Wiktoria

It took me more than half a season to figure out how to approach the series. In the end, I opted for fiction set in the Victorian era, partially based on historical events. If you don’t require historical accuracy and you can get over some exuberant romance, you'll probably have a good time. After a certain disillusionment, I managed to understand the creators’ intention, I stopped being unnecessarily critical, and I wasn’t disappointed or bored in the end. (28.05.2019)

As someone who loves movies and series set in the Britain of yore — not the current parody of itself — the first episode hit all the right notes for me. It had that quintessential English blend of reserve and cunning intrigue that I adore. If the series keeps up this vibe, count me in for the long haul. (26.05.2019)

The second episode didn't quite keep up the pace set by the first, and I found myself a tad disappointed that the political intrigues took a backseat to the intrigues of the household servants. Still, Rufus Sewell absolutely nailed it once again, though I have to admit, the other actors seemed to fade a bit in comparison to him. (26.05.2019)

This time around, I tuned into what felt like a slightly modified fox hunt — only instead of chasing a fox tail, the prize was the queen's hand. Initially, I was all set to award this "race" a full five stars, thanks to the skillful politicking on display. But I was taken aback by the excessive amount of romance, so I ultimately settled on a four. (26.05.2019)

I was silently crossing my fingers that it wouldn't happen, but alas, my hopes were dashed. The creators completely abandoned the political and historical storyline and dove headfirst into a purely romantic subplot, complete with the classic he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not back-and-forth. But honestly, I was expecting something different from this series. (26.05.2019)

Well, here we are again—nothing's really changed from the last episode. All the stuff that actually interests and entertains me — like history and politics — got shoved aside, while the dull romantic storyline took up all the spotlight. That opening episode that I raved about kinda led me astray. Turns out this series is a whole different genre than I thought. (26.05.2019)

I'm back to a four-star rating. I was really glad to see the creators shift their focus away from romance and back to more significant stuff. I mean, the anti-slavery conference was a big deal in this episode, and yet it seems like there's no mention of it anywhere else. I get it, filming a Victorian period piece and trying to include people of color probably presents some challenges... (28.05.2019)

Well, I decided not to focus on historical accuracy and embraced the series as a work of fiction set in the Victorian era. And you know what? It totally worked for me. That's why I could easily give this episode four stars — it really showcased why the nineteenth century was dubbed the "century of steam." (28.05.2019)

The season finale stayed consistent with the high quality of the previous two episodes. Since there were no more unsuccessful attempts at unnecessary romance, like we saw in episodes 4 and 5, there was no reason to lower the rating. (28.05.2019)

Apart from the unfortunate Christmas episode, it was a great season, even better than the first one in my view. In any case, I’d appreciate it if there were fewer romantic scenes in favor of political and historical events (historical according to HBO, of course). I wasn’t happy to see that political correctness managed to seep into this series, too, I was secretly hoping it wouldn’t. (20.08.2019)

The season opener wasn't flawless, but considering how much I enjoyed the first season, I'd say it comfortably earns a solid four stars. My only gripe was how they balanced the drama in Afghanistan with the cook's subplot – felt a bit off. (19.08.2019)

So, we're in the supposed steam-powered century, right? But blink and there's a computer – no steam in sight. The episode didn't exactly set my world on fire, and there was a bit too much romance for my liking. But somehow, it all came together quite nicely in the end. (19.08.2019)

The third episode really delved into the contrasting lives "above and below the stairs," offering a detailed glimpse into the disparities. It was interesting to see the characters shedding tears over fictional characters, oblivious to the harsh realities around them. It's like how people donate to children in Africa while ignoring those in need closer to home just because it's not trendy. (19.08.2019)

Another episode that lacked significant plot developments (aside from the heir to the throne). Surprisingly, though, I found myself thoroughly entertained throughout. It's a shame we won't see Rufus Sewell in the series anymore, but as long as the creators keep up their quality, I'm not too worried. (19.08.2019)

As I watched the European marriage politics unfold, I couldn't shake off memories of "The Queen of Spain's Beard" episode from the first season of Blackadder. I half-expected to hear, "Cheswick, fresh horses!" any moment. Witnessing the negotiations between my beloved Britain and my not-so-favorite France promised pure entertainment. (19.08.2019)

At last, I can give this episode a five-star rating. The romantic side took a backseat, allowing the spotlight to shine on the Great Irish Famine. Though the episode couldn't fully capture the gravity of this tragedy due to time constraints, the narrative remained incredibly poignant and impactful. (20.08.2019)

This time, romanticism took center stage over romance, and strangely enough, I found it rather enjoyable, being a fan of Scotland myself. (20.08.2019)

The creators took a deep dive into political happenings, which I appreciated. However, the focus on events within the royal household didn't quite hit the mark for me. The plot felt a tad weaker compared to previous episodes. 4*- (20.08.2019)

The Christmas special left me feeling pretty disappointed. It irked me that even in a Victorian-era TV series, the creators felt the need to bend over backwards to appease the forces of political correctness. But then again, maybe I shouldn't be all that surprised. (20.08.2019)

I realized this wasn’t a standard historical series in the very first season and I quickly got used to the fact. However, after a better second season, I was still expecting something slightly better. The third season wasn’t bad, but it was spoiled again by the annoying political correctness and the evil sister with a basketful of intrigue straight out of a soap opera. (09.11.2019)