Emily Watson is fantastic in this tremendous British political drama. As the wife of an ambitious politician played by David Tennant, she gives what is nothing less than the performance of a lifetime. Ms. Watson exudes sexuality and her quiet beauty and stunning eyes are completely mesmerizing. In several sequences she virtually sets the screen afire with her volcanic but subdued passion. It is amazing to watch her create a character that is incredibly desirable and stunningly sensual while at the same time being strong willed and seemingly made of steel. Speaking volumes with just those magnificent eyes, she conveys more emotion in a glance than 50 pages of exposition. This is a character who is all woman and then some and there is no doubt regarding her prowess in the bedroom. However, she is equally adept in the cabinet room and her strength as a leader even surpasses her carnal appetites. Watson is the only actress who could manage this and it's wondrous to see. It is no wonder she is so acclaimed as an actor and after so many superb performances that she remains the most respected actress of our time. It doesn't seem possible that she could exceed herself with every role but she does so in film after film as her career continues to astound.

I love political drama. The West Wing was absorbing, and Borgen, the brutally realistic depiction of the first woman P.M of Denmark, including the breakup of their marriage and rather genuine depiction of lust was brilliant.This series that we watched in one sitting on Netflix, did have some structure of political reality, yet there was a single scene, one of sexuality as assaultive hatred, of the husband brutalizing his wife, that certainly was "realistic." Yet, there was no warning, nor was there any realism that was consistent with their status and relationship.It was just thrown in to attract a certain audience who considers this as being edgy I write this review to warn others that this is not an "adult" themed film, but excess in the form of realism. I'm no prude, but this scene was sickening and destroyed the film for myself and my wife.

No one does political drama like the Brits (either on screen or in real life) but this felt like a drama half-written. A good cast with solid performances, but no-one's motives were clear, the twists were not especially surprising and the ending was pretty weak. Whenever there was a chance for confrontation or explanation, it was smothered in a tepid passionless bedroom scene. (And could wardrobe only afford ONE nightie for Emily, or did her character wear the same negligee for months on end?) Plot threads were left dangling, characters were introduced but not explained and scenes seem to stop mid-stream.Shame of it is, this could have been a strong role for a woman but it was an opportunity lost. They needed Malcolm Tucker to sort them all out.

It's mentioned somewhere that if you can 'dream it up', well then, it could possibly happen... that might be true except in this instance. For most of the three episodes things moved along fairly believably... except that it was somewhat difficult seeing the to leads together for a majority of the time. Don't know what it really was, but they just did not at all gel together. Anyway, we then arrive at the final few minutes, and all credibility is chucked completely out the window, with an ending so ludicrous it defies all logic. Hope this is not a growing trend, for this is now the second production viewed in succession that completely challenges in similar manner the intelligence of its' audience. Could easily have 'dreamed up' a couple different scenarios that would have better matched the preceding material.