The Crown - series 3

[southeastdweller]

I'm so looking forward to seeing this when it returns next Sunday!

[Doubleraspberry]

I think that's the thing about the public/private persona @Doubleraspberry. Those who have met the queen in an informal setting tens to report someone much warmer and wittier than those who meet her on a formal engagement or see her on tv.

It wasn’t things like that (although it was I guess in the kissing Churchill’s forehead). It was some of the more public stuff, like the exchange with Blunt, that jarred. I should I think have said ‘they wouldn’t do that’ as it was wider than the Queen - just more moments that jarred in general than before. The exchange re Blunt felt unlikely. Wilson wouldn’t have started his first audience like that, and he wouldn’t have needed drilling in how to talk to the Queen - he’d been on the Privy Council!

But I accept that this is all covered by dramatic licence. It just felt like more moments of thinking it didn’t quite ring true than before.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

I really did love the interaction between the Queen and Wilson when he was reciting the dirty limericks to her. "You've made it this far". And then a very icy "Bravo" when he eventually got through it.

[Doubleraspberry]

Yes, that was a moment we found unbelievable, funny as it was. I think we need to divorce credibility and entertainment more in our house!

[CaptainMyCaptain]

[Wilson] wouldn’t have needed drilling in how to talk to the Queen - he’d been on the Privy Council! I think that bit was probably for our benefit re Royal protocol, especially the American and other markets who might be less aware of it.

[SpiderCharlotte]

Loving it already. I would literally watch nothing else apart from these kind of programmes. I think we need to remember that it's not a documentary though. 😆

[RuffleCrow]

I was lmao at that moment too @eoinmclovescakejumper. Impeccable comic timing and suspense.

[RuffleCrow]

I actually think that's just the standard drill all new PMs are given. The last one had something similar said to him iirc.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

It might not have happened in precisely that way, but as Margaret was on a diplomatic mission, standing in directly for the Queen, I assume she would have to have been briefed on what took place. I don't mind if they take a hefty slice of artistic license with how they portray events if there's a kernel of truth - it's supposed to be entertainment!

[SpiderCharlotte]

I think the Queen was genuinely fond of Winston Churchill wasn't she.

[Doubleraspberry]

Oh, I know it’s entertainment, and very good entertainment too. I just found more of those moments in this than the last two series and it jarred a little bit. As it progresses I’m sure we’ll get used to it again. Lots is clearly for the benefit of viewers who won’t have heard of Anthony Blunt or protocol or Gaitskell etc. I did remind DH, who was impressed by the George Thomas actor, that he was in a very small minority of people watching who would know who he was and how good the acting was (or perhaps in other cases, wasn’t).

[Doubleraspberry]

And it does suffer from needing to pack lots in. For anyone interested in the Queen’s relationship with Anthony Blunt, I wholeheartedly recommend A Question of Attribution by Alan Bennett. I don’t know if it’s on YouTube but it’s a lovely play/television programme about them. I think Prunella Scales played the Queen in the TV adaptation IIRC.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

Yes, I guess they're not going to address the fact that Anthony Blunt kept his plum job for about ten years after he was found out. It is understandable for dramatic reasons that you wouldn't want to keep seeing him pop up in scenes that have nothing to do with his storyline but it would be interesting to speculate on how the Queen managed that situation. I will check out the Alan Bennett thing!

[SpiderCharlotte]

@EoinMcLovesCakeJumper there was a text in the show saying that he kept the position until 1972 but that the Queen never spoke of him again. That was all though.

[RuffleCrow]

I'm not sure it's that unbelievable. She's given thousands of speeches - many of which have never been televised and only the people present would have heard. Who's to say what subtle digs she might have woven in that only insiders would have been aware of? I also think a lot of the change in character is down to the natural confidence many women accumulate as we get older. Claire Foy's Queen was young and inexperienced, finding her feet as a stateswoman, wife and mother all at once. Olivia's Queen has the feel of a character really coming into her prime - knowing who she is and how she feels about things. I'm the same age the Queen is meant to be at the start of S3 and I certainly feel i'm approaching my life with the advantage of far more self-knowledge and less tolerance for other people's bullshit than i had in my early twenties.

[NoSauce]

Started it last night. I can’t see past OC being OC. It would have been better for an unknown to play this role. Claire Foy was SO much better. As for HBC playing Margaret! She’s nothing like her. The other actress was brilliant.

Not feeling this series but will stick at it for now.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

I'm up to episode 6 and Charles has just made an appearance - he's well cast (and I believe those are the actor's real ears!), as is Anne. OC is very good but I can't quite forget she's only playing the Queen, as opposed to Claire F who seemed to become her. HBC is very HBCy as Margaret but that's not necessarily a bad thing and Tobias Menzies is excellent as the DoE. But a special shoutout to Jason Watkins who always manages to elevate whatever he's in - he's a brilliant Harold Wilson!

[SpiderCharlotte]

Yes, Jason Watkins is brilliant, as he always is.

[WineOrGinOrBoth]

Seen the first episode, I feel like I’m watching actors playing the characters whereas the previous 2 series I felt I was watching the characters if that makes sense.

Liking Ben Daniels in this more than the other main characters.

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

I preferred Matthew Goode as Tony, tbh. I don't like him at all as a rule (I've heard unfavourable things about him from people who worked at places where he's been filming) but I thought he fitted into the character much better than Ben Daniels, who just hasn't been slimy and amoral enough. However, I haven't seen all of it yet, and I understand there's an episode later on in the series which deals with their marriage breakdown, so I'll reserve judgement until I've seen that.

[SpiderCharlotte]

I love Ben Daniels in this role, I think he'll come in to his own in later episodes.

[QueenOfTheAndals]

The Andrew and Camilla P-B actors are considerably better-looking that the real thing!

[CaptainMyCaptain]

I've just watched Episode 3. I think she had a point about a Royal visit early on getting in the way of things, in the first couple of days all the Royal paraphernalia could have got in the way of the rescue. Times were changing in the 60s, though, and I suppose people were starting to expect a visit. I don't think she was devoid of emotion just unable to show it for whatever reason.

Interesting that Harold Wilson didn't really like smoking a pipe - like Farage and his fag and a pint?

[Fairylea]

I am up to episode 4. I am loving Olivia Coleman - I don’t know why the media is being so harsh towards her. I mean Claire Foy was amazing but so is OC! It’s so enjoyable. What an amazing series.

[EleanorReally]

Perhaps we were spoilt with having Claire Foy, not so well known at the time, she was great

[NoSauce]

Perhaps we were spoilt with having Claire Foy, not so well known at the time, she was great

That’s what I think. I can’t and don’t see the Queen in OC, just OC.