War
- Episode aired Nov 15, 2020
- TV-MA
- 54m
Amid a growing challenge to her power, Thatcher fights for her position. Charles grows more determined to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels.Amid a growing challenge to her power, Thatcher fights for her position. Charles grows more determined to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels.Amid a growing challenge to her power, Thatcher fights for her position. Charles grows more determined to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJessica Hobbs received the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for this episode, and Peter Morgan received the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for this episode.
- GoofsWhen the Queen awards Mrs. Thatcher the Order of Merit, she takes it out of its presentation box, in which it is stored when not being worn, and puts the box on the coffee table. Mrs. Thatcher then leaves, without taking the box.
- Quotes
Prince Charles: I have done my best, my very best. And I am suffering.
Queen Elizabeth II: No, you are not suffering. We're all suffering, having to put up with this. Let me make something clear. When people look at you and Diana, they see two privileged young people, who through good fortune have ended up with everything one could dream of in life. No one, not a single breathing living soul anywhere, sees cause for suffering.
Prince Charles: They would if they knew.
Queen Elizabeth II: Knew what? They know that you betray your wife and make no attempt to hide it. They know that thanks to you, she has psychological problems and eats or doesn't eat, or whatever it is she does or doesn't do. They know that you are a spoilt, immature man, endlessly complaining unnecessarily, married to a spoilt, immature woman, endlessly complaining unnecessarily. And we are all heartily sick of it. All anyone wants is for the pair of you to pull yourselves together, stop making spectacles of yourselves, and make this marriage and your enormously privileged positions in life work.
Prince Charles: And if I want to separate...
Queen Elizabeth II: You will NOT separate or divorce or let the side down in any way and if one day, you'd expect to be king...
Prince Charles: I do.
Queen Elizabeth II: Then might I suggest you start to behave like one!
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards (2021)
Opening thoughts: Seasons 1 and 2 were quite excellent on the whole, with even the weakest episodes still being good. Season 3 started off rather slow and finished underwhelmingly, but it did have high points with "Aberfan" for example being one of the best episodes of 'The Crown' in my view. Still liked the show well enough to watch Season 4 and because Emma Corrin impressed me hugely as Diana (less so Gillian Anderson as Thatcher). Not to mention Josh O'Connor has been consistently excellent ever since he was introduced.
"War", the Season 4 finale, continues the character development of Charles and Diana and also their marriage. Regardless of whether it's true to the facts or not, which was never going to be an issue actually as somebody who always judges something on their own merits (always have and always will do), "War" is a wonderful episode on its own in pretty much almost every area and an ideal end for the season.. Season 4 started off a little uncertain, but did get better and better and this is an example of how much it grew in quality.
Bad things: There is not much wrong here actually, but to me occasionally the pace could have been a little tighter, as well as more intensity considering the subject.
Good things: Everything else was so good. Emma Corrin is an emotional powerhouse as Diana, very poignant performance. Josh O'Connor continues to shine as Charles, bringing out Charles' conflict of choosing royal duty or following his heart with a lot of nuance and in a way where his point of view is understood. Their chemistry is sheer magic and they succeed brilliantly at showing Diana and Charles as complicated, damaged people and that their marriage is likewise. Was not a fan mostly of Anderson's interpretation of Thatcher (too much of a caricature), but she gives by far her best performance here with it being the first time where Thatcher felt like a real person.
Furthermore, as ever the production values are superb. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the photography that stands out in this regard. The music is not overbearing or low key. The scripting is thought provoking and intriguing, uncompromising yet sensitive in its handling of this subject without descending into melodrama.
Also doing well in showing more than one point of view and in a way where all are understandable. The story gripped me on the whole, and had a lot of poignancy and insight while not taking too much of one side.
Closing thoughts: Overall, wonderful final episode to a mostly pretty strong fourth season once it got going.
9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 3, 2024
Details
- Runtime54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1