What I’m Watching: The Crown

The Crown: Season 2, Episode 6 “Vergangenheit” (B+)

This show serves an impressive double function as dramatic entertainment and informative history lesson. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to know what the contents of the secret document that was suppressed by King George and Churchill back in 1945, and the way in which it was revealed proved to be very effective. It was surprising to see John Lithgow back as Churchill just for a moment, especially since I and I’d assume most filmgoers now picture future Oscar winner Gary Oldman as the esteemed prime minister. What was contained in those documents did cast David in a particularly bad light, so obsessed with not going to war with Germany that he completely discounted everything that the Nazis and Hitler were doing. Ending the episode with the real-life photos was quite powerful. Elizabeth turning to Reverend Billy Graham, played by Paul Sparks, who is showing up everywhere these days, for guidance on forgiveness was very interesting, and her fascination with watching him on television led to an unexpected meeting, the kind that she likes to regularly arrange when she sees something that impresses her. She did skewer a furious David by angrily asking him how he could forgive himself. Philip coming home drunk to tell her that he had bonded with her mother and with Tommy over their connection through her and their respect for how she dismissed her uncle was a peculiar prelude to what may have turned into a night of romantic passion, but this is not one typical couple.