Flesh and Blood review, Culture Whisper
It’s a testament to the immortal talents of Imelda Staunton that she can hop from the tragic true-crime story of A Confession to the enjoyably trashy family-drama Flesh and Blood. Not only that, she easily steals both series with her performances. Her sweet yet steely quality enforces the kind, elderly woman stereotype while also tearing it to shreds. No doubt her upcoming performance in The Crown will possess a similar contradictory energy.
In Flesh and Blood, Staunton plays Mary, the most entertaining, intriguing, and funniest character in the series – and she’s not even, strictly, a main part. Mary’s the pinnacle of nosy neighbourliness: keeping an intense eye on the widow/matriarch next door, Vivien (Francesca Annis), ever since the latter’s children were small. Now, the kids are all grown up and suffer their own straight, white, middle-class problems.
