The dream sequences are spookily compelling and splendidly differentiated. Its interior is splendidly decorated with stones and metals. The first episode was "well written", "smartly directed" and "splendidly acted". Made those children play really quite splendidly. But its surfaces are always interesting and splendidly executed. He is amazed when he sees three splendidly dressed kings (the Magi). There was never a more splendidly barbaric sight. Doors at the back open into other rooms, splendidly lit up. The Chinese drawing room has a splendidly rich ceiling and an 18th-century fan-vaulted oriel window. He thought the characters "splendidly named and drawn". It was throughout "splendidly" illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch. AllMovie described the sequence as "splendidly done," while HitFix deemed it the film's best moment. Fair Annet dresses as splendidly as she can and goes to the wedding. Historian Robin Lane Fox, writing in "The Guardian", called the series "splendidly ambitious". Pevsner considered the Empire to be "splendidly confident" and "among the best-surviving Edwardian variety theatres".