Consent is questioned in ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’

Netflix Media Center

David Alvarado

Netflix’s original series “Anatomy of a Scandal” hit television screens across the United States on April 15. The suspenseful series explores one of society’s most controversial issues: sexual consent.

The series takes place in London and follows the lives of a small Oxford alumni group who land some of the highest positions in government. The privileged individuals each have a story to tell as the show portrays uncanny depths into the minds of the fictional characters created by Sarah Vaughan, who wrote the novel the show is based on.

Kate Woodcroft, played by actress Michelle Dockery, is an intrepid lawyer taking on a high-profile case involving James Whitehouse, played by actor Rupert Friend. The court case involves severe allegations of rape brought to light by James’s former mistress, Olivia Lytton, played by actress Naomi Scott.

James is aware of his sexual scandal hitting the newspaper and warns his wife Sophie, played by actress Sienna Miller, of the misfortune that soon wrecks their family. She keeps her cool and carries on with her day until the family’s publicist arrives at their house late evening, informing the couple of the damage a scandal could do to her husband’s social and political image.

The series graphically demonstrates the horrors of sexual assault and how wealth can free criminals from being held accountable for their wrongdoings.

The elite group of main characters in the show portray various depths of trauma and what it does to a person. Scandals, divorce and infidelity are only a glimpse of what the British series denotes.

“Anatomy of a Scandal” uses metaphorical scenes to symbolize human emotions when faced with unpredictable conflict. The show’s creators, David Kelly and Melissa James Gibson use distinctive approaches to capture the audience’s attention with the power of exaggeration.

The actresses in the series do a spectacular job fulfilling the roles of women in London who must prove themselves to society in respectable ways as their reputations are put to the test.

The suspense and mystery that unfolds  episode after episode makes “Anatomy of a Scandal” a binge-worthy series.

“To the extent that the series draws us in, much of the credit goes to the actors — particularly Dockery and Miller, who manage to find something raw and human among the show’s most ridiculous excesses as two women pushed to emotional extremes by the pressures of the case,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

The series obtained a 44% audience score along with a score of 61% on the Tomatometer, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite its mediocre ratings, “Anatomy of a Scandal” is underrated, as the show illustrates grim depictions of men in power and women who suffer the consequences of their inaction.

“Excellent timing, Netflix. #AnatomyOfAScandal is an excellent portrayal of the twisted morals and mindset of the privileged. Hard to watch at times but bloody brilliant,” a Twitter user wrote.

The series is a unique psychological thriller that looks at sexual assault through a woman’s eyes. Full of raw emotion, “Anatomy of a Scandal” is the show to watch. However, the six fast- paced episodes of the British series are intense and may trigger some.