Belgravia viewers call for a second series despite complaints of its finale being ‘rushed’

Belgravia viewers have criticised the period drama’s finale last night – after a ‘massively rushed’ ending that wrapped up the story in 10 minutes. 

The period drama followed the lives of the Trenchards, who had recently ascended to the aristocratic society of London’s Belgravia, as they navigated having a secret illegitimate grandson, Charles Pope. 

In last night’s sixth episode, Charles (played by Jack Bardoe) finally discovered he wasn’t born out of wedlock and was able to marry the girl of his dreams, Lady Maria Grey (Ella Purnell).

After being plagued by criticism over ‘wooden’ acting, unlikeable characters and being described as a poor man’s Downton Abbey, viewers complained that the ending had been ‘rushed’.

One person wrote: ‘Going to get whiplash off the story speeding along so fast to get wrapped up by 10pm.’ 

Another critic said: ‘This ends in ten minutes, and now they are trying to resolve all the plotlines a bit too little too late really.’

A third added: ‘I don’t understand why they stretched out the beginning of this story and are barrelling through the ending.’

The sixth episode of Belgravia saw Charles Pope discover who his real parents were – Anne Trenchard’s (Tasmin Greig) daughter Sophia Trenchard (Emily Reid) and Lady Brockenhurst’s son Edmund Bellasis (Jeremy Neumark Jones).

Charles had been given to another family since birth since the Trenchards feared the marriage between Sophie and Edmund was fake.

But in last week’s episode, viewers found that their nuptials were actually performed by a real clergyman and not a fake one, as first thought.

Last night, Charles was finally told about his heritage and how he is the rightful heir to Lady Brockenhurst’s estate. 

As such, the young gentleman was finally able to marry Lady Maria Grey, giving viewers the happy ending they desired. 

However, some were impressed by the finale, with one fan writing: ‘Loved Belgravia. Hope there’s a second series. Killing Eve should have been killed off at the end of series one.’

Another said: ‘I’ve loved Belgravia on ITV… am I the only one hoping Julian Fellowes writes a second series?’

While a third wrote: ‘ITV, just finished watching Belgravia. I have loved this and I hope there will be a second series.’

However, with Charles only finding out about his heritage within the last ten minutes of the ITV programme, some viewers criticised the finale for its fast pace.