What I’m Watching: The Crown (Season Finale)

The Crown: Season 2, Episode 10 “Mystery Man” (B+)

I wouldn’t have expected any real sense of satisfaction from this season ender since each of this show’s episodes stand so far apart from one another and often cover completely different material and time periods. The introduction of this conspiratorial chiropractor is exactly the kind of unexpected twist that would occur on the season finale of this show since it felt like came from completely out of nowhere. Instead, it was very tied in to what’s happening on this show, with the third prime minister in Elizabeth’s tenure resigning and new truths about her marriage to Philip coming to light. The prime minister’s decline was a formidable one, as he first looked at his wife a different way when she went to laugh at him, experienced his own humiliation, and then had to insist repeatedly to Elizabeth that he really couldn’t do it anymore and had to step down. This is an excellent Emmy episode for Claire Foy, who I hope will submit it, because she got two truly tremendous scenes, the first one with the prime minister where she described him and his two predecessors as “a confederacy of elected quitters” and then the second with Philip towards the end of the episode. After his repeated absences, he tried to argue that he was there for her no matter what, prompting a very honest response that she could cope with the truth, she just demanded to know it. That was a refreshing scene which informed plenty about both of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Matt Smith was also nominated for an Emmy this season. This has been another good year, and I’m looking forward to seeing an all-new cast and more real adventures in season three.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Claire Foy as Elizabeth