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One of the most challenging aspects of this job is writing about dramatic events. How do you prepare for such situations? “They communicated with the perfect tone, no humorous remarks. Each person spoke with great sincerity. And then the drama unfolded.” Whenever a major dramatic project arises, I am concerned: what can I comment on regarding the costumes, music, and direction? The performances in these productions are always exemplary, true, top-notch acting, which makes it difficult to provide constructive criticism. It is simply… drama.

The TV show “Mary & George” will air on Sky Atlantic at 9pm on 5 March. It is a drama known for its beautiful costumes, fantastic music, and gorgeous direction. However, what really drew me in from the beginning was its unique texture. Now I understand why there is always so much talk about this drama – it is truly great and deserving of all its award wins.

The synopsis of Mary & George is exceptional. Julianne Moore portrays the role of Mary Villiers, a cunning real-life Countess of Buckingham, who navigates through 17th century England with her distinct English accent. She sets her sights on securing a better future for her second-born son, George (played convincingly by Nicholas Galitzine from Red, White & Royal Blue). Who wouldn’t be intrigued by the thought of Julianne Moore using her attractive adult son as a pawn in the royal game? The chemistry between the two leads is remarkable – Galitzine’s portrayal of George transforms from a brooding and weak young man to a seductive and playful character, thanks to a life-changing trip to France. Moore, as always, shines in her role as a cunning and manipulative mastermind, constantly calculating her next move with her eyes never staying still. Despite both characters being morally questionable, the actors bring a level of humor and charm that makes it impossible not to enjoy their performances.

The key concept is “knowing”: it would be simple to categorize this show as “campy”, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s accurate. While there is plenty of delightful historical eccentricity – including Villiers’ constant attempts to seduce King James I (played with hilarious lewdness by Tony Curran), sucking juices from ripe fruit off a thumb, and suggestive gold earrings – the sexual encounters in Mary & George are primarily about power, rather than lust, and are portrayed as such. The show radiates an infectious “romp” energy, and it would be tempting to emphasize that, but the real intrigue lies in the complex dynamics of the characters: Laurie Davidson’s Robert Carr is delightfully wicked, Niamh Algar is fiercely cunning, and Sean Gilder excels as the grumpy Sir Thomas Compton. I am drawn to period dramas where the characters speak like regular people (similar to last year’s The Gallows Pole), and Mary & George hits the sweet spot: no forced “yes my Lord, no my Lord”, but instead deliciously wicked characters conspiring behind luxurious curtains.

Two more compliments before I let you go off and try to figure out how to make the Sky box series-link this then get frustrated and give up: there are a couple of directorial choices that make Mary & George feel fresh and new and interesting. One of them is – and this is going to blow your mind – no drone shots. Perhaps period productions in recent years have suffered from a trend of “over-epic-ing” (too many sweeping camera angles, too many catapults flinging rocks into the mist: the same way sci-fi sometimes feels like two computers being a bit mad at each other) but M&G feels very low-down and real as a result. You actually see real human faces move, you see people scheme and argue over banquets, you hear the crackle of the fire. That’s good. And, also: once an episode, there’s a crucial scene – a moment of humiliation, or a great win, or some huge, well, drama – that is wound down to slow-motion, all dialogue and audio cut out of it, an epic orchestral tune playing behind it. The effect is like looking at a many-layered renaissance painting – almost still but with lots of spinning wheels of intrigue – and are, mainly because Galitzine is so often in the middle of them, fantastic to look at. What a treat, m’lord! What a little dramatic treat!

• Mary and George will be available in the United Kingdom and Australia on March 5th, and on Starz in the United States on April 5th.

Source: theguardian.com