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Season three begins today, 11/17. Eager to see how the transformation from Claire Foy will go. Looking forward to the continuing escapades of her sister, Margaret, who seems more interesting to me.
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W started this last night. The guy from Outlander is doing more of an impression of Prince Phillip I noticed than Matt Smith did, though I feel he's also getting more screen time. Hope he's not getting paid more this time around! And Helena Bonham Carter is certainly having a ball as Margeret, as you say - making old Liz boring by comparison.
Should be some fun coming up. The moon landings and power cuts during the miners' strike. I lived through these!
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As an article I read in The Guardian yesterday said, I'm eager for them to flash waaay forward in time to the Prince Andrew interview...
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I've seen 6 episodes so far, and though Olivia Coleman is an entirely 'different' and more mature version than the Claire Foy interpretation, she's also acting 'the heavy' in this series. She brings a certain 'gravitas', (is that the word?) to these episodes and in so doing, at least to my own personal feelings, Coleman's version makes her a real BITCH! Sorry if I've offended most of the British members, but she's been so far, a totally cold, emotionless bitch, showing as much empathy, sympathy and warmth as any of the statues in the palace. The writers, producers and actors here are absolutely first rate, so it's my feeling that it's not Coleman's fault at all, it's simply the way this woman really was.
The episode of 'ABERFAN', the coal mining disaster in Wales was horrifying. I must have been around 12 years old when it occurred and perhaps saw the images in 'LIFE' or 'Look' magazine or the news. However, when at the first images at the beginning of the episode of 'Aberfan, Wales', and then the image of the town with the extracting machinery perched high up behind the town with the rain coming down, I KNEW, I remembered that event and it all came back to me, making the anticipation..excruciating.
So far, this series is (seemingly) focusing on everyone else around The Queen, and not having her exactly in the middle of the spotlight. I did not know about Phillip's Mother, all of the information in that episode was brand new to me, and it felt like a breath of fresh air, like someone opened a window, finally.
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Don't think you'll offend many Brits these days Dave. Many people have mixed feelings about royalty, and I'm not talking out and out haters etc., just knowing that as rich and famous people they're not exempt from criticism, or having fun with.
Coleman does have gravitas and I almost knew she'd be picked for the middle aged Liz, who will have become more 'worldy weary' in a sense. And yep, she does come across in a way I think is intentional. She's too good an actress for it to be any other way.
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Saw the Aberfan episode last night and it was indeed chilling. Excellent piece of drama, and not at all preachy. I wish BBC writers and producers would take note. Even the politics was handled well.
Noticed something about Coleman just a little distracting. First, when she smiles (has quite a toothy grin) she looks NOTHING like The Queen. But worse than that... she does a certain look and cocking of the head when she wants to look puzzled or similar and I'm afraid it reminds me of Elsa Lanchester when she's presented to Boris Karloff's Monster in Bride of Frankenstein! You know, that slightly chicken-ish mannerism? Lol.
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If the 'ABERFAN' episode highlights Elizabeth's weaknesses, 'MOONDUST' highlights the same, and more regarding Phillip. Actually, 'MOONDUST', about the 3 American Astronauts going to the Moon in 1969 is my favorite episode of the entire season. First, it showcases Phillip's mindset regarding religion and his intense fascination (as a pilot) of the lunar journey. His private meeting with Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin in Buckingham Palace was probably the single most exciting moment of his life, and he peppers the 3 American heros with questions that religion cannot answer for him, nor can the three men, ultimately. This episode injected new 'suspense', new 'excitement' of the lunar landing from an entirely different perspective, the fascinated mind of Phillip. Actor Tobias Menzies, as Phillip, deserves an Emmy for this episode alone!
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