It’s been five years since the bombshell interview between the BBC’s Emily Maitlis and the the British monarchy’s Prince Andrew took place, yet it continues to intrigue, if the nonstop release of dramatizations are anything to go by. The latest entry is the three-part series A Very Royal Scandal, which mainly focuses on Maitlis as a workaholic journalist intent on getting the scoop, even if it means sacrifcing time spent at home. Apart from Maitlis, we’re also privy to His Royal Highness’ point of view, which is a mix privileged naivitie, paternal sweetness, and dumb lust. Compared to Netflix’s Scoop, which is more interested in the BBC booker Sam McAlister’s POV, Amazon Prime’s A Very Royal Scandal is by nature deeper and more explorative. It’s also more exciting and less salacious in tone. Paired with a suspenseful score, smart editing, and rich backdrops, the series is a near-masterclass on how to make treaded ground feel fresh again.
Synopsis
Follow Emily Maitlis' professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew, in which he explained his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Storyline
This three-part series chronicles the the tell-all interview between BBC’s Emily Maitlis (Ruth Wilson) and the British monarchy’s Prince Andrew (Michael Sheen).
TLDR
I’m not sure who asked for yet another version of this specific interview, but for our money, this is the more compelling version.
What stands out
Since the two adaptations are just six months apart, it’s hard not to compare them. Scoop or A Very Royal Scandal, which is the better interpretation? Though the show is overall smarter and more comprehensive in scope, it is nice to see the events unfold through an underdog like McAlister’s perspective.