What I’m Watching: The Crown

The Crown: Season 5, Episode 5 “The Way Ahead” (B+)

This season more than others, I feel like I know so many of the cast members from other roles that it might prove distracting since this isn’t inherently what I associate them with, whereas others like Claire Foy and Tobias Menzies were relatively unknown to me at the time I first saw them on this show. But Dominic West is still terrific, toning down the insolence and arrogance he’s brought to other roles like “The Affair” slightly and delivering a heartfelt attempt to salvage his reputation. His unfiltered honesty during the interview did surely divide audiences, but saying that he didn’t feel as if there should just be one faith of the Church of England - and then naming other faiths - was unsurprisingly very well-received. He’s not throwing away tradition but instead casting a more inclusive net, one that is a byproduct of natural modern evolution, should it be allowed to happen. Anne wasn’t impressed when she spoke with him but does now take him seriously, and it was interesting to see the closing notice about The Prince’s Trust, as if we’re not going to see this character anymore on the remaining season and a half of the series. Diana’s prominence does seem to be fading even if she did show up in that revenge dress, and it took me a few minutes to recognize the actress playing Camilla under that very intense wig, Olivia Williams from “Counterpart” and “The Father.” Charles may have done well for himself, but the two women closest to him will have to bear the consequences.