Anatomy of a Scandal

...but if you are expecting anything but a predictable conclusion, you would be mistaken. Could've condensed the whole limited series down to one movie, but I suppose they made it a limited series to suit the Netflix format.

I'll feel like this short drama was intended to spark debate but ended like some scooby doo episode. It's such a shame because the pertinent issue got totally lost.

Remarkable story and very entertaining. The first episode was worrisome and looked like becoming a soapy, but from episode 2 to 5 the story became a court case which was not far fetched and was a good reflection of real life. The sixth episode was a misnomer and should not have ended as it did. This episode is pure fiction and impossible to happen in real life.

Surprised by all the negative reviews! I just finished this show moments ago & I was captivated by it!

It feels like in this world the victims don't win but in this story they actually do, which though perhaps unbelievable (as many have stated here), is refreshing to see. I'd like to live in a world where victims speak up and are heard. Where bravery & truth are rewarded...

Anyways - I really enjoyed this show and was hooked immediately! Easy to binge (I did). Great acting, wonderful cast and you really see the development of the story play out...Siena beautifully displayed the stages of grief in a way that felt real to watch. Bravo! This show was also good at helping the audience trade allegiances. While at the beginning you're rooting for a man's life and family to remain intact, by the end I'd be surprised if you didn't feel differently. Where at first it seems the lines of truth & fiction are blurred...as the show progresses it's easy to draw a conclusion at to what actually happened. They sell the story well in that aspect.

Concerning the subject matter, as a sexual assault survivor myself, I often find shows revolving around these themes to be hard to watch, but for some reason I did not find the show triggering. I felt that it conveyed the gravity, tragedy & reality of sexual assault in a way that I was able to stomach. Which I think here is important to note.

Ultimately this is a very moving, powerful story of a woman choosing to do the right thing & prioritizing justice over loyalty. Highly recommend.

It's a legal drama set in modern London, England, following the charge of rape against a senior government minister who is also the best friend of the Prime Minister.

James Whitehouse (Ben Radcliffe/Rupert Friend) is the senior minister and close friend from Oxford University days with Prime Minister Tom Southern (Jake Simmance/Geoffrey Streatfeild). James is married to Sophie (Hannah Dodd/Sienna Miller); they have three children. Olivia Lytton (Naomi Scott) is a researcher on Whitehouse's staff and a person with whom he had an affair for five months. A week after he broke off the affair, they had a sexual encounter, after which she charged him with rape. Kate Woodcroft (Nancy Farino/Michelle Dockery) is the prosecution counsel arguing the charges against Woodhouse.

The six-part series begins with the widely publicized scandal of the affair, followed by the rape charge and the subsequent trial. Throughout, there are flashbacks to the Oxford University days when Whitehouse and Southern were members of a wild partying group called the Libertines. We gradually learn that a death occurred at the Libertines' last party for which no one has been held accountable. Sophie was already Whitehouse's girlfriend at the time. Kate's relationship to it all is initially unclear but becomes apparent as the series continues.

This is a series with strong, well-developed characters, and the quality of the acting is high. The story raises good questions about the nature of consent in sexual relations. For me, the problem is the plot is fatally flawed because it's not believable. It forced me too often to not roll my eyes. This is unfortunate because the actors and the core issue deserved better.