After two high quality previous seasons, expectations were very high for Season 3 of 'The Crown' despite the fact that the amazing actors that did so brilliantly in the previous two seasons were all going to be replaced. Also like many of the new cast members in other things and watched Season 3 with an open mind regardless of the many criticisms directed towards it and particularly some of the casting. It is not easy underdoing such a big change in a short space of time, and much of me appreciated Season 3 for doing what it could.
Will admit to finding myself disappointed by the opener "Olding", of the season openers for 'The Crown' it gets my vote as the worst. But not because it is bad, it isn't. It's just uneven, and, despite many good things, primarily suffers from too much change too soon. Change that didn't feel settled here in "Olding" and took time to get the head round. Although some may disagree, Season 3 actually did get better after with "Aberfan" for example being outstanding.
"Olding" does have many good things. 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. There is some thought provoking scripting and intrigue and some of the story compels.
The episode is also a case of the supporting cast being better than the leads, in fact the supporting cast were excellent. Jason Watkins and Ben Daniels are note perfect in particular and John Lithgow is very touching in his final appearance. His scene with Elizabeth, the dramatic highlight of "Olding" easily, got to me emotionally.
However, even for a purposefully deliberately paced series "Olding" can feel too slow and a bit thin on the ground. The scenes with the spy distracted, confused the story on occasion and could have been left out. The writing is soapy in parts, which was seldom the case with Seasons 1 and 2.
Count me in as another person that didn't care for Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, like them both as actresses (especially Colman, who was fantastic in 'Broadchurch') but they don't fit their roles yet. It is hard filling in giant shoes and again it is a case of too much change too soon. It is not just because of them being too old for Elizabeth and Margaret (it was like they had aged twenty years and the time gap between the events of the previous season and the ones here was not large). But also because Colman came over as too melodramatic, too firm and awkward, while Bonham Carter suffers from Margaret not being very interesting here (her character development in Season 3 was nowhere near as good or progressed as much as in Season 2), being too mature and from that it was difficult shaking off all the memorably oddball roles she was doing in the late-2000s to not too long ago so it was like she felt out of place. Colman actually got better earlier on in the season once she calmed down, Bonham Carter was not as quick to accept and had weaker material.
Summing up, not bad and has a lot of things that are noteworthy but disappointing. 6/10.