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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Mowsehowse on Tuesday 27 November 18 22:35 GMT (UK)

Title: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Tuesday 27 November 18 22:35 GMT (UK)
I just watched the very absorbing new drama on BBC1, "Mrs Wilson".
Curious, as I understood the series was based in fact, I looked for further detail.

For those who like a spoiler you can read more here:
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-11-27/what-is-the-real-life-story-behind-ruth-wilsons-new-bbc-drama-mrs-wilson/#r3z-addoor

The actress Ruth Wilson is a grandchild of Alexander Wilson.



Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Tuesday 27 November 18 23:32 GMT (UK)
We  enjoyed this !! Ruth Wilson was playing her own grandmother.

Funnily enough I read a novel a couple of months ago and the storyline was very similar.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Thursday 29 November 18 09:36 GMT (UK)
We  enjoyed this !! Ruth Wilson was playing her own grandmother.

Funnily enough I read a novel a couple of months ago and the storyline was very similar.

It must be very strange to act being your own grandmother......
Which novel BillyF?

I always wish, and WISH that I would find something exciting/different during my research, but here is a definite case of "be careful what you wish for".......
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Gillg on Thursday 29 November 18 11:32 GMT (UK)
Enjoyed this episode, but kept getting confused over the flashbacks.  Ruth Wilson didn't seem to age over the 20+ years covered by the story, apart from her hairstyle.  (And I can't help being fascinated by her upper lip, sorry.)
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Thursday 29 November 18 14:27 GMT (UK)
" Which novel BillyF? "

It was called " Before the Storm " written by Judith Lennox .

Also, another strange coincidence, on yesterday`s episode of the Chase there was a contestant who said she was doing Family History and she had discovered that " her " father also had 2 other families which no- one knew about. One was in Runcorn and the other in Somerset, but I missed where it was she came from.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Thursday 29 November 18 15:55 GMT (UK)
I know ( upper lip  oooooh)    I didnt want to watch it .. cos I hated what she did to the wonderful Idris.... (It was him wasnt it... !!!)

But luckily OH set to record and so will give it a go.. with a slack upper lip.. ha ha ha..

xin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: lydiaann on Thursday 29 November 18 16:34 GMT (UK)
I enjoyed it and wasn't confused by the flashbacks at all.  What I DID really love was the announcer at the end who came on and, instead of giving information about the next episode, said "Who the flip is Dorothy?"  - that said it all! 
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Thursday 29 November 18 17:26 GMT (UK)
There were a couple of glimpses of Dorothy in the first episode !
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Thursday 29 November 18 17:29 GMT (UK)
 ;D ;D Lydiaann.

Thank you BillyF I will look out for it.

Xin you are funny, though I confess I was almost thinking the same thing. (NO Luther can NOT have done it!!)

But in terms of family history research, I reckon the story of "Mrs Wilson" takes the biscuit.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Thursday 29 November 18 17:31 GMT (UK)
There were a couple of glimpses of Dorothy in the first episode !

Indeed, but I don't want to be giving too much away to those who haven't read up on this.  :-X
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Caw1 on Thursday 29 November 18 18:59 GMT (UK)
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this and find the convoluted family history fascinating!
I can't imagine playing my own grand mother but there must be a sense of pride there too.
Pity they're not able to find out what Alec actually did..... might explain a great deal!
Looking forward to the next episode.

Caroline
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Alan b on Thursday 29 November 18 20:41 GMT (UK)
Ruth Wilson really is an outstanding actress but she must have been under pressure from this seeing as she was playing her own grandma. I read somewhere the anyone appearing in the series who is still alive today was shown the programs to make sure they were happy with how they were portrayed.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mart 'n' Al on Thursday 29 November 18 22:07 GMT (UK)
Yes we're loving it too. As I watched the closing credits, I did say, "... but which one was Keeley Hawes?". (Dorothy)

Martin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Thursday 29 November 18 23:28 GMT (UK)
That was really enjoyable...

xin ;)
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: rosie17 on Friday 30 November 18 08:11 GMT (UK)
Just watched it last night really enjoyed it looking forward to the next episode  :)

Rosie
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Friday 30 November 18 19:13 GMT (UK)
Martin , I think I spotted Dorothy 3 times !!
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: genjen on Friday 30 November 18 19:23 GMT (UK)
I looked at the name of this thread and did as instructed... I stood up.

  ….can I sit down again now?

 

 
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Maiden Stone on Friday 30 November 18 19:51 GMT (UK)
Ruth Wilson really is an outstanding actress

She was an excellent Jane Eyre - her first TV starring role.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Tuesday 04 December 18 08:51 GMT (UK)
I looked at the name of this thread and did as instructed... I stood up.

  ….can I sit down again now?

 ;D ;D

Please do.....
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Dyingout on Tuesday 04 December 18 11:10 GMT (UK)
Ruth Wilson really is an outstanding actress

She was an excellent Jane Eyre - her first TV starring role.

Also wonderfully menacing as Alice Morgan in Luther along side Idris Elba (a role which she reprises in the new series five)
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Tuesday 04 December 18 16:19 GMT (UK)




Also wonderfully menacing as Alice Morgan in Luther along side Idris Elba (a role which she reprises in the new series five)

Yes, Dyingout ....... SO menacing that Xin and I don't want to watch her at all after that role!! :P
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: ainslie on Wednesday 05 December 18 09:17 GMT (UK)
I cannot remember whether anyone has explained the army officer’s beard.  Highly unlikely.  They should also sort out his Sam Browne belt, and what sort of pilot was he?
A
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Gillg on Wednesday 05 December 18 10:17 GMT (UK)
Episode 2 revealed still more entanglements.  Ruth Wilson is excellent as the bottled up middle class Englishwoman, but now that her sons have found out some of the truth, how will she cope?  Alex's job is shady, to say the least.  What was all that about his arrest in the park?  I'm hoping that all will be revealed in the final episode, but as this is a real life drama, tying up all the loose ends and answering all the questions raised could be difficult. 
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Dyingout on Wednesday 05 December 18 11:03 GMT (UK)
And from what I have read.
There is one more bombshell to come,
but I will leave that there.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 05 December 18 12:21 GMT (UK)
:)  :)   makes a change to have a prog to look forward to..

Who would have thought that I could look forward to watching her.. sorry Ruth  - you are a brilliant actress to be able to change my feelings... 

cos I am stubborn in my opinions.. you ask my OH  8) 8) 8) 8) 8)


xin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Wednesday 05 December 18 12:52 GMT (UK)
A few things from Episode 2.

Did I imagine it or:
1.  Did Keeley Hawes (aka Dorothy Wick) wear the same hat during WW2 that she wore to Alex's funeral in 1962? 
2.  When Alison was talking to Dorothy's son, Michael/Mike, did he say that he had all his father's books?  Well, if Mike believed his father died in 1942, who did he think was writing the later ones?  Or have I lost the plot?

STG
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Wednesday 05 December 18 14:39 GMT (UK)
I` ve had a little smile to myself, SmallTime Girl over the comment about Dorothy`s hat!

It`s entirely possible for her to have been wearing the same one. When I saw the dvd of a relatives 1961 wedding my dad was wearing the same trilby ( and coat ) that he`s wearing in his 1941 honeymoon photos.

Looking forward to next week`s episode.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Wednesday 05 December 18 16:49 GMT (UK)
I` ve had a little smile to myself, SmallTime Girl over the comment about Dorothy`s hat!

It`s entirely possible for her to have been wearing the same one. When I saw the dvd of a relatives 1961 wedding my dad was wearing the same trilby ( and coat ) that he`s wearing in his 1941 honeymoon photos.

Looking forward to next week`s episode.

With all due respect to trilbys, they all look the same  ;), but a woman's hat, now that's a different story  ;D

STG
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: suey on Wednesday 05 December 18 17:55 GMT (UK)
A few things from Episode 2.

Did I imagine it or:
1.  Did Keeley Hawes (aka Dorothy Wick) wear the same hat during WW2 that she wore to Alex's funeral in 1962? 
2. When Alison was talking to Dorothy's son, Michael/Mike, did he say that he had all his father's books?  Well, if Mike believed his father died in 1942, who did he think was writing the later ones?  Or have I lost the plot?

STG


Good point about the books...he did say books not looks didn't he ?

Back in the early '50s and into the '60's my Mum had what she called her wedding and funeral hat.  Apart from a headscarf I think it was the only hat she owned.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: mckha489 on Wednesday 05 December 18 19:03 GMT (UK)
A few things from Episode 2.

Did I imagine it or:
1.  Did Keeley Hawes (aka Dorothy Wick) wear the same hat during WW2 that she wore to Alex's funeral in 1962? 
2. When Alison was talking to Dorothy's son, Michael/Mike, did he say that he had all his father's books?  Well, if Mike believed his father died in 1942, who did he think was writing the later ones?  Or have I lost the plot?

STG


Good point about the books...he did say books not looks didn't he ?

Back in the early '50s and into the '60's my Mum had what she called her wedding and funeral hat.  Apart from a headscarf I think it was the only hat she owned.

Last books apparently  published in 1940, so Michael could easily have them all. 
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: SmallTownGirl on Wednesday 05 December 18 19:18 GMT (UK)
A few things from Episode 2.

Did I imagine it or:
1.  Did Keeley Hawes (aka Dorothy Wick) wear the same hat during WW2 that she wore to Alex's funeral in 1962? 
2. When Alison was talking to Dorothy's son, Michael/Mike, did he say that he had all his father's books?  Well, if Mike believed his father died in 1942, who did he think was writing the later ones?  Or have I lost the plot?

STG


Good point about the books...he did say books not looks didn't he ?

Back in the early '50s and into the '60's my Mum had what she called her wedding and funeral hat.  Apart from a headscarf I think it was the only hat she owned.

Last books apparently  published in 1940, so Michael could easily have them all.

Really!   :o

What was he (Alex) doing with himself for the last 20-odd years of his life then on that typewriter of his?  How did he earn a living - apart from Alison's job in a typing pool?

And now he's dead, Alison's given up her job, so what's she living on, because Gladys has his pension?

STG



Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Wednesday 05 December 18 19:47 GMT (UK)
I think there`s going to be an even bigger surprise next time !!
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 06 December 18 16:32 GMT (UK)
Recorded this lot, because I knew I'd not be able to watch them in "real time" - now not quite sure if I want to, or not???
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mart 'n' Al on Thursday 06 December 18 17:02 GMT (UK)
We are enjoying this, and clearly finding it as bewildering as everybody else. It would help if the flashbacks could be in black and white. I'm also amazed that all the 1963 cars are all in immaculate condition, suggesting that they have been borrowed from some car fanatics restoration group. I also remember from the funeral, a black man mentioning all that people that Alex knew from the hospital. We haven't seen any more of him so I hope he appears in episode 3. I certainly think there are more adventures to come yet.  I was going to make a comment about Keeley Hawes, but speech recognition on my tablet keeps changing it to Keeley Horse.

Martin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Thursday 06 December 18 20:04 GMT (UK)
Last nights ... was for me... not nice..   Yes I was enjoying the series.. but it was a bit too nasty side showing.. and ... he is NOT a nice person .. whatever reason he gives for all his 'link ups' / attachments .. the hard/true side of life shows that he was a totally selfish male.... who maybe saved hundreds of life.. but he abused his so called wives   and I am not in anyway trying to be politically correct.. or to look from the next page and all that rubbish.. I am looking at it from the point of view of two women I knew who lived that kind of life..  and I dont like him..

sorry


xin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Thursday 06 December 18 22:08 GMT (UK)
It makes me wonder just what sort of person can keep up that amount of deception for such a long time.  As you say " not nice "
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: suey on Thursday 06 December 18 23:49 GMT (UK)
How do men like him fund their disfunctional lifestyle...?  His last book was written in 1940. His families appear to have lived pretty much hand to mouth while he carried on regardless  >:(

Ok, maybe at the time, during the war, he did what he did for good reasons with Dorothy but I cannot fathom his reasoning for his deception with Alison, how did she benefit his war effort ?

Not wishing to spoil things but I read that there is yet another wife, four in all  :o  Apart from known facts the man himself remains a mystery.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mart 'n' Al on Monday 10 December 18 14:57 GMT (UK)
In recent weeks I've been watching repeats of the 1960s/70s detective drama, Public Eye. on the Talking Pictures channel. I've just watched an episode called "The man who didn't like sweets", and it tells almost exactly the same story as Mrs Wilson. For anyone who doesn't remember the original TV series, it features Alfred Burke as private eye Frank Marker. Early in the series it was set in Brighton before moving to Windsor. Anyone enjoying Mrs Wilson should watch this as it is now available on YouTube. There is a great line in it, after our hero has found the man with 3 wives, the villain says "My wife is a woman in a million!" and Frank says "I'm sure she is."  Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umtgaaSgT38&list=PL2OKZznDTlDXwTUl8KMK2WXdlyZ_LLa7w&index=9

Martin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Tuesday 11 December 18 22:30 GMT (UK)
UUUUHM



xin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Romilly on Tuesday 11 December 18 22:38 GMT (UK)

I found this drama very absorbing, - especially as my brick wall is a Wilson one :-)))

 I kept thinking that he couldn't get away with it now, - because of mobiles, the Internet, etc...

I've found several cases of bigamy  in my family through my family history research, - but they weren't on the Wilson side!

Romilly.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Wednesday 12 December 18 14:29 GMT (UK)
This maybe could have had an extra episode; the 4th " marriage " seemed like a bit of an afterthought, although it the story was shown from Alison`s point of view. We still don`t know how Alec funded it. BBC news shows that actually he didn`t - he might have saved a lot of lives, but he gave his families a lot of hardship.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46456654

Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Caw1 on Wednesday 12 December 18 15:43 GMT (UK)
I found it interesting reading the article on BBC news website written by Ruths brother Sam.

It is such a shame that they are not able to get to the truth, what ever that is, about what actually happened to him....

Did he indeed get bumped by MI6 for elaborating the transcripts he heard..
Did he just live in a fantasy world which he then recreated in his books...

The family coming together after decades is wonderful considering what they had all been through with the lies being told. This has brought them closer and I do hope that eventually they will discover what it was he actually did!

I enjoyed the three programmes and thought it was very brave of Ruth to play the part of her grandmother knowing the circumstances of her life with and without Alec.


Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Romilly on Wednesday 12 December 18 16:27 GMT (UK)

I've reserved the book by Tim Crook about Alec Wilson at my local Library.

An interesting Article by him about his research here:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n5o/

Romilly.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 12 December 18 17:04 GMT (UK)
that is an interesting read


xin
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Romilly on Wednesday 12 December 18 17:32 GMT (UK)

They sound like a fascinating family. Imagine unearthing something like this from your family history research!

Romilly.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Wednesday 12 December 18 19:30 GMT (UK)
I`m going to see if my local library can find the book for me.

Alec`s life sounds very intriguing, but how much hardship he put on his families.

First there was love then betrayal, but it`s lovely that all the families have come together.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 16 December 18 11:24 GMT (UK)
I binge watched this series this afternoon and was going to start a thread to see if anyone else had seen it - lucky I searched "Mrs Wilson", and found this ongoing thread.

I really enjoyed this series. There are a few questions that I don't think were answered fully, but in real life there is still so much the family don't know about him. How frustrating that they are unable to see his files. I wonder if they will ever be 'opened'?

For those who asked who funded Alison and the children's lifestyle, at one stage Alison mentions a bequest from her mother - later she sold her house and bought houses for her sons, so she must have been comfortable at that stage. I thought it an odd decision for her to take her vows (or whatever she took) in the Catholic Church. I suppose this provided the support she felt she needed. (reminded me of Prince Philip's mother becoming a nun).

Very different and very interesting.  :)
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: carol8353 on Sunday 16 December 18 12:45 GMT (UK)

I found this drama very absorbing, - especially as my brick wall is a Wilson one :-)))

 I kept thinking that he couldn't get away with it now, - because of mobiles, the Internet, etc...

I've found several cases of bigamy  in my family through my family history research, - but they weren't on the Wilson side!

Romilly.

I did think of you a couple of times whilst watching it Romilly  ;D

In a way it was a shame he wasn't your chap eh? LOL

Carol
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: BillyF on Sunday 16 December 18 13:20 GMT (UK)
Back to the " funding " !! The story was told from Alison`s point of view, but we don`t know how the others managed to live. I wish it had been just another episode longer to fill in the gaps, although I would probably be saying the same thing then !!
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: IMBER on Sunday 16 December 18 14:42 GMT (UK)
I`m going to see if my local library can find the book for me.

Alec`s life sounds very intriguing, but how much hardship he put on his families.

First there was love then betrayal, but it`s lovely that all the families have come together.

Be sure to request the 2nd edition.

Imber
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Romilly on Sunday 16 December 18 15:38 GMT (UK)
I found this drama very absorbing, - especially as my brick wall is a Wilson one :-)))
 I kept thinking that he couldn't get away with it now, - because of mobiles, the Internet, etc...
I've found several cases of bigamy  in my family through my family history research, - but they weren't on the Wilson side!
Romilly.

I did think of you a couple of times whilst watching it Romilly  ;D

In a way it was a shame he wasn't your chap eh? LOL

Carol

I keep expecting someone to pop up on the DNA 'Matches' from WJ Wilson's 'other' family, - but nothing as yet :-) Perhaps I'm doing him a disservice, and there wasn't one...

Romilly  :-\
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: kathb on Thursday 20 December 18 13:02 GMT (UK)
Having read the Radio Times synopsis of the 3 part Mrs Wilson and having watched it, I wished to see if Tim Crooks book gave any different information.  I bit the bullet and the bank card and downloaded a copy of the first edition of “The Secret Lives of a Secret Agent: The mysterious life and times of Alexander Wilson”. The kindle edition is £22:42. It is over 600 pages. It is an interesting read. You do need to work your way through the social history that the author peppers the pages with and the referencing. However, Tim Crook is an academic and he has written this book with solid foundation. I won’t spoil any of the content for Rootschatters. Suffice to say, that the TV edition took a great deal of ‘poetic licence’ with what really transpired. I don’t suppose that many would be surprised with how it was portrayed on TV to actually how Alec Wilson’s past was discovered by his family. Its still a cracking read.
Regards
Kathb
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 20 December 18 13:08 GMT (UK)
I was considering buying the book but read a few reviews of it which were fairly scathing - too long and heavy going was the gist of most of them (written in a hard to get along with academic manner).  :-\
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Romilly on Thursday 20 December 18 13:09 GMT (UK)
Thanks for sharing that kathb.

My Library Reservation for this book is now 'In Process' and so I'm looking forward to getting hold of it. I was expecting some 'poetic licence'; that always seems to happen with TV adaptations(!)

Romilly.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 20 December 18 21:58 GMT (UK)
I read that one of the major differences in the TV adaptation is that in reality Ruth Wilson's grandmother only knew about the first wife and found out later that she and Alexander never divorced.

I think showing Alison finding out about the other three women added to the drama and was a valid variation on the way events really unfolded. It was Michael who initiated the search for his father when he discovered that the story his mother had told him about his father did not tally.
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Jackiemh on Thursday 28 March 19 21:51 GMT (UK)
I have just watched the DVD of Mrs Wilson and thoroughly enjoyed it but as previously mentioned, it left a lot of unanswered questions. I will look for the book in the library and see if that helps.
Life is messy though; sometimes we never get the full story.
I have several cases of bigamy in my tree -one lady claimed she was a widow but her husband was just in jail; one gentleman ran off with his lodger but they never actually married - just had a couple of children.
Wasn't it good to see a good drama though - and truth is often stranger than fiction.
Jackie
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Steve G on Wednesday 03 April 19 04:31 BST (UK)
How about that?!  :D I was chatting to a fellow member, tonight. I mentioned a film I'd seen recently, on Netflix. She came back with wondering if This one was on there!

" So, what? " Ye may well be thinking. Well; That was a couple of hours ago. And this is the first time in my life I've ever even Looked in this board!  8)

Cue; Twilight Zone music .....
Title: Re: Will the real Mrs Wilson please stand up......
Post by: Mowsehowse on Monday 08 April 19 08:48 BST (UK)

For those who asked who funded Alison and the children's lifestyle, at one stage Alison mentions a bequest from her mother - later she sold her house and bought houses for her sons, so she must have been comfortable at that stage. I thought it an odd decision for her to take her vows (or whatever she took) in the Catholic Church. I suppose this provided the support she felt she needed. (reminded me of Prince Philip's mother becoming a nun).

Very different and very interesting.  :)

I had the impression that Alison was trying to atone for her own guilt. As I recall, the portrayal was that she seduced Alex despite knowing he was already married.