Try This: The Devil's Whore

I am here, once again, to sing the praises of another British drama which those of you with the skill to obtain may enjoy. This time the offering is from Channel 4 and it's a historic romp that is sexier than the BBC's output and 58 times better (so far) than The Tudors. It's a four part serial and the first part was shown this last Wednesday night.

Written by Peter Flannery, who gave the world Our Friends in the North, The Devil's Whore follows the life in turbulent times of Angelica Fanshawe (Andrea Riseborough). In 1638, as she prays on her wedding day in the company of King Charles I who counts her a favourite, her mind wanders to her birth. A comet appeared in the sky and bells rang out that night, but it's clear from the disappointed look on her father's face on checking her gender that the bells did not sound out for her; they heralded the burning alive of her mother's Catholic priest outside. Angelica's strained relationship with religion was set from the start and at important junctures of her life, she sees the devil, a long-limbed, long-tongued being observing and laughing at her from convenient high points. Angelica is strong, sensuous, and independent, qualities that do not suit her to the life she was born to lead. The English civil war rips apart her life but also gives her opportunity to be what she is.

Angelica is fictional, but most of the other key characters are not. The Royalists or Cavaliers are, of course, led by Charles I who is played with a dainty fastidiousness by Peter Capaldi. In a few short scenes, Charles proves himself to be both tyrant and benefactor, foolish and clever, pious and extravagant. There's a moment when he is challenged. The soft, quizzical response he gives belies the venom beneath in a way that I've never seen an actor manage before. Also at court is the caddish Prince Rupert who takes delight in mocking Angelica's husband. Grim, you have to believe me when I say that Harry Lloyd is wonderful in the role of Rupert but he's so far been seen but briefly and I can't find a picture.

Harry Fanshawe (Ben Aldridge) is Angelica's childhood friend and cousin. They grew up together and both became favourites of the Royal Court. Their marriage is inevitable and Harry is destined to rise to Colonel in the war to come. In many ways as Puritan as the men he fights, he tries to keep Angelica on an even tighter leash than he makes for himself.

The Parliamentarians or Roundheads that we have the closest portraits of are all real. John Lilburne's imprisonment for distributing tracts calling for the rights of the common man in defiance of the king's conviction of absolute sovereignty is used as the spark to the events that led Thomas Rainsborough, the dreamer and Oliver Cromwell, the pragmatist to prepare for war. The three work together before and during the early stages of the war but the seeds are sown for a parting of the ways as Lilburne presses his ideas forward, a position with which Rainsborough (Michael Fassbender) is sympathetic. Cromwell (Dominic West) is not, being far more concerned with discipline among the troops.

The loose canon in events is Edward Sexby. A darkly glowing John Simm plays the scarred mercenary who is obsessed with Angelica and whose allegiance demands careful tending. He's a good man in a fight but piss him off and he is gone. He's dirty, base and suits his name. Sexby has a nose for war and he gives a chilling lesson to young boys as the events in London unfold with Charles entering Parliament with an army and war is begun.

This is a rich, dark, dirty production with a Rembrandt-admiring director of photography. Andrea Riseborough has that white luminescent skin common of portraits and is beautifully lit. Everything else is grimy and muddy and very real. This isn't Cavaliers in flowing locks and Roundheads killing Christmas, although both make appearances. It's a fascinating account of the people who orchestrated a war upon themselves.

Crossposted to we_3_witches.