TV Review: OUTRAGEOUS

Geek Girl Authority

11 hours ago

Nothing does your head in like family. In BritBox's limited series, Outrageous , they've set out to spotlight one of the most scandalous, chaotic, and ideologically disparate yet biologically bonded families on record. Based primarily on Mary S. Lovell's 2001 book, The Mitford Girls: The Biography of an Extraordinary Family, the series's six episodes span most of the 1930s when the sisters took some questionable cues from each other about the importance of following their hearts and persisting on unlikely paths of rebellion and revolution.
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For a series that chronicles the inevitable march to World War II, Outrageous 's initial impression is curiously upbeat. Lively music and frenetic activity open the premiere and paint the picture of a well-off family enjoying the privilege of a well-off life. As the story progresses quickly through the 1930s, the implications of small, mundane choices grow in significance as each sister takes a diverging path forward. The creators take creative license with some timeline points and personalities but lean in on the narrative context to build excellent tension. Photographer: Olly Courtney- Courtesy of BritBox BritBox's Outrageous
The Mitfords were old-school aristocrats, tracing their English roots back to the Norman invasion and raised to the peerage twice. Nancy Mitford (Bessie Carter), the oldest of the six sisters, narrates the series and wonders repeatedly how they grew into such different women despite being raised in the same household by the same parents.
The family's patriarch, David Freeman-Mitford (James Purefoy), addressed and referred to as 'Farve' by his children, loses his fortune in the stock market crash. Purefoy's portrayal of a man uncertain as to how to reverse his fortunes, untrained in asking for help, and overwhelmed by how quickly the world is changing, is a masterclass in foundational character development. Everything Farve has ever depended on — family, fortune, a sense of order — falls away over the span of the series. While almost always calmly stoic and outwardly convinced that things will right themselves with time, Purefoy allows hints of Farve's growing despair to show in his posture, his gaze, and a nearly imperceptible sigh.
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Meanwhile, 'Muv,' Sydney Freeman-Mitford née Bowles, played by the resplendent Anna Chancellor, must fulfill her mission as the mother of six daughters of status to see them all properly presented to society. It brings to mind Mrs. Bennett of Pride and Prejudice canon if the Bennett girls had actually had prospects. Chancellor conveys a substantial amount of determined patience as she juggles the obligations of society while keeping tabs on her husband's handling of the household finances. She is the epitome of steadfastness. The good of the family as a whole drives her every decision. Courtesy of BritBox The Siblings
Often overlooked due to his sisters' sometimes history-making shenanigans, Tom Mitford (Toby Regbo), the lone brother among the siblings, stood to inherit everything, being a boy and all. In Outrageous , he acts as a bit of a weathervane for British society. Early in the series, he states emphatically at the family table that Britain will never accept a fascist government. Not much of a year later, he extols the charms of Hitler's regime and the good it's done for Germany. Nevertheless, various members of the family lean on him for advice, comfort, and support. He is the rock amongst the dynamite sticks.
Obviously, the sisters are the swirling, combative, palpitating heart of Outrageous. Despite being the narrator, Nancy's life is anything but dull. She's already a published author when the series opens. However, her penchant for writing light romantic musings manifests in poorly thought-out real-life relationships. Carter somehow believably spins Nancy's character as unflinchingly clear-sighted when it comes to her family but inexplicably blind when it concerns men.
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Of the six, Pamela (Isobel Jesper Jones) and Deborah (Orla Hill) have the least interest in politics or changing the world. Pam, as played by Jones, is refreshingly level-headed with skills in farming and agricultural management that keep her financially secure when the rest of the family is floundering. Meanwhile, Debo has envisioned her future clearly: Married to a rich, handsome man who can keep her status quo afloat. She likes things the way they are. Why any of her sisters would want something different confounds her to no end. While neither Pam nor Debo takes action to support their more radical sisters' causes, they do not censure or oppose them either. Photographer: Kevin Baker – Courtesy of BritBox The Tinderbox Sisters
One has to imagine that there are roles that actors face with some trepidation. Imagine taking on the part of a historical figure known as 'The Communist,' or 'The Fascist,' or 'The Hitler-lover'? Taking these controversial figures and imbuing them with humanity and authenticity is a tremendous challenge. The writers deserve a lot of credit for creating opportunities for Jessica (Zoe Brough), Diana (Joanna Vanderham), and Unity (Shannon Watson) Mitford to demonstrate genuine affection and humor. They are people before they are headlines.
Jessica comes across as the most sympathetic of the extremist sisters. Believing that communism can solve the inequality in the world, she's committed to turning her back on her heritage and using any resources she has to effect change. As the second-youngest sibling, she's also torn by her love and allegiance to her older sisters, who do not share her sense of global justice. She and Unity, in particular, have a close connection despite their opposing ideologies. Zoe Brough effectively conveys a youthful fervor that grows into a strong determination to actualize her plans.
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While Diana and Unity seem to follow their hearts into fascism, both present erudite intellectual arguments for their belief in it. With the benefit of hindsight, their devout loyalty to Mosley (Joshua Sasse) and Hitler (Paul Giddings), respectively, tracks like extreme fanaticism. However, taken in the moment, they were not alone in their leanings. Diana's choices involve sacrificing her marriage, her good name, and her physical well-being. Vanderham does it all without ever letting Diana seem weak or dominated. While she dotes on Mosley, she feels very much his equal, if not more impressive, in how she manages the life she chooses. Unity Valkyrie Mitford
Shannon Watson is a phenomenon. As Unity Mitford, she manages a wide-eyed, childlike wonder as she throws herself into stalking Hitler, then insinuating herself into his inner circle. With that same guilelessness, she spews anti-Semitic rhetoric and Nazi propaganda. When she returns home after writing a shocking letter to Der Stürmer, she confronts Farve with the zealotry of Joan of Arc facing the flames. Courtesy of BritBox
We can never know what fueled Unity's love of Hitler and Nazism. The comments made about her by other characters imply a lifelong pattern of obsessive behaviors. And yet, despite knowing the terrible path her infatuation will take her down, the look on Watson's face when Unity is first invited to meet Hitler is nothing less than transcendental.
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While Outrageous 's story is very much a well-paced, engaging setup for a historical train wreck — seriously, just Google how the Mitfords' stories play out — the show is insidiously charming. The characters, no matter how flawed, are relatable — fallible in their decisions, facing consequences, and reacting with appropriate emotion.
Through all the chaos of the many scandals and tribulations, Outrageous emphasizes the importance of family bonds. Farve and Muv make their choices for the good of their children. The siblings come together in times of need. In Episode 4, when Jessica asks if she can keep loving a sister who does an awful thing, Pamela responds, 'Perhaps we don't get a choice about loving sisters. Maybe the love's just there, in the background, and always will be. Whether we like it or not.' Image Credit: BritBox
Although billed as a limited series, Outrageous closes out on the brink of the Mitfords' most significant era, the onset of WWII. Each member of the family is set to embark on individual odysseys. While it's unlikely a second season could maintain the lighter moments that provided relief and respite from the darker implications of the times, it would invariably be great television.
Outrageous streams on BritBox, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday.
Book Review: A FAR BETTER THING Diana lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she invests her time and energy in teaching, writing, parenting, and indulging her love of all Trek and a myriad of other fandoms. She is a lifelong fan of smart sci-fi and fantasy media, an upstanding citizen of the United Federation of Planets, and a supporter of AFC Richmond 'til she dies. Her guilty pleasures include female-led procedurals, old-school sitcoms, and Bluey. She teaches, knits, and dreams big. You can also find her writing at The Televixen, Women at Warp, TV Fanatic, and TV Goodness.