A Very English Scandal (Mini Series) (UK)

Wow! There are so many real life stories that most of us had no idea about. Thankfully with so many platforms, a few of them come to the screen. This mini series is based on the life of Jeremy Thorpe, who was the leader of the British Liberal Party and his lover (former) Norman Scott. Their's is a very interesting story and these 3 parts of almost one-hour each were very engrossing.

Jeremy Thorpe is a highly educated, upper-class man belonging to a political family. His career was at its peak in 60s and 70s during which he also served as the leader of the Liberal Party. Thorpe meets a scrappy stable boy Norman Scott in the countryside and one year later they sort of begin a relationship. Norman is slightly unstable while Thorpe is a public figure. The relationship doesn't last long and soon Normal is out of his life. But Norman doesn't take it well and goes to ops to file a case against Thorpe against homosexuality which was still illegal in 1960s in UK. but the police covers the case. Meanwhile, with a fellow MP's help, Thorpe keeps financially supporting Norman since all he wants from Thorpe is his National Insurance Card. Thorpe gets married and surprisingly so does Norman after a few years but neither marriage lasts. Thorpe remarries to keep his public profile. But Norman has had enough and he constantly threatens to make this information public making Thorpe want him dead. Eventually his friends help Thorpe in a stupidest plot of killing Norman, which does not go well. Norman is saved and now Thorpe and his allies are charged against murder conspiracy. the case which is shown publicly with full details proves Thorpe as not guilty but his career is finished by then.

This series is surprisingly real yet funny and weird with bizarre twists. If you dig deeply, you will also find it slightly heartbreaking. The 2 men loved each other and I feel they did even till the case was on, and towards to end of the series we se why Thorpe's actually went into a relationship with Norman while others were just one night stands. Hugh Grant playing Jeremy Thorpe is absolutely brilliant. He is eccentric and slightly over the top but apparently thats how the real Jeremy Thorpe was. He is brilliant in the last scenes when he realizes he still loved Norman and his two marriages have actually made him more alone than ever. Norman's character is slightly mysterious. He seems naive, mentally unstable, vulnerable yet fearlessly gay and sometimes dangerous to get things done when they were not supposed to. The whole scene of the hired killer (a local pilot) plan and execution of the attempt to kill Norman is brilliant and funny at the same time. There are so many oddball elements — both funny and shocking — that you sometimes can't believe how strange the lives of Thorpe and Scott actually were. The series was thoroughly engaging and entertaining and in fact if there were a few more episodes and this was stretched out, I wouldn't have mind at all. There are light comic moments plenty spread out in the series. It is a drama as brutally funny, endlessly clever, justifiably confident as its protagonist. Thorpe eventually died in 2014 but Norman is still alive and healthy.

Very strongly recommended. It is informative, partly funny, real story and very very engaging. You will also see some brilliant performances from the lead actors which surely is gonna fetch them some awards. I must say that BBC does far and few series with central gay themes but when they do, they always come up with some brilliant stories. And its scandalous to even imagine that all this happened very publicly in 70s. A very english scandal indeed. (9/10)