‘Victoria’ Season 3: “A Coburg Quartet” Recap
Previously on Victoria: The queen takes the court on a trip to Ireland, in an attempt to make up for what is apparently decades of royal neglect of the Emerald Isle. The visit is a public if not a personal success, because although Victoria makes a sincere effort to start fresh with the Irish people, Albert insinuates his wife just wants another crowd of people to cheer for her. But we do get to meet Lord Palmerston’s frankly amazing spouse, Emily Lamb, who not only seems to adore her husband, but to have somehow carved out a marriage and a life that works for them both. (Even if it does include acknowledged infidelity.) Read our full recap of "A Show of Unity" this way.
Victoria is a soapy costume drama and, as such, it doesn’t often get the respect it deserves. Sure, there are occasionally ridiculous storylines – Duchess Sophie’s literally bodice-ripping affair with a hunky footman isn’t exactly what you might call prestige television, for example. But Season 3 has made a genuine effort to tell complicated stories with emotional heft in a way that few period dramas attempt. Last week’s installment saw the show exploring various ideas of marriage and what it means for a romantic relationship to be successful one. “A Coburg Quartet” takes that theme one step further, expanding outward to wrestle with the larger umbrella of family, and what it means to love someone.
Six episodes into Season 3 and the mystery of Victoria’s skulking half-sister finally starts to become clear. Feodora has spent the bulk of the season in the shadows – listening in corridors, making snide offhand remarks, being everywhere and nowhere all at once. It’s only surprising that it’s taken this long for someone (who isn't Lord Palmerston - game recongize game, I guess?) to realize that she’s a consummate grifter, selling access and information out of one side of her mouth while buttering up her sister with the other. Victoria’s discovery that Feo’s been padding her pockets at her expense – both literally, as the queen’s been handling all her bills and figuratively, as Feo’s embarrassing party invites and family portrait leaks are impacting Victoria’s public image.
