5 ideas for Victoria to revitalize its downstairs plotlines

Now that everyone knows Mrs. Skerrett’s true identity, Victoria has freed up a lot of creative space. Here are Culturess’ suggestions on what the PBS series can do with its downstairs characters next.

The goings-on downstairs at Buckingham Palace have long been Victoria‘s weak spot. The series is ostensibly about the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign but — in a fairly obvious attempt to thematically mimic Downton Abbey — it also follows several of the monarch’s servants. At best, these supporting characters flesh out the world in which Victoria lives. At worst (and all too often), they only offer plot filler.

This past Sunday Victoria did away with its most egregious of the downstairs plotlines: the Mrs. Skerrett-is-actually-a-woman-named-Nancy-posing-as-her-fallen-cousin debacle. Mrs. Skerrett/Nancy (Nell Hudson) finally came clean to everyone in “The Sins of the Father”, so hopefully now we can all move on like it never happened. In fact, now that that albatross has finally been removed from around Victoria‘s neck, the series can finally, hopefully do something interesting with Skerrett and the rest of the downstairs crew.

Here are some ideas for Victoria‘s upcoming downstairs storylines:

Give Mrs. Skerrett/Nancy a feminist awakening

I like Mrs. Skerrett/Nancy, who I’ll refer to her as Skerrett from now on, in spite of the stupid hidden identity plotline. She’s intelligent and strikes a delicate balance as the Queen’s hairdresser: she obviously enjoys Victoria as a person and takes pride in her work, but Skerrett knows the system is rigged against her. Why should Victoria and her peers receive so much when the Skerretts of the world receive so little? Why should her cousin’s entire life be ruined because she had a child out of wedlock?

It would be great if Victoria allowed Skerrett to educate herself and ask the preceding questions aloud. She wouldn’t have to become a revolutionary per se, but her arc could echo the massive real-life changes to come during Victoria’s time on the throne.

Punch up the Skerrett-Francatelli romance

Clearly the will they/won’t dynamic between Skerrett and palace chef Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) is supposed to be a slow-burn parallel to Victoria and Albert’s relationship. Well, I’m calling it: it just can’t compare to the royal romance. Not yet anyway.

(Also, their flirtation began when Francatelli discovered Skerrett’s true identity in season 1 and played mind games with her about it. It’s hard to ship a couple when they start out like that.)

Creator Daisy Goodwin and her fellow Victoria writers need to up their game if they want us to be all in on Skerrett + Francatelli 4eva. Giving the duo a common interest or time alone together could go a long way. I’d even accept a conversation that isn’t weighed down with passive aggression or hidden meanings.

Let Lehzen question her life with Victoria

If Victoria is going to remain semi-historically accurate, Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) is not long for Buckingham Palace. Since Lehzen is like a mother to Victoria and the two have a very tight, complex bond, let’s hope the series won’t gloss over her exit like The Young Victoria did.

Instead, I’d like to see at least an episode dedicated to Victoria and Lehzen’s parting of the ways, complete with an existential crisis for the latter. It might seem cruel, but it would fascinating if Lehzen struggled with her decisions and lot in life. Was she really happy raising a child that wasn’t her own? Is Victoria’s rejection worse because Lehzen has no biological connection to her? Does Lehzen resent Victoria’s husband and children?

Baroness Lehzen is too often relegated to being Penge’s nemesis. If she is indeed sent away from Victoria’s life, it would be a story rife with emotional and dramatic potential. Every Victoria character deserves that at least once.

Dole out some comeuppance for Penge

Speaking of Mr. Penge (Adrian Schiller), I just want him to get his. It’s really no exaggeration to call him the worst: he’s lazy, rude, priggish, and uses most of his brain power to figure out how to mess with Lehzen. To add insult to injury, he repeatedly manages to avoid consequences for his actions.

If Victoria or Albert could yell at him — I mean really lay into him — just once, I’d be ecstatic.

Explore Brodie’s writing ambitions

I’m not sure of Brodie’s (Tommy Knight) official role, as Victoria is much less clear about its downstairs hierarchy than Downton Abbey, but I do know he is a literary young man. He avidly reads Shakespeare in season 1 and enjoys writing when he can find scrap paper around the palace. (He also beams with pride when Albert gifts him with a bona fide journal.)

At this point Brodie has little to do besides being sweet and earnest. If Victoria commits to making him an aspiring writer, it would strengthen his character and provide some fun potential developments. Maybe Victoria could arrange an apprenticeship for Brodie with Mr. Dickens? At the very least she could encourage his ambitions with a copy of Great Expectations.

Next: Victoria S2 is having an important conversation about motherhood

Victoria airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.