Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Vanity Fair, which brings William Makepeace Thackeray’s sharp social satire to life with all the wit, scandal, and ruthless ambition of 19th-century English high society.
Vanity Fair premiered on ITV on September 2, 2018, delivering seven episodes with an average runtime of 60 minutes each. The miniseries later became available on Prime Video in the United States on December 21, 2018. Created by Gwyneth Hughes and produced by Mammoth Screen, this adaptation stars Olivia Cooke as the cunning Becky Sharp, Tom Bateman as Captain Rawdon Crawley, and Claudia Jessie as the gentle Amelia Sedley. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, the series follows these characters as they navigate love, war, and the treacherous waters of English society.
The series modernizes Thackeray’s classic novel while maintaining its biting commentary on class, money, and social mobility. Vanity Fair doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of a world where status and wealth determine everything, instead embracing the moral ambiguity of characters who must choose between survival and principles in a society that rewards neither honesty nor kindness.
Becky Sharp’s Ruthless Rise: From Orphan to Social Climber
Olivia Cooke delivers a mesmerizing performance as Becky Sharp, the orphaned daughter of a French opera singer who uses her intelligence, charm, and complete lack of scruples to claw her way up the social ladder. Becky’s character arc showcases the lengths to which someone will go when they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Her journey from impoverished governess to society darling reveals both her remarkable resourcefulness and her complete disregard for anyone who stands in her way.
Throughout the seven episodes, Becky’s schemes become increasingly complex and dangerous, as she manipulates wealthy men, betrays friends, and sacrifices relationships for the promise of social advancement. Cooke’s performance captures both Becky’s magnetic appeal and her underlying desperation, creating a character who is simultaneously admirable and appalling.
Amelia’s Gentle Heart: The Price of Virtue
Claudia Jessie shines as Amelia Sedley, Becky’s former schoolmate who represents everything Becky is not: kind, loyal, and hopelessly naive about the realities of their world. Amelia’s storyline explores the flip side of Becky’s ambition, showing how goodness and virtue often lead to suffering in a society that values neither. Her unwavering devotion to her deceased husband George creates a tragic parallel to Becky’s calculated relationships.
The contrast between Amelia and Becky drives much of the series’ emotional core, as their friendship survives despite their vastly different approaches to life. Jessie’s performance brings depth to what could have been a thankless “good girl” role, showing how Amelia’s apparent weakness often masks a quiet strength.
The Battle of Waterloo: When War Changes Everything
The series builds to its dramatic climax with the Battle of Waterloo, which serves as both historical backdrop and emotional turning point for all the characters. This pivotal storyline tests everyone’s true nature as the reality of war strips away social pretenses and forces characters to confront what truly matters. The battle sequences provide some of the series’ most powerful moments, showing how global events reshape personal relationships and individual destinies.
The war serves as a great equalizer, temporarily disrupting the social hierarchies that define these characters’ lives while also creating new opportunities for those clever enough to exploit the chaos. It’s in these moments of crisis that Vanity Fair reveals its characters’ true selves.
The Supporting Cast: A World of Schemers and Fools
The series excels in its portrayal of Regency society’s various social circles, featuring memorable performances from Frances de la Tour as the formidable Miss Crawley, Michael Palin as the narrator Thackeray, and Johnny Flynn as the steadfast Captain Dobbin. These supporting characters create a rich tapestry of personalities that bring Thackeray’s satirical world to life, showing how different people navigate the same corrupt system.
Each supporting character represents a different response to society’s pressures: some become predators, others victims, and a few manage to maintain their integrity despite the cost. Their interactions create the complex social web that makes Vanity Fair such a compelling examination of human nature.
Success on ITV and Prime Video
Vanity Fair earned a 7.2 rating on IMDb and received praise for Olivia Cooke’s captivating central performance and the production’s attention to period detail. The seven-episode format allowed for a complete adaptation of Thackeray’s sprawling novel while maintaining narrative focus, with each installment exploring different aspects of the characters’ journeys through Regency society. The series found particular success among viewers who appreciated its unflinching portrayal of social climbing and moral compromise, though some critics felt it could have pushed its satirical edge further.
Essential Viewing for Period Drama Enthusiasts
If you love period dramas with complex anti-heroes, sharp social commentary, and gorgeous costume design, Vanity Fair is the perfect series to binge on Prime Video. The show proves that the best literary adaptations find new ways to make classic stories speak to contemporary audiences about timeless human nature.
Tags: period drama, social climbing, Regency England, Napoleonic Wars, literary adaptation
Why Vanity Fair Delivers Compelling Character Drama
Vanity Fair stands as a successful adaptation that honors Thackeray’s satirical vision while creating compelling television drama. With Olivia Cooke’s magnetic performance anchoring the series and strong supporting work throughout, the miniseries offers both sumptuous period spectacle and sharp insights into the eternal human struggles for status, love, and survival.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 7 (completed miniseries)
Platform: ITV/ITV Hub, Prime Video
Release/End Year: 2018
Current IMDb Rating: 7.2
Genre: Period Drama, Historical Fiction, Social Satire
Status: Completed miniseries
Protagonists: Olivia Cooke (Becky Sharp), Claudia Jessie (Amelia Sedley), Tom Bateman (Captain Rawdon Crawley)
Key Supporting Cast: Johnny Flynn (Captain Dobbin), Michael Palin (Narrator/Thackeray), Frances de la Tour (Miss Crawley)