Anatomy of a Scandal: Difference between revisions
m Removed mentions of the word 'anthology'; this show has ONE story that spans the entire length of the series |
|||
(41 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown) | |||
Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} |
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} |
||
{{Infobox television |
{{Infobox television |
||
| image = Anatomy of a Scandal |
| image = Anatomy of a Scandal (poster).png |
||
| caption = Promotional poster |
|||
| genre = {{Plainlist| |
| genre = {{Plainlist| |
||
* [[Courtroom drama]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/anatomy-of-a-scandal-netflix-tv-moment|title=That Anatomy of a Scandal scene: is this the silliest TV moment ever?|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=April 20, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> |
* [[Courtroom drama]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/anatomy-of-a-scandal-netflix-tv-moment|title=That Anatomy of a Scandal scene: is this the silliest TV moment ever?|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=April 20, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420192659/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/anatomy-of-a-scandal-netflix-tv-moment|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
* [[Legal thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=VanArendonk|first=Kathryn|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ending-holly-berry.html|title=''Anatomy of a Scandal''{{'s}} Final Line Achieves Greatness (in the Category of 'Most Absurd Ending')|website=[[Vulture (blog)|Vulture]]|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420101351/https://www.vulture.com/article/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ending-holly-berry.html|archive-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref> |
* [[Legal thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=VanArendonk|first=Kathryn|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ending-holly-berry.html|title=''Anatomy of a Scandal''{{'s}} Final Line Achieves Greatness (in the Category of 'Most Absurd Ending')|website=[[Vulture (blog)|Vulture]]|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420101351/https://www.vulture.com/article/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ending-holly-berry.html|archive-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref> |
||
* [[Political thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Parkinson|first=Hannah Jane|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/17/anatomy-of-a-scandal-review-sienna-miller-derry-girls-killing-eve-finale-gentleman-jack|title=The week in TV: Anatomy of a Scandal; Derry Girls; Killing Eve; Gentleman Jack|work=The Guardian|date=April 17, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> |
* [[Political thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Parkinson|first=Hannah Jane|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/17/anatomy-of-a-scandal-review-sienna-miller-derry-girls-killing-eve-finale-gentleman-jack|title=The week in TV: Anatomy of a Scandal; Derry Girls; Killing Eve; Gentleman Jack|work=The Guardian|date=April 17, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421060159/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/17/anatomy-of-a-scandal-review-sienna-miller-derry-girls-killing-eve-finale-gentleman-jack|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
* [[Psychological thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Dacre|first=Karen|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-create-an-anatomy-of-a-scandal-power-woman-wardrobe-xx3wbq0gf|title=How to create an Anatomy of a Scandal 'power woman' wardrobe|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=April 15, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> |
* [[Psychological thriller]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Dacre|first=Karen|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-create-an-anatomy-of-a-scandal-power-woman-wardrobe-xx3wbq0gf|title=How to create an Anatomy of a Scandal 'power woman' wardrobe|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=April 15, 2022|access-date=April 21, 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421041031/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-create-an-anatomy-of-a-scandal-power-woman-wardrobe-xx3wbq0gf|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| based_on = {{based on|''Anatomy of a Scandal''|[[Sarah Vaughan (writer)|Sarah Vaughan]]}} |
| based_on = {{based on|''Anatomy of a Scandal''|[[Sarah Vaughan (writer)|Sarah Vaughan]]}} |
||
Line 48: | Line 49: | ||
* 3dot Productions |
* 3dot Productions |
||
* [[Made Up Stories (company)|Made Up Stories]] |
* [[Made Up Stories (company)|Made Up Stories]] |
||
* [[ |
* [[Fifth Season (company)|Endeavor Content]] |
||
* [[Anonymous Content]] |
* [[Anonymous Content]] |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| distributor = [[Netflix Streaming Services]] |
|||
| budget = |
| budget = |
||
| network = [[Netflix]] |
| network = [[Netflix]] |
||
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|04|15}} |
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|04|15}} |
||
| last_aired = |
| last_aired = |
||
| preceded_by = |
|||
| followed_by = |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Anatomy of a Scandal''''' is an American<!--Do not change to British or English. It is produced entirely by American companies.--> [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] |
'''''Anatomy of a Scandal''''' is an American<!--Do not change to British or English. It is produced entirely by American companies.--> [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television miniseries developed by [[David E. Kelley]] and [[Melissa James Gibson]], based on the novel of the same name by [[Sarah Vaughan (writer)|Sarah Vaughan]]. The series consists of six episodes, and premiered on [[Netflix]] on April 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=See first photos of Sienna Miller starring in David E. Kelly's Anatomy of a Scandal adaptation for Netflix|url=https://ew.com/tv/anatomy-of-a-scandal-netflix-first-look-photos/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Ruth|last=Kinane|date=January 31, 2022|access-date=January 31, 2022|archive-date=January 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131162625/https://ew.com/tv/anatomy-of-a-scandal-netflix-first-look-photos/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
==Premise== |
==Premise== |
||
Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Tory]] MP James Whitehouse, learns that her husband has been having an affair with |
Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Tory]] MP James Whitehouse, learns that her husband has been having an affair with his young aide, Olivia Lytton. The news goes public, blowing up their lives and forcing her to deal with the consequences of her husband's disastrous actions. To make matters worse, James is accused of raping Olivia and has to stand trial. |
||
==Cast and characters== |
==Cast and characters== |
||
===Main=== |
===Main=== |
||
* [[Sienna Miller]] as Sophie Whitehouse, James's wife |
* [[Sienna Miller]] as Sophie Whitehouse, James's wife |
||
** [[Hannah Dodd (actress)|Hannah Dodd]] portrays a young Sophie Whitehouse |
** [[Hannah Dodd (actress)|Hannah Dodd]] portrays a young Sophie Whitehouse (then: Sophie Greenaway) |
||
* [[Michelle Dockery]] as Kate Woodcroft {{post-nominals|size=100%|GB|QC}}, [[Crown Prosecution Service|prosecution counsel]] tasked with James's case |
* [[Michelle Dockery]] as Kate Woodcroft {{post-nominals|size=100%|GB|QC}}, [[Crown Prosecution Service|prosecution counsel]] tasked with James's case |
||
** Nancy Farino portrays a young Kate Woodcroft, then named Holly Berry |
** Nancy Farino portrays a young Kate Woodcroft, then named Holly Berry |
||
* [[Rupert Friend]] as James Whitehouse {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|GB|MP}}, [[Home Office]] minister and close friend to the Prime Minister |
* [[Rupert Friend]] as James Whitehouse {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|GB|MP}}, [[Home Office]] minister and close friend to the Prime Minister |
||
** Ben Radcliffe portrays a young James Whitehouse |
** [[Ben Radcliffe]] portrays a young James Whitehouse |
||
* [[Naomi Scott]] as Olivia Lytton, parliamentary researcher on James's staff, who has an affair with him and later accuses him of rape |
* [[Naomi Scott]] as Olivia Lytton, parliamentary researcher on James's staff, who has an affair with him and later accuses him of rape |
||
* [[Joshua McGuire]] as Chris Clarke, [[Downing Street Director of Communications|Downing Street communications chief]] |
* [[Joshua McGuire]] as Chris Clarke, [[Downing Street Director of Communications|Downing Street communications chief]] |
||
Line 81: | Line 79: | ||
* [[Jonathan Firth]] as Richard, Kate's married former [[pupil master]], with whom she is having an affair |
* [[Jonathan Firth]] as Richard, Kate's married former [[pupil master]], with whom she is having an affair |
||
* Sebastian Selwood as Finn Whitehouse, Sophie and James's son |
* Sebastian Selwood as Finn Whitehouse, Sophie and James's son |
||
* Amelie Bea |
* [[Amelie Bea Smith]] as Emily Whitehouse, Sophie and James's daughter |
||
* [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]] as Tom Southern {{post-nominals|size=100%|GB|MP}}, the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] |
* [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]] as Tom Southern {{post-nominals|size=100%|GB|MP}}, the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] |
||
** Jake Simmance portrays a young Tom Southern |
** Jake Simmance portrays a young Tom Southern |
||
Line 87: | Line 85: | ||
* [[Liz White (actress)|Liz White]] as Ali, a schoolteacher and Kate's best friend |
* [[Liz White (actress)|Liz White]] as Ali, a schoolteacher and Kate's best friend |
||
* Tom Turner as John Vestey |
* Tom Turner as John Vestey |
||
* Jonathan Coy as Aled Luckhurst, the judge of James's rape case |
* [[Jonathan Coy]] as Aled Luckhurst, the judge of James's rape case |
||
* Kudzai Sitima as Maggie, Kate's pupil |
* Kudzai Sitima as Maggie, Kate's pupil |
||
Line 120: | Line 118: | ||
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson |
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson |
||
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary = James is charged with rape and a trial date is set. After being shut out from her social circle, Sophie reflects on her decisions to support James's career at |
|ShortSummary = James is charged with rape, and a trial date is set. After being shut out from her social circle, Sophie reflects on her decisions to support James's career at her own expense. Sophie reluctantly attends James's trial, where Olivia is called on to give testimony and reveals that unlike the meaningless physical affair James claimed was happening, James respected Olivia's intelligence, and she was in love with him, prompting Sophie to leave the court in distress. |
||
|LineColor = 223440 |
|LineColor = 223440 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 129: | Line 127: | ||
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson |
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson |
||
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary = James's trial continues, as Olivia details her version of events surrounding the subject sexual encounter, which James concedes occurred while alleging Olivia's consent to the intercourse in his defense. Despite her extreme discomfort with the details, Sophie stays in court. James feels like his defense lawyer adequately questions Olivia's testimony |
|ShortSummary = James's trial continues, as Olivia details her version of events surrounding the subject sexual encounter, which James concedes occurred while alleging Olivia's consent to the intercourse in his defense. Despite her extreme discomfort with the details, Sophie stays in court. James feels like his defense lawyer adequately questions Olivia's testimony but learns at the last minute that a second woman has come forward claiming that James sexually assaulted a fellow student while at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], a woman named Holly Berry, Sophie's first-year tutorial partner. The Prime Minister, Tom Southern, who has thus far stood beside James, faces a coup within his own party and threatens to cut James loose. James reminds him that Tom owes him. A flashback reveals that during a party, James helped Tom cover up the accidental death of their friend Alec Fisher, who fell from a rooftop after using the heroin supplied to him by Tom. |
||
|LineColor = 223440 |
|LineColor = 223440 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 138: | Line 136: | ||
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
||
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary = Sophie takes the children to visit James's parents in the countryside. Olivia's friend Kitty Ledger takes the stand. Prosecuting counsel Kate Woodcroft is off her game when questioning and later has a panic attack. Returning home, Sophie is deeply disturbed by the fact that James still has no memory of Holly. A flashback reveals that James raped Holly during his last week of university, with some of the details |
|ShortSummary = Sophie takes the children to visit James's parents in the countryside. Olivia's friend Kitty Ledger takes the stand. Prosecuting counsel, Kate Woodcroft is off her game when questioning and later has a panic attack. Returning home, Sophie is deeply disturbed by the fact that James still has no memory of Holly. A flashback reveals that James raped Holly during his last week of university, with some of the event's details bearing a disturbing resemblance to Olivia's rape. Kate calls her mother and reveals she is Holly Berry, now going by a different name. |
||
|LineColor = 223440 |
|LineColor = 223440 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 147: | Line 145: | ||
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
||
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary = James is called to give evidence and on the stand admits that he and Olivia were in love during their affair. During the trial, both Sophie and James seem to |
|ShortSummary = James is called to give evidence and, on the stand, admits that he and Olivia were in love during their affair. During the trial, both Sophie and James seem to recognize Kate as Holly Berry independently; Sophie through Kate's distinct note-taking and James through Kate's line of questioning. Aware of who Kate is, James uses his testimony to deny he raped her in a way only Kate would recognize, but he loses control of his temper during the line of questioning. The trial shakes Sophie, and she later sneaks out to visit Kate in private. |
||
|LineColor = 223440 |
|LineColor = 223440 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 156: | Line 154: | ||
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
|WrittenBy = Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley |
||
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|15}} |
||
|ShortSummary = Though Kate denies knowing Sophie, Sophie leaves their meeting convinced she is Holly Berry. When Sophie returns home, James reveals that the night he and Tom were involved in Alec's accidental death, he had sex with a woman who he believes could have been Holly Berry and further admits that Tom supplied drugs to Alec while James disposed of the evidence. The trial concludes and James is acquitted. James privately admits to Sophie that he |
|ShortSummary = Though Kate denies knowing Sophie, Sophie leaves their meeting convinced she is Holly Berry. When Sophie returns home, James reveals that the night he and Tom were involved in Alec's accidental death, he had sex with a woman who he believes could have been Holly Berry and further admits that Tom supplied drugs to Alec while James disposed of the evidence. The trial concludes, and James is acquitted. James privately admits to Sophie that he called Olivia a "prick-tease," a piece of evidence he denied in court. Sophie decides to leave James. She has a final meeting with Kate, where Kate says that James raped her, and Sophie reveals that she leaked James and Tom's involvement in Alec's death to the press. As a result of this latest escalation of the scandal, Tom is forced to resign as Prime Minister while police arrest James. Sophie and her children begin new lives in the country, and Kate continue to practice the law as a prosecutor. |
||
|LineColor = 223440 |
|LineColor = 223440 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
Line 162: | Line 160: | ||
==Production== |
==Production== |
||
[[File:Anatomy of a Scandal title card.svg|thumb|250px|upright|Logo]] |
|||
[[Netflix]] |
[[Netflix]] announced in May 2020 they had greenlit the series, which [[David E. Kelley]] and [[Melissa James Gibson]] adapted from the [[Sarah Vaughan (writer)|Sarah Vaughan]] novel of the same name. [[S. J. Clarkson]] was set to direct all episodes of the series.<ref name="Direct">{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/david-e-kelley-netflix-anatomy-of-a-scandal-tv-adaptation/|title=David E. Kelley and Netflix are working on a 'Anatomy of a Scandal' TV adaptation|first=Marcus|last=Jones|date=May 21, 2020|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307075935/https://ew.com/tv/david-e-kelley-netflix-anatomy-of-a-scandal-tv-adaptation/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, [[Sienna Miller]], [[Michelle Dockery]], and [[Rupert Friend]] were cast to star in the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/netflix-anatomy-scandal-sienna-miller-michelle-dockery-rupert-friend-big-little-lies-david-e-kelley-1234582742/|title='Anatomy Of A Scandal': Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery & Rupert Friend To Star In Netflix Series From 'Big Little Lies' Creator & Former 'House Of Cards' Showrunner|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 23, 2020|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303154124/https://deadline.com/2020/09/netflix-anatomy-scandal-sienna-miller-michelle-dockery-rupert-friend-big-little-lies-david-e-kelley-1234582742/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Naomi Scott]] would be added in December,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/naomi-scott-to-star-in-netflixs-anatomy-of-a-scandal-exclusive-4104961/|title=Naomi Scott to Star in Netflix's 'Anatomy of a Scandal' (Exclusive)|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304084153/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/naomi-scott-to-star-in-netflixs-anatomy-of-a-scandal-exclusive-4104961/|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Ben Radcliffe]] cast in a recurring role in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ben-radcliffe-david-e-kelley-netflix-series-1234665200/|title='Anatomy Of A Scandal': Ben Radcliffe Joins David E. Kelley's Netflix Series|first=Denise|last=Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 5, 2021|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222190823/https://deadline.com/2021/01/anatomy-of-a-scandal-ben-radcliffe-david-e-kelley-netflix-series-1234665200/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
Filming for the series began in October 2020 at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/anatomy-of-a-scandal-everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-new-anthology-series-02-2022/|title='Anatomy of a Scandal' Netflix Anthology Series: Coming to Netflix in April 2022|date=February 22, 2022|website=What's on Netflix}}</ref> Filming also took place at St. George's Hanover Square Primary School in [[Mayfair]], London. Production took place in [[Oxford]] in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First look at Netflix film sets in Oxford city centre|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19190124.netflix-film-set-anatomy-scandal-starring-sienna-miller-continues-oxford/|access-date=January 9, 2022|work=[[Oxford Mail]]}}</ref> |
Filming for the series began in October 2020 at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/anatomy-of-a-scandal-everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-new-anthology-series-02-2022/|title='Anatomy of a Scandal' Netflix Anthology Series: Coming to Netflix in April 2022|date=February 22, 2022|website=What's on Netflix|access-date=March 18, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419073010/https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/anatomy-of-a-scandal-everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-new-anthology-series-02-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming also took place at St. George's Hanover Square Primary School in [[Mayfair]], London. Production took place in [[Oxford]] in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First look at Netflix film sets in Oxford city centre|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19190124.netflix-film-set-anatomy-scandal-starring-sienna-miller-continues-oxford/|access-date=January 9, 2022|work=[[Oxford Mail]]|date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222150659/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19190124.netflix-film-set-anatomy-scandal-starring-sienna-miller-continues-oxford/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
==Reception== |
==Reception== |
||
The [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported a 60% approval rating with an average rating of 5.9/10, based on 42 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "''Anatomy of a Scandal'' has the bones of a good [[David E. Kelley]] potboiler but lacks the connective tissue to really work, although the starry cast provides an intrigue all its own."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=anatomy_of_a_scandal|title=Anatomy of a Scandal|type=tv|season=1|access-date=May 3, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 52 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=anatomy-of-a-scandal|title=Anatomy of a Scandal|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 28, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Anatomy of a Scandal'' was in the Netflix Global Top 10 |
The [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported a 60% approval rating with an average rating of 5.9/10, based on 42 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "''Anatomy of a Scandal'' has the bones of a good [[David E. Kelley]] potboiler but lacks the connective tissue to really work, although the starry cast provides an intrigue all its own."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=anatomy_of_a_scandal|title=Anatomy of a Scandal|type=tv|season=1|access-date=May 3, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 52 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=anatomy-of-a-scandal|title=Anatomy of a Scandal|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 28, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Anatomy of a Scandal'' was in the Netflix Global Top 10 of most-watched English language series for five weeks, holding the number one position in its second week.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Netflix Top 10 - Global |url=https://top10.netflix.com/tv/2022-04-24 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |website=top10.netflix.com |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426202955/https://top10.netflix.com/tv/2022-04-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Line 176: | Line 175: | ||
* {{IMDb title}} |
* {{IMDb title}} |
||
{{David E. Kelley}} |
|||
{{Netflix original ended series (2019–present)}} |
{{Netflix original ended series (2019–present)}} |
||
[[Category:2020s American anthology television series]] |
|||
[[Category:2020s American drama television miniseries]] |
[[Category:2020s American drama television miniseries]] |
||
[[Category:2022 American television series debuts]] |
[[Category:2022 American television series debuts]] |
||
[[Category:2022 American television series endings]] |
[[Category:2022 American television series endings]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Television shows about adultery]] |
||
[[Category:American thriller television series]] |
[[Category:American thriller television series]] |
||
[[Category:Courtroom drama television series]] |
[[Category:Courtroom drama television series]] |
||
[[Category:English-language |
[[Category:American English-language television shows]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Netflix original programming]] |
||
[[Category:Political thriller television series]] |
[[Category:Political thriller television series]] |
||
[[Category:Psychological thriller television series]] |
[[Category:Psychological thriller television series]] |
||
[[Category:Television shows about rape]] |
|||
[[Category:Television series by Made Up Stories]] |
[[Category:Television series by Made Up Stories]] |
||
[[Category:Television series created by David E. Kelley]] |
|||
[[Category:Television shows based on British novels]] |
[[Category:Television shows based on British novels]] |
||
[[Category:Television shows directed by S. J. Clarkson]] |
|||
[[Category:Television shows filmed in England]] |
[[Category:Television shows filmed in England]] |
||
[[Category:Television shows set in London]] |
[[Category:Television shows set in London]] |
||
[[Category:Television shows filmed at Shepperton Studios]] |
Revision as of 03:42, 19 April 2024
Anatomy of a Scandal | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre | |
Based on | Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan |
Developed by | |
Directed by | S. J. Clarkson |
Starring | |
Music by | Johan Söderqvist |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Mark Kinsella |
Cinematography | Balazs Bolygo |
Editors |
|
Running time | 43–48 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | Netflix |
Release | April 15, 2022 |
Anatomy of a Scandal is an American thriller drama television miniseries developed by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan. The series consists of six episodes, and premiered on Netflix on April 15, 2022.[5]
Premise
Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of British Tory MP James Whitehouse, learns that her husband has been having an affair with his young aide, Olivia Lytton. The news goes public, blowing up their lives and forcing her to deal with the consequences of her husband's disastrous actions. To make matters worse, James is accused of raping Olivia and has to stand trial.
Cast and characters
Main
- Sienna Miller as Sophie Whitehouse, James's wife
- Hannah Dodd portrays a young Sophie Whitehouse (then: Sophie Greenaway)
- Michelle Dockery as Kate Woodcroft QC, prosecution counsel tasked with James's case
- Nancy Farino portrays a young Kate Woodcroft, then named Holly Berry
- Rupert Friend as James Whitehouse MP, Home Office minister and close friend to the Prime Minister
- Ben Radcliffe portrays a young James Whitehouse
- Naomi Scott as Olivia Lytton, parliamentary researcher on James's staff, who has an affair with him and later accuses him of rape
- Joshua McGuire as Chris Clarke, Downing Street communications chief
- Josette Simon as Angela Regan QC, James's defense counsel
Recurring
- Jonathan Firth as Richard, Kate's married former pupil master, with whom she is having an affair
- Sebastian Selwood as Finn Whitehouse, Sophie and James's son
- Amelie Bea Smith as Emily Whitehouse, Sophie and James's daughter
- Geoffrey Streatfeild as Tom Southern MP, the Prime Minister
- Jake Simmance portrays a young Tom Southern
- Violet Verigo as Krystyna, the Whitehouses' Russian au pair
- Liz White as Ali, a schoolteacher and Kate's best friend
- Tom Turner as John Vestey
- Jonathan Coy as Aled Luckhurst, the judge of James's rape case
- Kudzai Sitima as Maggie, Kate's pupil
Guest
- Richard McCabe as Brian Taylor
- Rosalie Craig as Lucy
- Anna Madeley as Ellie Frisk, a friend of Sophie's
- Edmund Kingsley as Mark Frisk, Ellie's husband
- Maggie Steed as Sybil Murray, one of James's constituents
- Luka Sheppard as Alec Fisher, a classmate of James and Tom at Oxford
- Jane How as Madame Speaker
- Clive Francis as Lawrence Hughes-Davies MP
- Adrian Lukis as Aitkin, Leader of the Opposition
- Kathryn Wilder as Kitty Ledger, Olivia's friend and co-worker
- Phoebe Nicholls as Tuppence Whitehouse, James's mother
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley | April 15, 2022 | |
Beautiful and wealthy Sophie Whitehouse is called away from a party by her husband, Tory MP James Whitehouse, who confesses he had a five-month affair with one of his aides, Olivia Lytton, and the news is about to break publicly. Although upset, Sophie decides without question to forgive her husband as they have been together since university and have two children together. Despite some uncomfortable press, James manages to de-escalate the news. Just as the story seems likely to blow over, two police officers approach James, informing him that Olivia has accused him of rape. | |||||
2 | "Episode 2" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson | April 15, 2022 | |
James is charged with rape, and a trial date is set. After being shut out from her social circle, Sophie reflects on her decisions to support James's career at her own expense. Sophie reluctantly attends James's trial, where Olivia is called on to give testimony and reveals that unlike the meaningless physical affair James claimed was happening, James respected Olivia's intelligence, and she was in love with him, prompting Sophie to leave the court in distress. | |||||
3 | "Episode 3" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson | April 15, 2022 | |
James's trial continues, as Olivia details her version of events surrounding the subject sexual encounter, which James concedes occurred while alleging Olivia's consent to the intercourse in his defense. Despite her extreme discomfort with the details, Sophie stays in court. James feels like his defense lawyer adequately questions Olivia's testimony but learns at the last minute that a second woman has come forward claiming that James sexually assaulted a fellow student while at Oxford, a woman named Holly Berry, Sophie's first-year tutorial partner. The Prime Minister, Tom Southern, who has thus far stood beside James, faces a coup within his own party and threatens to cut James loose. James reminds him that Tom owes him. A flashback reveals that during a party, James helped Tom cover up the accidental death of their friend Alec Fisher, who fell from a rooftop after using the heroin supplied to him by Tom. | |||||
4 | "Episode 4" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley | April 15, 2022 | |
Sophie takes the children to visit James's parents in the countryside. Olivia's friend Kitty Ledger takes the stand. Prosecuting counsel, Kate Woodcroft is off her game when questioning and later has a panic attack. Returning home, Sophie is deeply disturbed by the fact that James still has no memory of Holly. A flashback reveals that James raped Holly during his last week of university, with some of the event's details bearing a disturbing resemblance to Olivia's rape. Kate calls her mother and reveals she is Holly Berry, now going by a different name. | |||||
5 | "Episode 5" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley | April 15, 2022 | |
James is called to give evidence and, on the stand, admits that he and Olivia were in love during their affair. During the trial, both Sophie and James seem to recognize Kate as Holly Berry independently; Sophie through Kate's distinct note-taking and James through Kate's line of questioning. Aware of who Kate is, James uses his testimony to deny he raped her in a way only Kate would recognize, but he loses control of his temper during the line of questioning. The trial shakes Sophie, and she later sneaks out to visit Kate in private. | |||||
6 | "Episode 6" | S. J. Clarkson | Melissa James Gibson & David E. Kelley | April 15, 2022 | |
Though Kate denies knowing Sophie, Sophie leaves their meeting convinced she is Holly Berry. When Sophie returns home, James reveals that the night he and Tom were involved in Alec's accidental death, he had sex with a woman who he believes could have been Holly Berry and further admits that Tom supplied drugs to Alec while James disposed of the evidence. The trial concludes, and James is acquitted. James privately admits to Sophie that he called Olivia a "prick-tease," a piece of evidence he denied in court. Sophie decides to leave James. She has a final meeting with Kate, where Kate says that James raped her, and Sophie reveals that she leaked James and Tom's involvement in Alec's death to the press. As a result of this latest escalation of the scandal, Tom is forced to resign as Prime Minister while police arrest James. Sophie and her children begin new lives in the country, and Kate continue to practice the law as a prosecutor. |
Production
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Anatomy_of_a_Scandal_title_card.svg/250px-Anatomy_of_a_Scandal_title_card.svg.png)
Netflix announced in May 2020 they had greenlit the series, which David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson adapted from the Sarah Vaughan novel of the same name. S. J. Clarkson was set to direct all episodes of the series.[6] In September, Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, and Rupert Friend were cast to star in the series.[7] Naomi Scott would be added in December,[8] with Ben Radcliffe cast in a recurring role in January 2021.[9]
Filming for the series began in October 2020 at Shepperton Studios.[10] Filming also took place at St. George's Hanover Square Primary School in Mayfair, London. Production took place in Oxford in February 2021.[11]
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 60% approval rating with an average rating of 5.9/10, based on 42 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Anatomy of a Scandal has the bones of a good David E. Kelley potboiler but lacks the connective tissue to really work, although the starry cast provides an intrigue all its own."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 52 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13] Anatomy of a Scandal was in the Netflix Global Top 10 of most-watched English language series for five weeks, holding the number one position in its second week.[14]
References
- ^ Heritage, Stuart (April 20, 2022). "That Anatomy of a Scandal scene: is this the silliest TV moment ever?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ VanArendonk, Kathryn (April 18, 2022). "Anatomy of a Scandal's Final Line Achieves Greatness (in the Category of 'Most Absurd Ending')". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Parkinson, Hannah Jane (April 17, 2022). "The week in TV: Anatomy of a Scandal; Derry Girls; Killing Eve; Gentleman Jack". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Dacre, Karen (April 15, 2022). "How to create an Anatomy of a Scandal 'power woman' wardrobe". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Kinane, Ruth (January 31, 2022). "See first photos of Sienna Miller starring in David E. Kelly's Anatomy of a Scandal adaptation for Netflix". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Marcus (May 21, 2020). "David E. Kelley and Netflix are working on a 'Anatomy of a Scandal' TV adaptation". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 23, 2020). "'Anatomy Of A Scandal': Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery & Rupert Friend To Star In Netflix Series From 'Big Little Lies' Creator & Former 'House Of Cards' Showrunner". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (December 15, 2020). "Naomi Scott to Star in Netflix's 'Anatomy of a Scandal' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (January 5, 2021). "'Anatomy Of A Scandal': Ben Radcliffe Joins David E. Kelley's Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "'Anatomy of a Scandal' Netflix Anthology Series: Coming to Netflix in April 2022". What's on Netflix. February 22, 2022. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "First look at Netflix film sets in Oxford city centre". Oxford Mail. March 26, 2021. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ "Anatomy of a Scandal: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Anatomy of a Scandal: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ "Netflix Top 10 - Global". top10.netflix.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
External links
- 2020s American drama television miniseries
- 2022 American television series debuts
- 2022 American television series endings
- Television shows about adultery
- American thriller television series
- Courtroom drama television series
- American English-language television shows
- Netflix original programming
- Political thriller television series
- Psychological thriller television series
- Television shows about rape
- Television series by Made Up Stories
- Television series created by David E. Kelley
- Television shows based on British novels
- Television shows directed by S. J. Clarkson
- Television shows filmed in England
- Television shows set in London
- Television shows filmed at Shepperton Studios