Favourites

More of the appalling caricature characterisation of Margaret Thatcher.

The family scene with her making dinner was something more worthy of a Private Eye cartoon, Viz, Beano or the Dandy. Cringeworthy!

Mark Thatcher's rally adventure, which did not run concurrently with the Falkland crisis in reality, was used as a metaphor for comparing family relationships.

So, we were introduced to Andrew and Edward, as part of a "what are they all doing now" concept for the episode.

After the previous episode I did not want more of the Charles and Diana relationship, but the sulk by Diane behind a locked bedroom door needed something by way of explanation or context. Was Charles the bad guy by hammering on the door? I don't think so - his mother was visiting and Diana refused to be a host. Charles was frustrated, who wouldn't have been?

The whole episode had no flow and had the feel of being patched together.

Returning to Mrs. Thatcher, her persona during the Falklands was far and away removed from the almost manic character in this drama.

As an aside, did we really go to war over some patriotic scrap metal workers on South Georgia.

Why not let them have their day then send in some military personal to keep an eye on things when they had gone.

Finally a good episode!! I don't have kids but I've been one and i know what my parents were like with me. The overall direction and depth of this episode made it so much better, interesting and dynamic.

It took me a bit to get over the petulance of Elizabeth's four children. Each has his or her own problems that to most of us would seem petty. But the elevation of them makes the show. Anne is feeling unappreciated and ignored despite her good works. Edward is a whiney, self centered little weasel who enjoys inflicting pain. Andrew is totally irresponsible and enjoying every minute of it. And, Charles, is in love with someone else and continues to talk to her and engage with her whenever possible, leaving the pregnant Diana with nowhere to go. Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher proves to be a war monger, self centered and unconcerned about the hoi poloi. Of course, the Falklands come along just at the right time.

An interesting episode as the queen interrogated her children in an attempt to find her favorite. Good acting and an interesting perspective on the royal children.

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.

Season 4 did start off disappointingly, though not terribly, but did improve with the next two episodes. "Favourites" isn't as good as the very good previous episode "Fairytale", but it is on par with "The Balmoral Test" and better than "Gold Stick". Everything with Elizabeth and her children (with the viewer introduced here to Edward and Andrew) was fascinating, but for me it was less good with the Thatcher (generally have not liked her portrayal on 'The Crown') storyline.

"Favourites" has a lot of very good things. 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 and the character writing and dynamics with Elizabeth and her children intrigued and illuminated. Enough of the story compels.

Most of the acting is fine, Olivia Colman is more relaxed here than she was in the previous Season 4 episodes and Charles, Anne, Edward and Andrew are all strongly portrayed. Cannot rave about Josh O'Connor enough.

A lot less good sadly is Anderson. She ever properly disappears into Thatcher's character and it does come over as too much of a Thatcher caricature and Anderson trying too hard.

Her story also to me didn't come over as very interesting or investable, with the tense and nuanced character interactions in the Royal Family plot not being obvious in Thatcher's, and found some of the writing rather contrived at times. Do agree that the family scene was too cartoonish and like it was lifted from somewhere else.

Despite how that sounds, overall to me the episode was pretty good. Just not a favourite. 7/10.