Welcome to the Weekend Binge. Every Friday, we’ll suggest a binge-able title designed to keep you from getting too stir crazy. Check back throughout the weekend for even more gloriously queer entertainment.
The Funny & Frightening: A Very English Scandal
Actor Ben Whishaw took home an Emmy for his performance in this based-on-a-true-story miniseries. A Very English Scandal retells the saga of Norman Scott, a sometime rentboy who has a long affair with MP Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant). As Scott struggles to find work, Thorpe climbs in popularity, eventually becoming Head of the Liberal Party. With his eyes set on the office of Prime Minister, Thorpe attempts to murder Scott, inadvertently causing one of the biggest sex scandals in UK history.
Though it may sound like a thriller–and at times, does feel like one–A Very English Scandal more often then not invites laughs with its outrageous situations and absurd plot twists. Grant gives one of his best-ever performances as the stuffy Thorpe, who alternates between the embodiment of charm and narcissistic malevolence. The show belongs to Whishaw though, who proves himself once again a versatile and dynamic actor. He’s not afraid to show Scott as sweet-natured or as a selfish terror. Darkly funny and always enthralling, A Very English Scandal portrays a little-told chapter in queer history with a great sense of fun.
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SFMike
Excellent show if you haven’t seen it.
Joshooeerr
One of the best British dramas in years, and worth watching if only for Hugh Grant’s extraordinary performance.
JPDonahue
Written by… Russell T Davies… just saying…
kevininbuffalo
After watching this go to Youtube and look up Peter Cook’s send up of the biased judge in “A Very English Scandal.” It’s brilliant!
JB
What does “more often then not” mean??? Their our all weighs sew menny arrears ion these websight. Doesn’t Queerty employ a proofreader or copy editor to look over these articles before they’re published?
john.k
If you get to see this I recommend that afterwards you should look on YouTube for Peter Cook’s parody of the judge’s summing up in the Thorpe trial.