A clash of cultures: Britain vs. France

British-French relations dominate episode 3 of Victoria. King Louis Philippe (Bruno Wolkowitch) is seeking to marry his son to the Spanish Queen Isabel. Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman) believes that the potential match would give Britain’s opponents too much leverage. Sir Robert Peel (Nigel Lindsay) believes a letter would suffice for expressing the official government position. That idea was not enough to satisfy Her Majesty. Although up until this point she has had no prior diplomatic experience, she believes speaking monarch to monarch will resolve the issue. She decides to take Prince Albert, (Tom Hughes), Drummond (Leo Suter), Lord Alfred (Jordan Waller), Wilhelmina Coke (Bebe Cave), and the Duchess of Buccleuch (Diana Rigg) with her to France. For those who are in tune with the history behind the series, this incident was the beginning of Victoria and Albert’s interest in diplomacy through marriage. As her kids matured, many of them were married off to various European royal houses. Not all of those matches are love matches, but we must remember the series is depicting Victoria in her earlier idealistic years. Her goal in this trip to France is to make sure the old tensions which led to war before don’t happen again.

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The French Court of King Louis Philippe is just as “godless” as the Duchess predicted. The ladies of the court wear tons of makeup and their necklines are lower than the British gowns. Not to mention, an entire room in the castle is devoted to nude artwork and mistresses of the King have as much power as his legal spouse. Albert does not appreciate the very gaudy and contrived nature of the French court but thankfully Ernest (David Oakes), the new Duke of Coburg,  is there to shake things up.  An intoxicating atmosphere influences many in the diplomatic party to let loose a little in between official business. Delicacies such as ortolan (bunting birds drowned in brandy, then eaten whole) and other delights also added to the wonder of the French court. The women learned makeup and style tricks while the men form a fraternity of sorts. Many people might have missed showrunner Daisy Goodwin’s cameo appearance at the King’s table. How’s that for an easter egg! Being on an extended vacation essentially allows the diplomatic delegation to let loose in a way they wouldn’t at home. Will Victoria succeed in pleading her case?

What were fans’ reactions to the Queen’s mission? Let’s find out!

Jan (@total_janarchy) –  author and podcaster on a variety of pop culture subjects (Doctor Who, Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, RuPaul’s Drag Race), cosplayer,  Anglophile, and lifelong costume drama junkie.

Shannon (@Endy_92) – Cosplayer, Writer, Anglophile.

Katherine (@Lady_madchan) – Period drama lover.  Anglophile.  Poldark super fan.

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

Irene (@petitesoeur) – A lifelong fan of moving pictures, on big and small screens, particularly indie film and all things sci-fi. Irene writes for agnès films, a community that supports emerging and established women filmmakers.

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1) If you had to assemble a ‘Going to France’ squad, which four characters from the series would you pick and why?

Jan  (@total_janarchy): Queen Victoria so I could be introduced to everyone, Prince Ernest for the social life, Francatelli for the cuisine, and the Duchess of Buccleuch for comic relief.

Shannon (@Endy_92): The Duchess for one, even if “France is a godless country, ma’am.” I’d be dragging her butt just like Victoria did. I seriously need just an hour of her stuck at the French court. Harriet, as badly as I want Ernest/Wilhelmina to happen, I still adore her. For all the head necklaces and questionable dresses on occasion, she has great fashion sense- a must for the French Court. I plead the 5th as to why I want him (it’s not entirely shipping related I swear!) Ernest! The man fascinates me. An odd choice but Leizen Purley because like the Duchess I want to see her reaction to France. I mean she was bad enough when she found out about the perks the palace staff had.

Katherine (@Lady_madchan): Lord Alfred and Drummond – both are good guys and have your back.  They will keep their eyes and ears open.  You never know, they might “open up” a bit with their behaviors in France. Prince Ernst, mainly for the company for Albert.  He’s a fun guy to have around too.  It would be cool to see how he behaved in France. Skerrett because you need your stylist extraordinaire for a trip to Paris! Finally, the Duchess of Buccleuch because sometimes you just need someone to give you blunt and motherly advice.

Melissa (@immelza):  I would definitely take Alfred and Drummond because they seem like they would be great traveling companions. We could share snark on everyone and I’m secretly rooting for them to have a relationship! I would bring Albert because he knows everyone there as most of them are cousins so he could keep them occupied while I took a nap because afternoon naps on vacation are the best. Plus, he knows how to break away and let loose even if he was driven by his anxiety of confessing his heritage.  Of course, The Duchess would have to come along for entertainment. Her dislike of all things French food and culture would be great for some laughs!

Irene (@petitesoeur): I’d choose the crew that went. After all, who would want to deny Lord Alfred & Drummond the pleasure of the freedom they found in France, Wilhelmina Coke the opportunity to show-off her language skills and the Duchess of Buccleuch to be aghast about everything, even the shape of the bread.

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2) What do you believe was really behind Prince Albert’s objection to Victoria’s makeover?

Jan: I think it was an odd reaction to his father and his brother’s playing around with women along with the belief that ‘painted women’ were harlots, and the French women doubly so. Albert has been portrayed as quite uptight and conservative (which is historically accurate) so seeing his wife emulating the ladies of the French court obviously rattled him. He was clearly worried that she was being corrupted by the French on the inside as well as on the outside.

Shannon: He’s still smarting from last week, and he’s well…Albert, bless him.  He’s one of the most progressive characters by far but by the same token, he’s very old-fashioned.  Times are changing, France is France (they never change), and the poor guy just found out his dead father isn’t his father and his uncle is his father. Time for some OTP marriage and individual counseling.

Katherine: Prince Albert loves Victoria for the “real” her, for the woman she is.  He doesn’t need the extra “bells and whistles”.  I thought it was incredibly sweet of him to do that–shows how much he cares.  What a genuine guy!

Melissa:  I think Albert probably thought the makeup made her look like a prostitute or that she was looking for approval or attention from other men. Which is absolutely ridiculous, she was choosing to wear makeup to make herself feel better and more secure.

Irene: From the moment the pot of rouge was opened and the paint was applied to Victoria’s face, I expected Prince Albert would not be a happy camper when he saw her ‘made-up’ face. And the appalled look on his face when he first sees her is a good set-up for the “return to nature” woodland bath scene. I’m not sure that Albert’s motivation is more than a reflection of the personal crisis he’s in the midst of having, in regards to his legitimacy. Although, I’ve never met a person who enjoys kissing make-up more than naked flesh ~ so maybe that was Albert’s ulterior motive? What was most intriguing to me was that both characters studied their reflections in a mirror and then preceded to alter the composition of their faces ~ Victoria by applying make-up ~ Albert by drowning the image he had drawn of himself in a puddle of black ink. And if you’ve watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there’s an interesting parallel to be drawn between early 19th century French artifice & mid-twentieth century American artifice.  

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3) Discuss the developments between Lord Alfred and Drummond.

Jan: Definitely some seriously UST (unresolved sexual tension) smoldering going on there.  I suspect it will be resolved sooner than later as it’s been building up over the last few episodes.

Shannon: The cynic in me saw it coming. The two of them have been pussyfooting around each other, it was going to come to a head. Whether it be the two of them doing something like they did or one was going to come on to the other and he’d be screaming to quote Robert from Downton Abbey “Blue murder.”

Katherine: Oh boys!  The eye-sex was killing me!  So much fun to watch them break out of their shells.

Melissa: There are an obvious attraction and serious chemistry with ‘Drumfred’ and I don’t think the series is showing how difficult a relationship like this would be back in those times. While I do realize this is a story with time limits on each character and their development and the writers are doing the best they can. I think the addition of Drumfred adds to this series but is probably unrealistic when it comes to portraying the real emotional struggle they probably endured.

Irene: I felt absolutely giddy watching Lord Alfred and Drummond flirt more openly with each other while they were in France. Although I did wonder whether two British courtiers would behave quite as freely as they did in the woodland bathing scene since they were in the company of their ‘betters’ ~ Prince Albert and Antoine d’Orléans. Then again, the scene had a ‘boyish’ quality to it and no one involved seemed to give it a second thought. Perhaps the other characters chalked-up Alfred’s and Drummond’s obvious enjoyment of each other to the invigorating cold water. But I found their playfulness was suggestive of something more than just a delight in the warmth of companionship.  

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4) Was the bathing in the lake scene too out of character for Albert?

Jan: It did feel a little out of character for him. He’s normally so tightly wound and so repressed that his peeling off his clothing and plunging into a cold lake seemed to come out of nowhere.

Shannon: It feels like he’s compensating for something in a way. When he’s the reserved Albert we all know and love, it feels like he’s behaving in a way to prove just how unlike his “father” he is, and when he lets his wild side out he’s trying to prove he’s not a stick in the mud like his father.

Katherine:  I don’t think so.  He’s very frank, open and honest in his attitudes and his views. In addition to the stuff going on in France, he’s still very troubled by Uncle Leopold’s words.

Melissa:  I thought the bathing scene showed the real struggle Albert was facing emotionally.  He was acting out and needed a break from his reality. It was like the swim was a cleansing and Victoria, while irritated his nakedness was witnessed, accepted that he needed to cut loose for a bit. I think her own struggles with postpartum depression have given her more empathy.

Irene: Unexpected but not out of character. Albert, albeit reserved, is depicted as a deeply sensual and physical person. So it seems perfectly in tune with his character that he would (literally) jump at the opportunity to abandon the internal and external pretenses that have engulfed and entrapped him. Stripping off his clothes and plunging into chilly waters is an embrace of his true nature as well as emboldening him to come clean with Victoria about what’s been tormenting him. What I’m really curious about is why the libertine Prince Ernest did not take off all his clothes when he joined in. What has he got to hide, I wonder..  

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5) Did this episode make the contrasts between 19th Century France and 19th Century England clear in the visuals and the dialogue?

Jan: Most definitely. Even down to the lighting, the direction and the costuming. France was much brighter, more airy, and more ornate than anything in England. French society, fashion, and cuisine were all shown to be much different than the British equivalent. I actually made a joke about British cuisine at the time being “we just boil it until it’s grey” which was pretty much the punchline at the dinner scene, in the end, courtesy of the Duchess of Buccleuch.

Shannon: To say the least. Then again having watched as many period pieces as I have one learns France is always France. They always have to be special. They’re always more apt to have cosmetics and LOTS of sex etc. The stereotypical “Victorian” and later “Edwardian” attitudes never take hold.

Katherine:  I’d say they do a nice job.  You have the visual contrasts and the bit about makeup, as well as the discussions about French customs.  They do a nice job of making it clear that Victoria is in another country.

Melissa: Definitely showed the tremendous difference in the way the French did everything as super over the top. From the women’s dinner flowers, the dresses, gardens with orange trees, and the food everything was much fancier than in the U.K–an overt display of wealth. There was also definitely a strong contrast in conversation and pretentious dining etiquette– which was really obvious during the final dining scene back at home.

Irene: The characters spoke about the delightful and alarming differences between the two countries. And I believe that they found France and the French as different as they professed. I’m not certain how much I believe it was. For sure there was more sun, more fresh vegetables, more paint on the ladies’ faces as well as more frankness about sexual escapades. However, there seemed to be exactly as much extravagance displayed in the life of both courts–nothing topped that costume ball Victoria concocted in the previous episode. The character who stood out the most was King Louis Philippe, reflecting (perhaps) the historical figure’s time spent living in America in exile. It gave a better understanding of his political circumstances than his cousin due to his rather more direct involvement in the revolution that had changed his life as much as his country.     

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6) Albert finally got that weight off of his chest and told Victoria the truth. What was your reaction?

Jan: I am glad he finally confided in her. She loves him and married him because she fell in love with him as a person, not because of his title. It was a beautiful moment.

Shannon: HER reply didn’t surprise me one bit. She understands what makes him tick. At times it seems like Albert forgets just how messed up Victoria’s own childhood was.  He forgets that while he and his brother lost their mother/had a spendthrift manwhore father who couldn’t keep the castle up because he spent all his money on his “ladies”, Victoria had an extremely isolated. She had no life with no other children or people outside her mother’s household really around/Conroy controlling her mother’s every move/a dead father. They’re both strong people but they’re both damaged people and he seems to forget that she understands him on a level others don’t, she always will. Their pasts unite them.

Katherine: Mostly relief.  He just needs to get it out there in the open and deal with it.  Some of this is foreshadowed by his reaction to Victoria in makeup. He hates inauthenticity.

Melissa: I was glad he told her, it seemed to really be wearing on his soul. It showed how they truly have grown to become each other’s best friends and truly in love. Also probably a good thing he confessed to doing something truly reckless like challenging someone to a duel.

Irene: Relief! I had had enough of Moping Albert.

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 7) Were you surprised by King Louis Philippe’s final decision?

Jan: Unfortunately not very. The entire scenario was set up to scream “DON’T TRUST THE FRENCH!” and Louis Phillipe was trying to do what was best for his family over his country. Given what awaits him in the future, it’s turned out he made the right decision. (Historical spoiler: he and his family were exiled in the Revolution of 1848 and moved to Great Britain).

Shannon: Not a bit. He’s French if one learns nothing else from European history you never trust the French.

Katherine: I don’t think so.  Through the episode, we learned that King Louis Philippe is a survivor first and foremost.  I don’t think it’s a huge surprise that he would do what he thought he needed to do, rather than honoring an agreement.  It should probably be mentioned that agreements like these were frequently broken.  So no, not especially surprised.

Melissa: I was not surprised by the King’s decision, he seemed like he was almost treating the Queen as a child. When he shaded her about her rise to the crown I knew he was not genuine in his intentions.

Irene: No – but I was aware of the historical figure’s actions and would have been surprised only if the series had altered it.

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Prince Albert is no longer the royal stick in the mud

Tom Hughes was the clear standout performance for brilliantly portraying Prince Albert’s transformation in this episode. Albert faced the shadow of his identity and the many emotions around it. France did remind him of the libertine instincts of his uncle, brother, and father–but it also reminded him of what really mattered. Victoria was the love of his life. He didn’t need anyone else for emotional and physical fulfillment. Hughes brilliantly showed  Albert’s innate Puritan attitudes were essentially a reaction to his environment. The French Court reminded him of why he wanted to be a different man.  The tiny touches of French history and history also added to the episode. Many fans did not know about post-Napoleonic and post-Les Miserables French history. These moments of escapism kept the audience intrigued until the very end.

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Sadly, the FCC ruined an otherwise fantastic scene for character development for Albert, Ernest, Drummond and Lord Alfred. PBS blurred the rear male anatomy of the actors jumping into the lake for fears of legal trouble. The censored version is also currently posted on PBS’ streaming service. It’s a troubling sign of the current administration in Washington that PBS has to play it safe with censorship. Fans have also pointed out this is not the first time Masterpiece and PBS have caused controversy with censorship from series to series. There was also a moment of fleeting nudity edited out of Northanger Abbey in 2007. Artwork nudity on Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries has also had the Photoshop treatment. In years past, PBS was able to show a more British/European attitude on these matters. Censorship such as this is a threat to all artistic expression on US television, not just Victoria.

Next week’s episode has an extremely powerful trailer depicting the horrors of the Irish Potato Famine. Miss Cleary will likely step out of the shadows into focus. Several hints have been dropped throughout this season about her Irish Catholic background. Can she overcome what will likely to be an excuse for ethnic prejudice?

Victoria returns next Sunday, February 4th at 9/8c on PBS