I didn't expect much beyond high production values - I didn't see a teaser, although I knew it was coming and had labelled it as a 'prestige' project. It's a great role for Coleman, as you say, it'll be interesting to see the girl-queen become a woman-queen who would be reduced to an icon, and she seems to be handling it well.

I like how he tells Victoria more of the truth of all the political games going on around her and he even steps back and 'disobeys' her because he knows his duty and is trying to do what's best for the country.

Yes, this is the crux of it. Obviously, there's the fact that he is nice to her the rest of the time and thus gets the influence that people who aren't nice to her crave, but this idea of knowing what his duty is and genuinely trying to get her to be able to take a wider view for the greater good makes Lord M tremendously likeable.

I think Downton Abbey had to be an influence in bringing in the downstairs plot (although ITV shows are more likely to bring in servants than BBC shows). Apart from the Royal household serving as a mirror for court/the power of the monarchy, Skerrit's role is an interesting one.

The choral bits remind me less of "Home Fires" and more of "The Virgin Queen" (which the Mediaeval Baebes performed on the soundtrack).

Fair enough. I haven't seen TVQ, but it is effective.