One of the best episodes of the season, a bit of a slower season and all over the place time wise, this one was more contained and highlighted the juxtaposition between actual British couples separating and actual royalty. Loved the honesty and love you could see between all the couples shown, the stage was just much bigger for Charles and Diana. The scene at the end with them was so good and just shows the complexity between how they treat each other and how they perceive what they've done to one another. So far only a couple of good episodes this season compared to the other ones but this is one of them!
9 Reviews
It's not a documentary
victoriajayne-3328013 November 2022
Does the reviewer below really seriously think after 5 seasons anyone with any IQ thinks this is a documentary.
If it were you would see the actual people in actual film stock folks !
It's still a bit sad the pro Diana fan club persist in the myth she was without fault and a blameless fairy princess.
The actual evidence is quite different.
However this doesn't detract from the fact this is really excellent television with astonishingly excellent performances and writing and direction.
I am especially enjoying how John Major is shown to be a very fair and intelligent PM. Those were the days.
If it were you would see the actual people in actual film stock folks !
It's still a bit sad the pro Diana fan club persist in the myth she was without fault and a blameless fairy princess.
The actual evidence is quite different.
However this doesn't detract from the fact this is really excellent television with astonishingly excellent performances and writing and direction.
I am especially enjoying how John Major is shown to be a very fair and intelligent PM. Those were the days.
One line that could have made this episode even better ...
Ziggy196529 November 2022
When Charles meets with Diana at the end and speaks about love for her, she should have said "whatever that means"
This would have been perfect! Not sure if they actually met in this manner. I realize this is drama but if it is to be based on real people, they should at least have a disclaimer.
Dr. Khan was still in the picture till 1997 and here he is made to look like he just bolted.
It is hard for me to see them portray the Queen as if she is SO sad that the divorce happened. She knew from a long time that the two were not happy and did nothing to rein her son in. Just like she did nothing to rein in Andrew. Only when it become public she got involved. Dirty laundry is out. We gotta clean it!
This show clearly reveals what a System and farce the monarchy is. It was dying and got saved by Diana coming into the picture. And once they got their popularity more secure, they ignored her and let Charles do whatever he wanted.
Sure Diana is not without fault but what woman in any marriage would be happy knowing that her husband is only looking happy in public to please them and that he has another woman who he sees on the side and would rather be with her?
This would have been perfect! Not sure if they actually met in this manner. I realize this is drama but if it is to be based on real people, they should at least have a disclaimer.
Dr. Khan was still in the picture till 1997 and here he is made to look like he just bolted.
It is hard for me to see them portray the Queen as if she is SO sad that the divorce happened. She knew from a long time that the two were not happy and did nothing to rein her son in. Just like she did nothing to rein in Andrew. Only when it become public she got involved. Dirty laundry is out. We gotta clean it!
This show clearly reveals what a System and farce the monarchy is. It was dying and got saved by Diana coming into the picture. And once they got their popularity more secure, they ignored her and let Charles do whatever he wanted.
Sure Diana is not without fault but what woman in any marriage would be happy knowing that her husband is only looking happy in public to please them and that he has another woman who he sees on the side and would rather be with her?
An Episode Similar to Oscar Nominated Films Like Marriage Story
petrapanaguri17 November 2022
The best thing about this episode is how Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki showcased their acting chops expressively with such memorable lines this is similar to Josh O'Connor and Emma Corrin's argument scene in War (Season 4). However, this time it felt like a proper sense of closure between the two that they are finally having a divorce that will shape the modern monarchy, public perception, and seal Diana's untimely death that will be shown in Season 6. The scenes felt realistic and not forced and now i felt why Dominic West was chosen for a mature problematic guy with mommy issues to end his marriage with Diana. They are shown as victims of a system who only wanted to love and be free.
This was a great episode
Ritchie0713 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode probably doesn't deserve a 10 but I'm giving it one to offset these ridiculously low scores.
I enjoyed this episode. To the reviewer below me: the point of the different couples being show discussing their divorces wasn't to lead up to the divorce of the Prince and Princess. It was to show how incredibly common it is for two people that loved each other and chose to marry to then grow apart. You become two different people and divorce becomes your last chance at happiness. They were showing that is outdated and ridiculous for the royals to be expected to no longer be human beings and simply stay married (and miserable, in this case) to live up to these ancient standards......and it was leading up to Diana's divorce.
I also want to mention the incredible scene towards the end when Charles shows up at Diana's place unannounced. We get a glimpse of their chemistry. This was some incredible acting from start to finish. I caught myself rooting for them for a second because it was nice to see them both happy for a few seconds. There were a few tender moments there. Then, the inevitable happens and we are reminded that this is doomed. It was just a great scene and ELIZABETH DEBICKI absolutely stole this season. When the camera lingered on her at the end and she was doing that hand thing. I was shook.
Great episode.
I enjoyed this episode. To the reviewer below me: the point of the different couples being show discussing their divorces wasn't to lead up to the divorce of the Prince and Princess. It was to show how incredibly common it is for two people that loved each other and chose to marry to then grow apart. You become two different people and divorce becomes your last chance at happiness. They were showing that is outdated and ridiculous for the royals to be expected to no longer be human beings and simply stay married (and miserable, in this case) to live up to these ancient standards......and it was leading up to Diana's divorce.
I also want to mention the incredible scene towards the end when Charles shows up at Diana's place unannounced. We get a glimpse of their chemistry. This was some incredible acting from start to finish. I caught myself rooting for them for a second because it was nice to see them both happy for a few seconds. There were a few tender moments there. Then, the inevitable happens and we are reminded that this is doomed. It was just a great scene and ELIZABETH DEBICKI absolutely stole this season. When the camera lingered on her at the end and she was doing that hand thing. I was shook.
Great episode.
The Divorce
Hitchcoc23 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There are lots of things to talk about. First of all, I was astonished to see how long the royal marriage had lasted, even if it wasn't much of a marriage. Of course, once the lawyers get in there, some outrageous requests come, especially from Diana. Charles can't pay the kind of settlement she wants. So the Queen enlists John Major to be an arbiter. We all know that a settlement does come. The key moment in the episode is Charles appearing at Diana's place and the two of them talking frankly. It isn't satisfying but it shows how out of touch Charles was. He has continued his life while she has been shooting in the dark. Their final words to each other are harsh. The little vignettes of people with divorce degrees are a nice touch, showing that in divorce there are similar problems with the common folk.
Couple 31
bobcobb30131 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The last episode supposedly had the bigger events and the repercussions of those events, but this had the fallout that mattered and had some very poignant discussions.
I am not as obsessed with the royal family as others, but I have always appreciated this show and the cartoonish at times look it provided into them, but for the most part this season has not captured us the way that past years have. Maybe a third cast shakeup played into it, but maybe something else.
Ready for it to be over, but we'll see what happens in the next episode to put a bow on this journey and this house infighting for sure.
I am not as obsessed with the royal family as others, but I have always appreciated this show and the cartoonish at times look it provided into them, but for the most part this season has not captured us the way that past years have. Maybe a third cast shakeup played into it, but maybe something else.
Ready for it to be over, but we'll see what happens in the next episode to put a bow on this journey and this house infighting for sure.
The Crown Should Have A Disclaimer
susandkeefer13 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Crown should have a disclaimer in the beginning of every episode. Many people such as Dame Judi Dench and former Prime Minister John Major have asked Netflix and The Crown producers to supply one, but they stubbornly won't. People are going to believe that this series is historical fact when it's far from it. Princess Diana's friend, Jemima Kahn, was a consultant on the show and quit because of the way that The Crown is portraying Diana in season 5. A few examples in this episode are: the BBC interview with Princess Diana didn't "blowup in her face"; in fact, she received worldwide sympathy. Another example is that they claim that Diana's boyfriend, Dr. Hasnat Kahn broke up with her after the BBC interview which is definitely not true. Dr. Kahn was interviewed in 2008 and said that Princess Diana broke up with him when she started dating Dodi Fayed. This episode as well as the entire fifth season seems to be an attempt to rehabilitate Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowls which is disingenuous. Season 5 is very disappointing.
Too much wasted time
stsorrell13 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Way too much time was wasted showing couples that we didn't know nor care about in their quest to be divorced. I get what the director was going for, but we know what's coming...we know that Charles and Diana are divorcing. The set up was completely unnecessary.
I'm not sure why IMDb requires 600 characters for reviews...I think my review about this episode is simply enough. It's concise, but to the point.
Way too much time was wasted showing couples that we didn't know nor care about in their quest to be divorced. I get what the director was going for, but we know what's coming...we know that Charles and Diana are divorcing. The set up was completely unnecessary.
I'm not sure why IMDb requires 600 characters for reviews...I think my review about this episode is simply enough. It's concise, but to the point.
Way too much time was wasted showing couples that we didn't know nor care about in their quest to be divorced. I get what the director was going for, but we know what's coming...we know that Charles and Diana are divorcing. The set up was completely unnecessary.
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