If you're looking for a psychological thriller on Netflix then look no further than Anatomy of a Scandal.
This gripping courtroom drama is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan and is told over six episodes.
So what is it all about? Set in England, James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend) and his wife Sophie Whitehouse (Sienna Miller) live a very privileged life. Having gone to the best schools in England, James is now a politician, and his future is very bright.
That is until a scandalous secret comes to light and that turns the Whitehouse world upside down. With his political career and personal life on the line, Whitehouse must face an allegation of sexual assault.
Leading the charge to have him convicted is barrister Kate Woodcroft (Michelle Dockery) but with an agenda of her own, what is the actual truth of what happened?
Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them.
Kate Woodcroft, who will prosecute the case, is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.
Is Anatomy of a Scandal Worth Watching?
Anatomy of a Scandal is based on a personal and political scandal that blows the Whitehouse marriage apart.
The event is a question of sexual consent with a woman named Olivia (Naomi Scott) which James maintains was simply an affair.
But the story goes back even further to when James was in high school. This isn't any ordinary high school though. This is an elite private school, a blissful and rarified world of power, money and privilege.
So we do get plenty of flashbacks of what happened with Ben Radcliffe playing the role of young James.
The six episodes are packed with twists and turns, intrigue and suspense. Nothing is as it seems. Everybody has secrets and they are all willing to do whatever it takes to keep them buried.
Anatomy of a Scandal Release Date
Anatomy of a Scandal will be out on Netflix on April 15th 2022.
There are six episodes in season one of this political scandal drama.
Is Anatomy of a Scandal A True Story?
No, it is not. It is purely fiction and is based on a book by Sarah Vaughan that was published in 2018.
She said that she used her experiences as a political reporter, and as an Oxford student, to explore themes such as power, privilege, and consent.
Anatomy of a Scandal, the book, received positive reviews and was on the Sunday Times bestseller list for ten weeks.
Netflix then greenlit the series in May 2020 and it was developed by David E. Kelley (The Lincoln Lawyer, Boston Legal and Nine Perfect Strangers) and Melissa James Gibson (House of Cards).
Cast of Anatomy of a Scandal on Netflix
When you set out to make quite a complex drama regarding a very emotive topic, you need the best in the business to get the job done.
So who plays who in the Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal?
Sienna Miller as Sophie Whitehouse, married to James Whitehouse
Michelle Dockery (better known as Lady Mary Crawley on Downtown Abbey) as Kate Woodcroft, the barrister prosecuting the case
Rupert Friend as James Whitehouse
Ben Radcliffe as younger James Whitehouse
Naomi Scott as Olivia Lytton, the accuser in the case
Josette Simon as Angela Regan, barrister for the accused
Jonathan Coy as Judge Aled Luckhurst QC
*Our rating is provisional and based on the cast, director, original book, the trailer and all the information we have about the series.
