Based on the novel by Sarah Vaughan, the show delves into issues that are rarely addressed on television. However, it fails to convey these sensitively
Based on the novel by Sarah Vaughan, the show delves into issues that are rarely addressed on television. However, it fails to convey these sensitively
In his latest mini-series, Anatomy of a Scandal, David E. Kelly took his successful formula of zooming in on the problems of the privileged in a post-MeToo world to shed light on the conversation around consent.
When a member of the British Parliament, James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend), is exposed as having an affair with his subordinate, his married life is described by his wife Sophie Whitehouse (Sienna Miller) as a “fish of politics”. has done.
The affair’s story, which is already the subject of media frenzy, takes a new turn when the subordinate, Olivia Lytton (Naomi Scott), accuses James of raping her.
anatomy of a scam Reflects on the issue of consent within the relationship by Weaving its story around the gossip-filled corridors of the UK Parliament, the confined courtrooms, and the strange silence that pervaded the Whitehouse residence.
Consensus has been a difficult conversation in the dynamics of established relationships and marriages for most societies. In a 2017 submission, opposing pleas to criminalize marital rape in India, the Center had said it could not be criminalized as it “could destabilize the institution of marriage.” Since then the Center has expressed that it wants to revise its stand.
Kate Woodcroft (Michelle Dockery), who leads the prosecution against James Whitehouse, reminds her junior at one point, “Lest we forget, we live in a country with your wife until 1991.” Rape was not legally considered rape.”
To make its point on such a delicate issue, the show chooses to divert its attention from accused James Whitehouse, and turn his wife into the narrative hero. As the scandal unfolds from Sophie’s perspective, the ramifications of James’ actions expand to surround the other women in the mini-series.
The show’s advocacy gains more ground when it’s not focusing on the gritty details of the crime, but on the long-running repercussions and interactions of these women.
Arguably Sophie Whitehouse’s character arc comes across as the most fleshed-out. Sophie becomes an active participant in the scandal when her physical existence next to James becomes part of positive media management. She starts out as the supportive wife, who puts the sanctity of the family over her disgrace and chooses to stay with her husband. Over the next six episodes, she comes under media scrutiny, sits through court hearings where the case is discussed in detail, re-examines her opinion of James, and eventually “courses- Improvement”.
Confronting James at lunch, Sophie says, “I will not live my mother’s life. I will not be a long-suffering spouse”.
Following in the footsteps of previous works starring David E. Kelly ( Big Little Lies, The Undoing) The show does justice to at least some of its female characters, and restores power to them in fiction.
anatomy of a scam
Director: SJ Clarkson
Episode: 6
Cast: Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Naomi Scott, Rupert Friend, Josette Simon and others
Story: When a high-ranking Member of Parliament is accused of rape by her subordinate, an uphill court battle ensues that threatens to uncover more secrets.
However, fictionalized depictions of violence, especially sexual violence, demand subtlety and empathy, which is anatomy of a scam To falter The gravity of the situation is lost on the audience when the emotional dialogue in the show is combined with intricate and complicated dialogue.
“Men were guilty of selfish enthusiasm. We were guilty of a failure to communicate. Does that make us participatory? Because sometimes, I think it was easier to accept that,” Sophie rattles in a scene that stuns her. Reflects inner turmoil. Unfortunately, despite Sienna Miller’s strong performance, it comes across as a prepared speech rather than a weak confession.
Another way the show is deceived by its own elements is through its camerawork. The heavy themes tackled in the show should be based on reality, and reflect the trauma that seeps into your daily routine.
When a character is shown suffering from emotional puzzles or stumbling upon memories they thought were off, the camera shifts from clean crisp shots to distorted imagery.
The world around Sophie tilts at extreme angles as she struggles to reconcile her husband’s public lies with horrifying private truths. However, it is often the case that ultimately a legal drama ends up feeling out of place and jarring.
Another choice that listeners have made, which find it difficult to justify, is the multiple times sexual assault on screen.
Olivia Lytton, who has accused James of raping her, is made to narrate the incident in excruciating detail before a courtroom audience. Her monologues in the show are interspersed with scenes from the actual rape scene. Later, when James takes a stand to defend himself, the sequence of events repeats itself again to show the attack on screen.
Kate Woodcroft’s own experience with sexual assault is also featured in the nearly one-minute-long scene.
These directorial choices beg the question: Should we always believe sexual assault is played out in such a violent way as to believe the victim? To understand trauma?
The depiction of rape on television has been debated because it is often inserted as a scene to move forward with the plot or character arc. While in this show, the narrative centers around sexual assault, these scenes play out over and over and steal time from Olivia, whose character does not develop beyond the tropes of a former mistress and later victim.
still, anatomy of a scam It is an important show as it goes beyond devoting all its focus to just crime, and instead paints a more complete picture of the capable nature of society. Sophie talks with James’ mother to find out that her ability to lie has been dismissed as a trait inherent in men. Through a series of flashbacks in each episode, we also see how abuse had become commonplace at the college club that James was involved in.
However, at the same time, the show is a clear realization of the fact that television still has a long way to go before it completes the trauma story.
Anatomy of a Scandal is currently streaming on Netflix