Mary & George on Sky Atlantic review: Julianne Moore is scandalously good in this sexy, sweary period drama
Was it Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite that supercharged today’s trend for indecorous period dramas? The Greek filmmaker was heralded for redefining the genre, with leading ladies riotously slinging c-words, bonking, fighting and wailing in equal measure.
Though the costume drama has long been the arena of filth and fantasy, many such full-throttle shows followed in The Favourite’s wake. From sweary Channel 4 series The Great (created by The Favourite writer Tony McNamara), the real-as-owt BBC, House of the Dragon with its horrible birthing scenes, Netflix’s Fleabag-esque , and Bridgerton’s steamy bedroom scenes.And as another big budget, prestige shagathon hoves into view it’s hard not to feel the heart sink. Indeed, in the first ten minutes of Mary & George, 's new seven-part , there’s a birth, a hanging, some lusty looks, a sharp exchange of words, a funeral, and, of course, a sex scene.
