The Crimson Petal and the White

I'm so glad I was not dissuaded by the brutality and raw portrayals that set the scene for this series. Once the moral and physical decay is established this story soars on the courage and ingenuity of our heroine using all her wit and intelligence to survive in a world controlled by the baser nature of men. Masterfully played by Romola Garai, we quickly become invested in this woman who becomes an angel for those who are trapped by and in their lives. Chris O'Dowd, Amanda Hale, Mark Gatiss, Shirley Henderson and Gillian Anderson are just some of the stellar supporting cast. The production brilliantly captures the mood through its costumes and sets. The original work was a novel by Michel Faber which Lucinda Coxon skillfully adapts to the small screen. A dark and disturbing portrayal of the vices and decay of Victorian London, Chris O'Dowd put it best, "It is a wonderful love story which is almost entirely be bereft of love". I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10. [Victorian Drama]