Epix’s new series, Belgravia, stars Tamsin Greig and Harriet Walter, and offers an engaging period drama based on Julian Fellowes’ 2016 novel. While comparisons to Downton Abbey are inevitable, Belgravia stands on its own as a 6-part drama with a satisfying conclusion. Rather than focusing on young love like many of Fellowes’ other works, Belgravia tells the compelling story of two older women who come together to handle inheritance and scandal.
Belgravia begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, at a lavish ball in Brussels. Anne Trenchard, played by Tamsin Greig, warns her daughter Sophia about trusting Lord Edmund Bellasis, her new love. The night ends tragically with Edmund dying in battle and a pregnant Sophia outliving him by only a short while. Twenty-five years later, in the 1840s, the Trenchard family, now wealthier, must confront secrets from their past as they intersect with the wealthy Countess of Brockenhurst, played by Harriet Walter.
Caroline, the Countess, and her husband worry about their fortune ending up with a gambling relative, John Bellasis. John is engaged to Lady Maria Grey, who instead loves Charles Pope, a sweet but slightly dull character. The unfolding scandal, fueled by deceitful servants and John’s schemes, threatens both families, prompting Caroline and Anne to work together for a better future.
Belgravia is darker and more scandalous than Downton Abbey, with elements more reminiscent of Trollope’s novels. The music may evoke Downton, but Belgravia offers more intrigue and melodrama, with fewer likable downstairs characters. Julian Fellowes excels at creating dynamic female characters, and Belgravia showcases intelligent and strong women navigating a male-dominated world. If you enjoy Victorian period dramas with captivating costumes and a plot akin to a Dickens novel, Belgravia will be a delightful watch.
The series is rated TV-14 due to some extramarital affairs and violence. You can stream Belgravia on Epix or Amazon Prime Video with the Epix add-on.
