy, and we're especially supposed to care about a pretty young woman who arranges the queen's hair and may have escaped from a life of prostitution. I do like the aerial views and background shots of London and the palace exteriors, supplied by computer graphics.