Smoke and Mirrors
- Episode aired Nov 4, 2016
- TV-MA
- 55m
Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Duke of Windsor's nasty comments about his family are profusely documented in his letters to Wallis Simpson, which have been researched by historians.
- GoofsDuring the coronation scene, the bishop pours oil out from a container onto a spoon even though there is already oil on the spoon. Also, when he makes the pouring motion, nothing comes out of the container.
- Quotes
Duke of Windsor: Oils and oaths. Orbs and sceptres. Symbol upon symbol. An unfathomable web of arcane mystery and liturgy, blurring so many lines no clergyman or historian or lawyer could ever untangle any of it.
Party Guest: It's crazy.
Duke of Windsor: On the contrary. It's perfectly sane. Who wants transparency when you can have magic? Who wants prose when you can have poetry? Pull away the veil and what are you left with? An ordinary young woman of modest ability and little imagination. But wrap her up like this, anoint her with oil, and hey, presto, what do you have? A goddess.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Ringer's 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century (2018)
With its fifth episode "Smoke and Mirrors", we have one of the best of the first season and possibly of the whole series. It continues to progress what went on in previous episodes while introducing new material as we delve further into Elizabeth's life. It was great to see more of the Duke of Windsor and also more development to Phillip. All the great things of before are here and even if it did take liberties with the truth it and the whole series are incredible on their own merits.
"Smoke and Mirrors" once again has superb production values. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the photography that stands out in this regard. Much of it is quite stunning and some of the best of the whole of Season 1, the ever beautiful Westminster Abbey looks great. The music is neither too intrusive or too low key.
It's on point in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. The story is deliberately paced but not dull, the Duke of Windsor is not too one-dimensional but it is not hard to see why he was hated. Any politics is not over-emphasised or laid on too thick. There is a big emphasis on the preparation for the coronation and Phillip's character development, why he acts the way he does and his conflict was very believably done and appreciated.
All the performances are top drawer again, with Alex Jennings taking top honours this time. His performance being smarmy but subtle. Love the nuance Matt Smith brought to Phillip and Claire Foy's very telling expressions and eyes are very moving to watch.
Concluding, brilliant and one of the season's and show's best. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 10, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Ely Cathedral, Chapter House, The College, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK(Palace of Westminster)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime55 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1