Seasons 1 and 2 were quite excellent on the whole, with even the weakest episodes still being good. Season 3 started off rather slow and finished underwhelmingly, but it did have high points with "Aberfan" for example being one of the best episodes of 'The Crown' in my view. Still liked the show well enough to watch Season 4 and coupled with having a high opinion of Gillian Anderson (after her wonderful acting in 'Bleak House') watching it was on the cards.
"Gold Stick" was somewhat disappointing, despite still not being a bad episode. "The Balmoral Test" was better, though still with a few issues. "Fairytale" however for me was very good, close to excellent, and one of the stronger episodes of Season 4 thanks to one particularly great performance and the emotion. "Fairytale" is not perfect by all means, but while not as good as Seasons 1 and 2 in my view Season 4 doesn't deserve the amount of dislike it gets. Can understand why totally, just don't agree respectfully.
There are still a couple of the issues present in the previous Season 4 episodes. For my tastes, Gillian Anderson never properly disappears into Thatcher's character and it does come over as too much of a Thatcher caricature and Anderson trying too hard.
Actually thought that Olivia Colman's acting improved a lot throughout Season 3 but here she comes over as too cold and firm.
However, a lot is truly great. Emma Corrin is an emotional powerhouse as Diana, very poignant performance. Josh O'Connor continues to shine as Charles, bringing out Charles' conflict of choosing royal duty or following his heart with a lot of nuance and in a way where his point of view is understood. Emerald Fennell's Camilla has settled very well, and she comes over particularly well in Diana and Camilla's lunch scene which did have a surprising amount of tension.
Furthermore, 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. The scripting is thought provoking and intriguing, uncompromising yet sensitive in its handling of this subject without descending into melodrama, also doing well in showing more than one point of view and in a way where all are understandable. The storytelling continues to advance and while deliberate it is also very absorbing and emotional. The second half did break my heart emotionally and it was hard not to sympathise with Diana, without feeling like you had to do so.
In conclusion, very good and close to excellent with so many great things. 8/10.
