As the episode begins, Victoria (Jenna Coleman) is paraded through the streets with Sophie and her children. A man pulls a gun and screams out “Freedom for Ireland”. The man is quickly subdued. Back at the palace, a distraught Victoria calls for Abigail. Victoria refers to her as Skerrett. Abigail is asked to care for her hair. Victoria tells Abigail all about the man and the attack. Abigail (Sabrina Bartlett) tells Victoria that the hunger for food has gone, but the hunger for independence remains just as strong as ever. Albert (Tom Hughes) enters and tells the Victoria and the children that he should have been with them. Bertie claims that the man had no bullets in his gun. Alfred (Jordan Waller) interrupts and tells Victoria that Mr. Caine (Edwin Thomas) has arrived. Caine is there to be Bertie’s tutor. Victoria isn’t happy that she wasn’t consulted about the matter.

Bertie and Victoria seem to take a liking to Caine right away. Later that night, Victoria tells Albert that she thinks they should go to Ireland. Albert doesn’t understand why. Victoria believe the Irish might be right. She explains that it is tough to respect the authority of a queen you’ve never seen. Victoria tells John Russell (John Session) about the idea later. Victoria wants Lord Palmerston (Laurence Fox) to guide them and keep them safe during the trip. Feodora (Kate Fleetwood) listens in. Palmerston suggests keeping the party modest. Feodora asks Albert about it later. She claims that Palmerston put the idea in Victoria’s head. Bertie starts his tutoring. He wants a treat for doing his work. Caine lets him know that you don’t always get treats.

He claims that there are other incentives. He prepares to show him a card trick of shorts. Victoria learns that there might be trouble between Sophie (Lily Travers) and her husband. Victoria wants them to come to Ireland. Bertie shows his father that he has gotten better at math. Victoria and Albert will be traveling to Ireland alone. The party leaves for Ireland a short time later. Victoria and Albert are greeted in Ireland. Palmerston rides with them for a tour. They’re protested by some of the locals. Emma (Anna Wilson-Jones) tells Sophie that it was Victoria’s idea to bring her husband. Sophie admits she couldn’t disagree with Victoria’s decision. They speak about Palmerston’s wife Emily and Lord Melbourne. Victoria and the others are introduced to Emily (Pandora Clifford) a short time later.

Feo begins handling matters back home. During lunch, the Duke of Monmouth (Nicholas Audsley) belittles women. Joseph (David Burnett) is not happy when the Duke ridicules his wife. Emily tells Victoria that she is brave for coming to Ireland. Albert admits he is not convinced by what he saw. He isn’t sure why they would cheer them so soon after being ravaged by famine. Palmerston and Victoria agree that the Duke is a pig. He tells her that she needs to make the Catholic feel like they’re a part of the same United Kingdom as the Protestant. Later that night, Joseph gives Sophie a new candle. He tells her that she can hear the waves if she listens close. Palmerston and his wife feel sorry for Sophie. Palmerston believes that only love can repair her. Albert and Victoria chat about how they’ve changed.

Albert is worried that Victoria has been making irrational decisions since the last birth. He admits that Feodora feels the same way. Victoria is not happy that they’ve been speaking about her. Meanwhile, Feo gives the children light wine for breakfast. Caine gets Bertie ready for more work. Brodie (Tommy Knight) tells Vicky that he doesn’t like Caine. Albert tours a ravaged town. He asks Alfred where the tenants could be and what Palmerston did with them. Victoria speaks with Emily. They speak about Palmerston collecting women. Victoria tells Albert about their marriage. She calls it extraordinary. Albert is not impressed with him. Victoria tells him that they both have liaisons. Albert believes that everything there is a lie. Albert asks for a show of unity. Sophie walks on the beach.

She finds Joseph getting dressed. She agrees to walk with him. Albert shows Victoria the destroyed, abandoned town. Joseph tells Sophie about his mare. They have a silly race. Joseph tells her that they’re the same. Neither one of them have power. He gets pushed around by the steward and she gets pushed around by her husband. Joseph says that it will not always be that way. Sophie asks him to kiss her. Joseph offers her love and nothing less. They share a kiss. Palmerston watches as Sophie and Joseph return home in opposite ways. Emily and Palmerston have their suspicions. Albert and Vitoria hear a gunshot. A man emerges and calms their horse. He tells them that he is Magee (Fergal McElherron). He works as Palmerston’s gamekeeper. Magee tells them about the missing residents.

Palmerston speaks with Sophie. He tells her that Joseph isn’t appropriate for her. He warns her to be very careful. The Duke enters. Sophie tells her husband about her walk. Palmerston goes to Alfred. He is asked about his village. Palmerston believes they have all gone to New York. Palmerston tells him that Magee is a poacher. Palmerston has an answer for everything. Victoria calls for Abigail. Abigail admits she is not convinced by Ireland either. Victoria says that Dublin will be a day of reckoning. She asks Abigail to pull out the shamrock dress. Before they leave, Emily tells Victoria that it is good if Cardinal Ronan (Christopher Dunne) is sympathetic with them. Palmerston leaves his wife after a kiss. Victoria has flashbacks as the carriage rolls down the street. They arrive and Palmerston escorts them out.

Victoria is introduced to Bishop Moberly and Ronan. Victoria apologizes for not coming sooner. She is glad that Ronan has come to bring his church to hers. Ronan offers her a gift. Victoria gives the public a pledge. She promises to help the country regain its strength. She releases the white dove and everyone cheers. They return home. Bertie begins speaking French. Albert is impressed. Feo tells Albert about the cleric Hannam. Albert tells her to leave it with him. During the nightly prayers, Victoria notices a rash on Bertie’s arm. He tries to hide it. Victoria tells Albert that she is worried about Bertie. They argue about the visit to Ireland. Meanwhile, the Duke watches as Sophie seems happier than usual. He goes to Palmerston and accuses him rogering his wife. Palmerston tells Russell that it wasn’t him this time. Victoria speaks with Abigail.

Abigail tells her that she is right to be concerned with Bertie. Victoria wonders if Caine is abusive. She catches him being rough with her son a short time later. Victoria tells him to leave. Albert enters. Palmerston learns about the tutor from Feo. Palmerston wants to know about Hannam’s appointment. Albert blames himself for choosing Caine. Victoria believes she might be pregnant again. Albert says that he is glad they might have another child. Victoria asks if they’ll survive this. He says that they shall try.

 

Victoria Review

This was an excellent episode of Victoria. It wasn’t as bleak as the previous one, but it was good in its own right. Feodora has been playing Albert and Victoria against one another. It seems that her plan is working well at this point. Victoria managed to succeed in Ireland. Behind the scenes, her relationship with Albert continues to worsen. Sophie and Joseph finally got together. How will that play out in the end? The Abigail character is a decent replacement for Skerrett. Her relationship with Victoria could get interesting in the future.

This episode scores an 8 out of 10. Catch up with previous Victoria recaps before you go.