Anatomy of a Scandal is the most ridiculous show I’ve seen in ages
If you were considering giving Netflix’s new crime thriller Anatomy of a Scandal a whirl, I would advise you to not bother and spend your time better elsewhere.
*MILD SPOILERS*
In all honesty, I wasn’t planning to watch the six-part series but I blasted through half the evening before the premiere to prepare my questions and thought I might as well finish it (I’m a completionist, for better or worse). I have seen a few positive responses but the reaction has been mostly negative and there’s a good reason for that.
Before we get there, here’s a quick summary – the show stars Rupert Friend as MP James Whitehouse, who is accused of raping Olivia Lytton (Naomi Scott), who he had been having an affair with. Sienna Miller plays his wife Sophie and Michelle Dockery portrays the prosecuting lawyer Kate Woodcroft. Those are the basics you need!
Naturally, given the synopsis, the show grapples with the serious themes of rape/sexual assault and consent; topics that have been covered more thoroughly and substantially in TV shows such as Liar, I May Destroy You and Unbelievable (I’m sure there’s more but these spring to mind). It feels a bit too little too late being released after these shows, which I would urge you to watch instead – they’re all fantastic. Anatomy brings nothing new to the table in this regard and doesn’t show us anything we haven’t seen before. And it also fails to do right by the accuser, who is completely forgotten about after she takes to the witness stand.
That’s not all! There is a plot twist at the end of episode four that is one of the most stupid, improbable revelations ever. It is so far-fetched, silly and daft that I couldn’t take the show seriously from that point on. Also, the dialogue is not great and at times I thought to myself “nobody talks like that”. An example from episode one: “My darling man, where the f**k are you?” As if a real human being would ever say that.
You may have also seen THAT viral clip of Friend flying through the air like he’s been punched in the stomach by an invisible superhero after learning of the rape allegation. There are a few surreal moments like that which have no place in a serious courtroom drama and take away from the serious messages at its heart. Baffling stuff.
This show was developed and co-written by David E. Kelley, the man behind Big Little Lies. If you’re expecting a show of similar quality, you’ll be sorely mistaken.