Belgravia: The Next Chapter

I am a fan of period dramas, and have set "Downton Abbey" as the golden standard. Naturally, that means I am very interested in titles by Julian Fellows, and have seen at least a few of them. When I watched "Belgravia", I thought it was a lightweight compared to "Downton Abbey". Whereas the characters in "Downton" are complex and well developed, the characters of "Belgravia" seemed a bit charicatured and simplified. There were the good guys on one side, and the bad ones on the other. The whole plot seemed a bit like an ordinary fairytale, and it was easy to guess where everything would end up.

Now, I started watching the spin-off show straight after finishing the original show, and was very pleasantly surprised. The characters all seem more complex than in the previous show, and there are more side plots, just like we saw in "Downton Abbey". The "downstairs" party are much more complete characters than the ones in the first part of "Belgravia", and I find myself interested in their backstories. Much more to work with for the writers, and I can easily see a continuance for this show.

I am seriously puzzled that so many hate this season compared to the original. Do most people prefer the lightweight, straight forward story with few surprises in store? I find that hard to believe. Yes, this season is much more subtle, and keep its mysteries for a longer time, but I completely disagree about the notion that the main character has the personality of a "block of wood". He is contained, troubled and melancholy. He tries to open up now and again, but struggles with himself. I think the actor is doing a clever job of a character that is hard to portray.

Belgravia was written by Julian Fellow and his attention to details was visible everywhere. It wasn't perfect, but it was interesting, the actors were good, the time period well presented. But this New Chapter feels like a high school play. The actor playing Frédéric Trenchard is so bad! The costumes are awful, again it looks like a mom took whatever look like from before 1900 and dressed the characters with it, with no research of the specific period. So there is costume from the Elizabethan period (16th century) mixed with the early Victorian (1840'). The characters display 21st century values and attitude. It could be funny if it was a spoof but it's not supposed to be. Neither is it a period-fantasty like Bridgerton. I can't understand how Julian Fellow accepted to have is name associated to it. Did he lost a bet?

I'll start off with the bad. The main "love" story between Frederick Threnchard and Clara Dunn is a problem. He has the personality of a block of wood, and Clara's instant love for him is a puzzlement. To her credit, away from him, the actress comes alive, so I'm assuming he's sucking the charisma out of her.

To be fair, the actor is saddled with a ludicrous storyline where his personality and demeanor is explained by his father being cruel to him and loving his brother more. So, he has to spend copious amounts of time, staring off into space, wallowing in his man pain. He's tedious and boring, and his hatred for his brother is so irrational and off-putting.

BUT, there is stuff to recommend here. Toby Regbo as Frederick's kindly brother, who is devoted to his work as a Reverand, and hides a painful secret from the world, is a revelation, and easily the most interesting character in the show. Sophie Thompson as Clara's dottering mother is charming and sweet. Hannah Onslow, playing Clara's less effervescent sister nails her characters barely disguised bitterness. Liam Garrigan and Elaine Cassiday also shine as members of the household staff with their own stories to tell. And Sophie Windkleman and Miles Jupp as the Duke and Duchess of Rochester have a side story that is surprisingly effective.

Jury is out for me on Edward Bluemel's doctor character, but perhaps he'll become more fully fleshed out as the show goes on. The actor is solid, so that helps. But he feels threadbare as a character.

I do think the show suffers from pacing issues, and whatever big bad thing that happened between Frederick and James really should've been revealed already. The longer its drawn out, the more likely it is to disappoint when its revealed.

The actor who played the lead Fredrick was so wooden, so robotic...just terrible. There's a scene where he tries to cry and I laughed out loud. Other than that sad moment when I'm sure he tried picturing a puppy getting run over by a steamroller, he showed only one emotion the entire season. I get he was trying to play impenetrable and unassailable, but it came off as stiff fence post. Community college acting 101. So, so bad. My Alexa has more personality and allure than this guy.

And while the lead actress played with much more range there was zero chemistry between her and Fredrick. Zero.

Every other actor played with depth and charm and personality. It's too bad...would've been much more compelling with different leads. What a waste of their talent.

... of all the written-viewer-reviews to date... two are highly complimentary, all remaining run from so-so to exceptionally-poor... actually Belgravia: Next Chapter falling somewhere in-upper-between... a decent watch, yet not so good as past Julian Fellowes creations

... Belgravia had several memorable characters, in the Next Chapter it requires straining to come up with more than the show's lead... with only a couple more episodes remaining there's little time for recovery-saving of this season... being very well made, and overall acting not as terrible as some would suggest... it's just not what was expected after the original series... all those familiar, well-known-individuals setting a high benchmark for this latest cast to match-compete... they coulda-shoulda carried a couple-three of 'em into this current series, at least for a time

... will there be another 'season' in-of Belgravia ... would like to say hope-so, having reservations-doubts ... but would still try watching it once again, as many others enamored of entertaining-period-drama... and Belgravia still remaining better than host of others in this category

03.11.24 ... next to last episode far best of this season's-series.. ending episode gave more the feeling of your typical Hallmark romantic-drama ... with every storyline thread neatly being tidied-up (even her sister centering on a new prospect).. it feels as if we just might have seen the last of the Belgravia-saga.