A fight against feminine fragility.

The second season of Victoria on PBS kicked off with an action-packed premiere and second episode. “A Soldier’s Daughter” brings viewers into the middle of a military crisis. While Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman), was recovering from the birth of Princess Victoria, her advisers kept from her the news that the British military suffered a crushing defeat in Afghanistan. Prince Albert (Tom Hughes) believed helping her in her recovery meant hiding distressing secrets from her. She believes she can’t trust the one person she should be able to trust. On the domestic front, Queen Victoria is also held back from day-to-day decision making. Religious traditions and stereotypes dictated that once women gave birth they should only focus on child rearing. The meddlesome Coburg in-laws, The Duke of Coburg (Andrew Bicknell), Uncle Leopold (Alex Jennings) and Ernest (David Oakes) return to the castle for more unwanted advice and trouble making. Queen Victoria shows her advisers and the nation, during a rousing speech that her first responsibility is to the troops at her command.

Related | 5 Reasons We Are Excited about Victoria Season 2

“The Green-Eyed Monster” continues the theme of Victoria’s distrust of Albert from a different angle. The famous female mathematician Ada Lovelace (Emerald Fennell) along with several other scientists are invited to the palace for a soirée. Prince Albert’s interests in scientific inquiry are excellent in creating a common bond with Lovelace but are also highly effective in making Victoria feel incredibly insecure. The episode title is name-dropped as she begins to fear that Albert is heading towards infidelity. The green might also be a nod to her scenes where she is suffering from morning sickness as well. Victoria turns to the one person who she can truly trust to advise her on her growing fears: Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell). He can only advise Victoria as a friend but the tension from the past is just under the surface. Will Victoria and Albert see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Now, let’s see what our Victoria obsessed roundtable had to say!

Katherine (@Lady_madchan) - Period Drama Fan

Melissa (@immelza) - Lover of period dramas, PBS, good books, kind people and all things Poldark

Kirk (@MrMasonFBAbbey)- Creator of Austen in Boston: A Jane Austen Bookclub and Atticus Aldridge.

Vida (@Blacklanderz) - Author, researcher, and educator . . . loves history, TV, movies, and jazz! Founder of Outlander fan site Blacklanderz.

Shannon (@Endy_92) - Cosplayer, Writer, Anglophile

1) Let’s start with the biggest question posed by Episode 1. Do you believe Prince Albert was right to conceal the heavy losses in Afghanistan from Queen Victoria? Would her inclusion in the decision-making process have swayed the outcome?

Katherine (@Lady_madchan): No I don’t. She’s a competent adult, and it’s *her country*. It’s a very paternalistic thing for him to do. And she’s definitely going to find out. And it’s going to inevitably will lead to an argument. Not sure if this would have swayed the outcome one way or another though (and probably not).

Melissa (@immelza): I think if history has taught us anything it’s that nobody can sway the outcome in Afghanistan. It seems Victoria and Albert were early in their marriage and still trying to figure out their roles as far as power and control. I see this portrayed as one of the biggest challenges in their marriage because in that era a pregnant woman (actual women in general) were looked at very differently.

Kirk(@MrMasonFBAbbey): No! As an advisor and as a husband….keeping that info is a FAIL! Part two: Probably not…but as Lord M(or maybe the Duke of Wellington?) said….her instincts are usually correct.

Vida (@Blacklanderz): Honestly, I believe he believed what he did was in her best interest, that she needed to rest and he did not want to burden her with the news of losses. I am not sure if her inclusion would have swayed the outcome, but it is highly likely it could have. She is, after all, a soldier’s daughter.

Shannon (@Endy_92): Honestly? I don’t think her knowledge would have swayed it one way or the other. Her father’s daughter or not she has no knowledge of battlefield tactics. With the delay in the mail, there wasn’t much anyone in London could have done.

2) Fans love it when the legends of British acting show up as guest stars in dramas. On a scale of 1-10 how awesome is Diana Rigg as the Duchess of Buccleuch and why? Which other PBS period drama characters does she remind you of?

Katherine: An 8! I get Dowager Countess and Aunt Agatha vibes for sure.

Melissa: I love the addition of Duchess Buccleuch! So far to me, she’s developing her own PBS period drama icon status. While I see glimmers of Grandmama Violet I really see her developing her own voice. Also, she doesn’t seem to be a wicked as my favorite Aunt Agatha from Poldark!

Kirk: Hmmm….actually I didn’t enjoy her character at all. So, barely 2.0 from me, sorry!!!! Wasn’t enough to have nasty Leo and Victoria’s awful mother on as well? Um, Aunt Agatha in Poldark without the gleam in her eye…The Dowager in Downton Abbey without the leavening(but not Levinson!) heart underneath the sharp as a tack wit?

Vida: Definitely a 10! I loved her as Emma Peel in The Avengers (1966) (and that they showed her in that role on Outlander) and as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones. I have only watched a few of the other period dramas on PBS, so she doesn’t remind me of any other character.

Shannon: A 10! I was curious where she’d show up after “Tell Cersei it was me.” and the most epic death in Game of Thrones history. Rigg is always a hoot no matter what role she’s in. She honestly reminded me of her Doctor Who character (yes I know it’s not PBS).

3) It’s well documented in history that Queen Victoria was not the warmest mother to her children. We see several visual and dialogue cues that she is having a tough time bonding with Princess Victoria. Do you believe the episode is proposing an alternate theory to the historical record?

Katherine: No. I’ve seen some historians posit that she had postpartum depression, so I don’t think so. It’s certainly within the realm of possibility.

Melissa: It does seem in this interpretation Queen Victoria and even Albert seem more nurturing. But when I watch period dramas I’m watching for the writer’s interpretation, not historical accuracy.

Kirk: Not sure. Given the very poor relationship with her own mother…I don’t think it’s too surprising. I believe the historical record shows Albert as the warmer parent. I loved loved the all too short scene with Victoria and Harriet in the nursery.

Vida: Given that they had nine children, it will be interesting to see how she is portrayed being a mother in the show. I know historical accounts attest to her not being particularly fond of babies and how they look, but in the show, I can understand her distance. She had neither a happy childhood nor a role model to follow into motherhood. Plus, everyone was more concerned with her producing an heir rather than her being the queen; and for her, it appeared she was more interested in the latter than the former. Since this is television, it is possible they will soften the blow and have an alternate portrayal of her as a mother than she was in real life.

Shannon: I have a hard time believing she didn’t at least TRY to bond with her children regardless of her feelings toward babies. She did love them in her own crippled way but a lot of that I think is a product of her own- very strange- childhood. She didn’t know how to “like” babies.

4) Episode 2 introduces the famous female mathematician Ada Lovelace. She’s a breath of fresh air. Do you believe there’s more to Victoria’s jealousy of her than Prince Albert’s interest in science? Is the Queen having a feminist awakening?

Katherine: I don’t think so. Both are similar in a way. Both have careers that most women don’t have. Although Victoria has her career due to her birth, and Ada Lovelace has hers mostly due to merit (although being Lord Byron’s daughter probably helped a lot too). And Victoria backs off on her jealousy when Ada mentions that she has children too.

Melissa: I think Victoria was probably way ahead of her time with her thoughts on gender roles for this time period. As most people treated Ana as an oddity for being a female mathematician, Victoria didn’t seem phased that a woman could achieve so much in a male-dominated society. Victoria was also wrestling with her own identity and power. I thought these characters had an amazing juxtaposition in this episode. I thought it was a powerful moment when upon meeting they mutually agreed they both wished they were born as men.

Kirk: It didn’t appear to be so by the end of Episode 2. I don’t think so.

Vida: By the end of the episode, she admitted that she was jealous and realized it was totally unnecessary for her to be so. Prior to meeting her, all she saw was a woman who had obviously caught Albert’s interest and attention; she also thought she was single. I don’t know that I would call it ‘a feminist awakening’ as I saw her find in Lovelace a kindred spirit, one who was trying to juggle her work and passion with motherhood. No man could ever understand how she was feeling, though Lord M did ease her mind with her jealousy streak.

Shannon: From day one Albert has been there for her more or less on a constant basis. They’re having growing pains as a couple and Lovelace isn’t helping matters- through no fault of her own. In her own way, I think Victoria was a feminist, not by a modern definition by any means but to be queen and a wife she had to be. That much was made clear in her scene with Lord M.

5) Granted we saw the fabulous Rufus Sewell in the trailers, but it’s nice to see Lord Melbourne back in the picture! What was your reaction to his appearance and his interactions with Victoria?

Katherine: Oh Lord M! Mostly excitement!

Melissa: I love Lord M! He’s an amazing support system for Victoria when she needs him, he’s there. With Lord M I feel like this is more than duty or service to his Queen, he genuinely cares very much about her. We could all use a Lord M!

Kirk: Generally too short!!! I loved the scene in the garden….although I could have done without the Venus Flytrap! Yuck! And the last scene Lord M was in….super gross!

Vida: I love Rufus Sewell and was glad to see him back. Though Victoria is trying as hell and stubborn as a mule, I was pleased with his interaction with her (like a father would a daughter) and how he set her straight. However, I don’t like the fact that she depends on him way too much and puts him in very precarious situations.

Shannon: I must be the only fan not enamored with Rufus/Lord M. I’m just sort of over him at the moment. She needs to stop relying on him and talk to Albert more.

6) We all know the Duchess of Buccleuch will become a fan favorite. Which of the other new characters are you the most interested in finding more about and why?

Katherine: Drummond (Leo Suter) is rather intriguing.

Melissa: I’m liking how we’re getting more of an upstairs / downstairs vibe this season. I’m looking forward to seeing the downstairs story lines develop. Also, there were many “looks and glances” of love between many of the upstairs characters and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.

Kirk: Not with me!!! I can’t say I was interested in any of them yet. Hopefully, Albert’s brother (David Oakes) will be around all season but wouldn’t break too many hearts.

Vida: I absolutely love Prince Albert (Tom Hughes). He has a calming presence and is perfect for Victoria. I want to see Victoria start relying on him as she does Lord M. I am also interested in seeing more of Mrs. Skerrett (Nell Hudson). I did not like Hudson as Laoghaire MacKenzie in Outlander, but am glad to see her as a different character and in a different light. The revelation of her character’s backstory in S1 was interesting, so it will be interesting to see if more is revealed about her and her character development this season.

Shannon: I kinda love Wilhelmina Coke (Bebe Cave), the niece of the Duchess of Buccleuch, to be honest. I’m intrigued by the idea of Ernst and a woman so unlike his first love interest. There’s no way the Duchess will let Ernst get away with what he pulled in season one.

7) Lastly, throughout both episodes, Victoria and Albert have adjusted to new challenges in their relationship. At the end of Episode 2, do you believe Victoria and Albert’s marriage is stronger compared to the end of last season or weaker?

Katherine: It’s hard to say. They are entering a new phase. The “honeymoon” period might be over. They are stepping into the realities of marriages. And that might mean more arguments for them. We’ll have to see how things go during the season. Is the love still strong? Do they still have each other’s backs

Melissa: It seems to me that we are watching Victoria and Albert’s relationship growing and changing as they settle into their roles. Also, they are maturing, becoming parents while carrying tremendous responsibility and having everything watched and judged by family and staff. I like the way the writers have portrayed their struggles and I had to grab my PBS crying towel for that last scene!

Kirk: Stronger….they both admitted they made mistakes. They worked out the issues. In the future…the time they take to work out issues might be shorter.

Vida: Oh, it is much stronger! I think they are the perfect match for each other. He doesn’t give in to her childish whims, as was seen in the episode when she tried to get him to come back to the castle and when she ran off to see Lord M (purposefully to make him jealous). He also challenges her. No one else treats her, or respects and loves her, the way he does. For Victoria, the end of the episode showed she is maturing as she realized she cannot treat him the way she does her other subjects because she is not only his queen but also his wife.

Shannon: It began weaker- she didn’t trust him after the incident in Kabul and she clearly despises being treated like a glass doll- but they came again together and were stronger in my opinion by the end of the second one. She’s realized she can’t rule alone no matter how she might wish it. She needs advisors beyond Lord M or Wellington. Albert shares her position in a way. Politicians come and go but the monarch remains regardless.

A very strong and regal start to Season 2

Daisy Goodwin has put Her Majesty in a very formidable position for Victoria Season 2. Both “A Soldier’s Daughter” and “The Green-Eyed Monster” make it clear that parenthood and politics will put Victoria and Albert’s romance to the test. The expectations of motherhood in the 19th Century will be an additional hurdle for Victoria to overcome. The chemistry between Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes is even stronger this season. Rufus Sewell made all of the Vicburne shippers cry. Both episodes introduced the new characters without bogging down the pacing of scenes and dialogue with tons of backstory. Both episodes spotlighted lesser known people and events of the early 1840’s. Although Ada Lovelace stole the spotlight, Ira Aldridge’s (Ashley Zhangazha) breakthrough role as Othello and the parkouring pickpocket Boy Jones (Tommy Rodger) were deeper cuts in royal history. Many people ran to Wikipedia, after those scenes, and that’s always a good thing.

Related | Outlander 3×08 “First Wife” Review

Although the Afghanistan crisis was a good starting point for Victoria’s fight against mansplaining this season, it was also a weak point in terms of cultural sensitivity. It’s a good example of the downsides to a biographical period drama. Queen Victoria’s support of imperialist measures in Afghanistan has serious consequences for international politics and sociology for generations down the line. The “savages” according to Queen Victoria’s war room are according to history, tribesmen who were resisting the foreign invasion of their homeland. Although there is a fair bit of romanticism, there was also a sense of the lack of foresight into future events. The balance between romanticism and sharp critique is a very careful one, and this theme will likely resurface this season. “The Green-Eyed Monster” has a much smaller flaw. The exploits of Boy Jones have definitely stretched a pinch beyond logic. Throughout the live tweets, many fans noticed how crazy it was that so many people failed to notice him.

Next week is all about unraveling the mystery behind Lord Melbourne’s final scenes in the second episode. Is he severely ill or even heaven forbid at death’s door? It’s very possible Victoria may give birth next week. Will this child be the Prince she needs to secure the secession without dispute? Fans are also curious to see if Mrs. Skerrett and Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) will reconcile their differences.

Victoria returns Sunday, January 21 at 9/8c on PBS