Belgravia: The Next Chapter

Belgravia was written by Julian Fellow and his attention to details was visible everywhere. It wasn't perfect, but it was interesting, the actors were good, the time period well presented. But this New Chapter feels like a high school play. The actor playing Frédéric Trenchard is so bad! The costumes are awful, again it looks like a mom took whatever look like from before 1900 and dressed the characters with it, with no research of the specific period. So there is costume from the Elizabethan period (16th century) mixed with the early Victorian (1840'). The characters display 21st century values and attitude. It could be funny if it was a spoof but it's not supposed to be. Neither is it a period-fantasty like Bridgerton. I can't understand how Julian Fellow accepted to have is name associated to it. Did he lost a bet?

Taking into account that everyone is a little different, I still think there were way too many naysayers for this 2nd season. Heads-up, this wasn't a documentary on the life and times of people in the 19th century. That being said, I thought the reproduction of the era, the sets, costumes, customs etc was done with the usual BBC careful attention to detail. Yes, there were lots of relationship threads woven into the narrative but I thought they were quite interesting in the way they highlighted the main reason we find any story engaging - the brokenness of human beings and how it's confronted. I found the writing, acting and character development elicited quite strong responses and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt like throwing a cushion at the t.v. Screen almost every time Freddy opened his mouth; but hey, isn't that good entertainment? Give yourself a big pat on the back Helen.

I'll start off with the bad. The main "love" story between Frederick Threnchard and Clara Dunn is a problem. He has the personality of a block of wood, and Clara's instant love for him is a puzzlement. To her credit, away from him, the actress comes alive, so I'm assuming he's sucking the charisma out of her.

To be fair, the actor is saddled with a ludicrous storyline where his personality and demeanor is explained by his father being cruel to him and loving his brother more. So, he has to spend copious amounts of time, staring off into space, wallowing in his man pain. He's tedious and boring, and his hatred for his brother is so irrational and off-putting.

BUT, there is stuff to recommend here. Toby Regbo as Frederick's kindly brother, who is devoted to his work as a Reverand, and hides a painful secret from the world, is a revelation, and easily the most interesting character in the show. Sophie Thompson as Clara's dottering mother is charming and sweet. Hannah Onslow, playing Clara's less effervescent sister nails her characters barely disguised bitterness. Liam Garrigan and Elaine Cassiday also shine as members of the household staff with their own stories to tell. And Sophie Windkleman and Miles Jupp as the Duke and Duchess of Rochester have a side story that is surprisingly effective.

Jury is out for me on Edward Bluemel's doctor character, but perhaps he'll become more fully fleshed out as the show goes on. The actor is solid, so that helps. But he feels threadbare as a character.

I do think the show suffers from pacing issues, and whatever big bad thing that happened between Frederick and James really should've been revealed already. The longer its drawn out, the more likely it is to disappoint when its revealed.

Ignore the low scores. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The story had many elements to it and kept my attention and me entertained throughout. If there was one negative it would be the character Frederick Trenchard. I felt the actor playing him had only one expression on his face. I feel I need to see him in something else to see if he acts any different. A comedy role perhaps because to watch him on screen in this was pretty depressing. Apart from that all of the other characters were good but one really stood out for me. The actress Hannah Onslow. Her facial expressions in every scene were captivating. She doesn't have to deliver a line of script, she just expresses herself so well with her facial expressions and body movements and often had me giggling. Well worth a watch and even a binge.

Belgravia Was awesome. But this part 2, the next Chapter is a poor follow up.

Sadly, I find the next chapter, extremely depressing, extremely slow, not as polished, overall extremely considered this failure.

With the next chapter being so poor, I cannot see this being renewed for a third season, which is so disappointing after the first season was so great.

It's not often that you completely destroy a series like they have here with the sequel to the original. So disappointed the lead character is either a really bad actor or his character. He's completely flawed.

After watching four episodes now, I don't even see the point of this season with him being just miserable, and we all know that he isn't the legitimate child and air. It is actually his brother if you've watched the first season

disappointing. Overall, I suggest you avoid.