Heyyaaa Cinephiles, Today i have n review of Movie Namely – The Duchess
So, I finally watched The Duchess (2008), and like… wow. I kinda didn’t expect to be hit with that many feels from a period drama, but here we are 😭. If you’re vibing with corset-core aesthetics, scandalous tea, and historical baddies who walked so we could run — you’re in for a ride. But fr, it’s not all fancy gowns and fan-flirting — this movie gets deep.
Here’s the lowdown in the most Gen Z way possible. Let’s break it down ✨👇
💖 What I Liked (Like… a Lot)
1. Keira Knightley just ate. No crumbs.
She plays Georgiana like she was born to slay in 18th-century wigs and be emotionally wrecked at the same time. Like girl was giving iconic duchess with main character energy. You really feel for her — from her glow-up moments to when her heart’s being shattered into 349 pieces 💔.
2. The aesthetic? Immaculate.
Let’s be real — the costume department went absolutely feral and I’m here for it. Every scene was like a Pinterest board exploded and left only slay-worthy visuals. The wigs, the gowns, the candlelight dinners where no one is happy but everyone looks gorgeous? Chef’s kiss 👑💅
3. The emotional trauma was on point.
I mean… I cried. Like, actual tears. The whole storyline of her being trapped in a loveless marriage, being used for political gain, and having literally no freedom even though she was the Duchess?? It’s giving sad girl core, and I ate it up. It was kinda a lot, though 😩.
4. The soundtrack? Underrated banger.
You ever listen to a violin piece and suddenly you’re like, “I’m a heartbroken noblewoman walking in slow motion through the garden after being emotionally wrecked by society”? Yeah. That.
🙃 What I Didn’t Vibe With (Sorry Not Sorry Feminists)
1. Her husband was just… ew.
Ralph Fiennes as the Duke? Absolute villain arc. Like bro, calm down, you’re mad controlling for someone who’s literally giving cardboard with a wig energy. He had zero vibes, all red flags 🚩. You hate him from scene one and then it just gets worse.
2. The pacing was giving… nap time.
Some parts dragged harder than my will to do college assignments. Like girl, we get it — sadness and scandal. But why are we still on this one scene after 10 minutes? It could’ve been a little snappier, not gonna lie 💤.
3. The love story? Meh.
Georgiana and Charles Grey had moments, don’t get me wrong. But their chemistry was kinda soft serve… like it never fully served. It was sweet, but not spicy. I was rooting for them, but also like… am I? Idk. Maybe I’m toxic.
🧂 What Should’ve Been Added (Spice It Up, Y’all)
1. More girlboss moments pls.
I wanted at least one scene where she slaps back at the patriarchy without crying afterward. Just one “I’m the duchess, b*tch” moment. That would’ve made my serotonin levels skyrocket fr.
2. The fashion montages could’ve gone harder.
We had the material, the setting, the outfits — and yet no full-on montage with her doing costume changes like it’s an 18th-century TikTok transition challenge? Tragic, really.
3. A little more friendship energy
Georgiana and Bess had moments, but I lowkey wanted a proper “we’re trauma bonding and slaying together” arc. Give me The Duchess and the Bestie spinoff plz 😤.
🙅♀️ What Didn’t Need To Be There (Like… why tho?)
1. The baby drama being THAT intense??
Okay, I get it, kids were a big deal back then, but the way they kept throwing babies into the emotional blender was like… ENOUGH. We’re sad already, stop making it worse 😭.
2. The political subplots felt like homework.
I’m here for vibes and emotions, not to learn about 18th-century Whigs and Tories. Save it for the AP Euro kids, pls 💀.
3. The lack of actual Duchess Wins.
She’s the main character and yet the entire movie is her getting crushed emotionally, politically, socially. Like babe, can we get at least ONE dub before the credits roll?
💭 Final Thoughts: Worth the Watch?
Absolutely, yes. Even though it’s kinda tragic AF and your emotional state will not recover quickly, The Duchess is a whole mood. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and kinda feminist in that “I suffered so y’all could thrive” way.
Watch it when you wanna romanticize sadness, feel pretty and miserable at the same time, or scream internally about society’s double standards while wrapped in a blanket burrito.
It’s giving:
✨ historical soft girl aesthetic
😩 emotional damage
💔 tragic baddie energy
Would I rewatch it? Maybe… but only with a pint of ice cream and the group chat ready for emotional support 🥹🍦.
Rating: 8.7/10 (minus points for the dry Duke and lack of slaps to the patriarchy)
So yeah, The Duchess kinda slaps — in a “ruin your whole day but in a pretty way” kinda vibe 💋.
For review of Dupahiya season 1 – Click hereee