A Very Royal Scandal
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Its the morning after, and Prince Andrew goes to church.
Perhaps its to think about the alleged sins that came to light overnight.
Maybe its because he feels as though a church is just the place you go to in crisis.
Whatever the case, a cleaner enters, interrupting his train of thought.
And he just cant help himself.
You didnt happen to catch an interview I did last night on television, did you?
She didnt, she says.
Butmaybeshe did see the interview.
And thats the prospect that Andrew now has to contend with.
As he leaves, he turns to look at the cross that hangs above the pews.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, he says.Tick.
Prominently, there is the curious examination of Maitliss own part in Andrews downfall.
The people that rely on them.
Its an interesting touch to reflect on Maitliss inner conflict.
As her husband puts it: Youre big in Japan!
Fuck me, thats famous!
You watched it, I assume, he says.
They say shes coming after you or something, she says.
Its time to lawyer up.
Andrew changes the subject, such is his way once it gets tough.
Yeah, the shoot was good.
I bagged 100 birds.
Best shot of the day.
In Maitlis world, the celebrations continue, with a roar of applause at the BBC offices.
Its acidic, cold, and brilliant.
Thirsk is relieved of her duties by the queen.
It is, essentially, the question that weighs on her throughout the episode.
She was very good to me, he tells Fergie.
Next, its all about PR management not just for Andrew, but the royal institution at large.
The Qqueens private secretary is in full cleanup mode, announcing that Andrew will step back from royal duties.
(He has to be taken off the map, he says, at least for the moment.
Maitlis wins a British TV award.
As she returns to her table at the ceremony, a voice in the crowd heckles: Well done!
Dont mention the victims.
Some time after the interview,Newsnighteditor Stewart Maclean (Eanna Hardwicke) and Thirsk meet in a pub.
What if you were wrong?
What if Andrewwasjust clumsy, and the accusations against him amplified by the interview were false?
Power without responsibility, Thirsk says.
His eyebrows raise when the topic of extradition comes up.
Andrew is incredulous: How can they do that to him, the second son of the queen?
When you grow up with the power and protections afforded to the monarchy, itwouldbe quite the rug pull.
(Take them off, Andrew instructs.
You sound like the Muppets.)
His legal case with Guiffre is ongoing.
Still, sympathy for such a guy thats a helluva job.
Like what happened to Epsteins victims wasnt their fault.
They still had to parade their pain in the hope of the slightest justice.
Always against the tide.
Always the battle against the unspoken.
You know, the look in their eyes that says:Really?
Maitlis continues to stew over the impact on Andrews daughters and struggles to find new interview subjects forNewsnight.
Eventually, she decides to leave the BBC.
If you dont let me fight, I will forever look guilty, Andrew says.
But the time for fighting, his family has concluded, is over.
Oh and the duke is disinvited from the queens jubilee celebrations.
Tell me, the duke asks.
Where do I go?
What do I do?
You live with the consequences of your actions, sir, the queens private secretary icily offers.
Right to the very end, the show tactfully avoids casting definitive judgment.
As real-life Maitlis said of the finale in a recent interview for theBBC: It is about reckoning.
It is about fallout.
But it isnt some nice, neat ending with a comedy villain or a sort of swashbuckling hero.
