Quick Info
This three-part miniseries dives into the wild, real-life British political scandal surrounding Jeremy Thorpe, a charismatic MP whose secret love affair threatens to unravel both his career and personal life. It’s like a history lesson delivered with both dark humor and genuine pathos, rooted in 1970s England (with all its polyester, prejudice, and paranoia on display). I was surprised by how much fun it was, given the heaviness of the core events — there’s this brisk, slightly mischievous tone that threads through the whole thing.
Hugh Grant completely disappears into Thorpe — he’s calculating, charming, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes absolutely infuriating. Opposite him, Ben Whishaw as Norman Scott is heartbreaking and sly in equal measure, making every scene between them tense and unpredictable. The supporting cast, including Alex Jennings and Monica Dolan, bring a wry, offbeat Britishness that gives the story a sense of lived-in authenticity.
The show’s period recreation really stands out: it’s vibrant but never cartoonish. The costumes and sets deliver that mundanely dreary 1970s England with the right mix of nostalgia and realism. Stephen Frears’ direction is sharp, always finding little ironies in the story, and the pace never drags, which is impressive for a show handling scandal, attempted murder, and legal drama all in a short runtime.
Some spots felt a little compressed — you can sense the rush to squeeze a wild, years-long event into three episodes, and occasionally this means a bit of character nuance gets flattened. There’s also a distinctive Britishness to both the humor and legal proceedings, so if you’re more accustomed to fast-cut, American-style political dramas, it might take a bit to adjust.
You would enjoy this if you like true-life scandals, darkly funny history lessons, or performances where the actors disappear into complex, flawed people. Think The Crown but seedier and zanier, with a sharp wit and a real human core.
