A regal tale of romance inside the walls of the British monarchy; what’s not to like? Airing originally on ITV in the U.K. and Masterpiece in the U.S., Daisy Goodwin‘s deep dive into the life of one of Britain’s most famous monarchs, Queen Victoria, made its debut back in 2016 and was met with plenty of praise from viewers and positive ratings. Averaging over five million viewers per episode in the U.K., the show became ITV’s top-rated drama of 2016 and earned itself two follow-up seasons. As her run as the companion on the beloved Doctor Who was coming to an end, the series offered a next step in the career of the effortlessly talented Jenna Coleman.
Despite its huge impression across the pond, Victoria wasn’t quite as impactful in the U.S., and, in retrospect, it is certainly one of the most underrated historical dramas of the past ten years. Now, thanks to the ever-revolving door of Netflix, you have another chance to catch this immersive series, with Victoria officially joining the streamer on December 1, 2025. In a previous interview with Collider about the daunting task of portraying the controversial monarch, Coleman said, “There wasn’t really a day on set that wasn’t huge. You’ve got these journals that she’s written in, that tell you how she felt on the day.” She then added, “There is so much detail and you move through it all so fast. There’s so much wealth in all of the moment and you want to capture that.” A synopsis for the series reads:
“This eight-part drama features an all-star cast including Jenna Coleman as a young Queen Victoria and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert. The monarch’s life is chronicled as the story begins with the death of King William IV in 1837, her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 and her relationships with the influential forces around her. With the advice of the prime minister Lord Melbourne and the support of her husband Prince Albert the young queen flourishes and establishes herself in her newfound role.”
Was ‘Victoria’ a Hit With Critics?
A sure hit with audiences, how did Victoria fare with critics? The series received universal acclaim, with critics gushing over its ambitious visuals and Coleman’s lead performance. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show boasts an 87% score from critics and 84% from audiences, with its third season earning the highest rating of all (92%). In Collider’s review of the series, Allison Keene called it “a serene tale of love and the monarchy,” awarding it three stars.
Victoria is streaming on Netflix this December.
