Margaret was a bit up and down for me as a character. Was not always crazy about her in Season 1, where the writers to me seemed to take it too far making her difficult to like or warm to and her main subplot was not very interesting. She grew massively in development in Season 2, where she became more mature and vulnerable in situations that were a lot easier to relate to. Margaret-centric episodes also vary, none terrible and none show high points.
Season 3's "Margaretology" is not one of the best Margaret-centric episodes, but for a different reason to before. Actually think that it is one of the weaker ones and also one of the lesser episodes of Season 3. It is an improvement actually over the season opener "Olding", which had a lot of good but also two major miscasts (one still a problem here) bringing it down, but Season 3, which actually did get better, had not settled yet with "Margaretology". Just to say though that it is not a bad episode, a lot is very good here, just disappointing compared to the exceptionally high standard of Seasons 1 and 2.
To me, Helena Bonham Carter still doesn't work as Margaret and still feels miscast. She just comes over as too mature in age, too modern and it was like Margaret's character development in Season 2 hadn't really happened as she is pretty out of her depth in this situation and doesn't come over as a real character, also have found it difficult shaking off her oddball roles typecasting she took on since 'Sweeney Todd'.
Not all the writing works, the dinner scene for example was not in good taste and was for 'The Crown' uncharacteristically childish. Some of the pace is a little too over-deliberate.
However, the production values are superb. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the atmospheric and stylish photography that stands out in this regard. The music is not overbearing or low key. There is a lot of thought provoking scripting and intrigue and enough of the story compels with some nice subtle tension.
Jason Watkins and Ben Daniels are still very good, perfect in fact, casting, and while Clancy Brown's sounded odd on paper he did actually succeed in making Johnson interesting (which can't have been easy). The character chemistry connects more.
Concluding, didn't bowl me over but a small step in the right direction. 7/10.
Season 3's "Margaretology" is not one of the best Margaret-centric episodes, but for a different reason to before. Actually think that it is one of the weaker ones and also one of the lesser episodes of Season 3. It is an improvement actually over the season opener "Olding", which had a lot of good but also two major miscasts (one still a problem here) bringing it down, but Season 3, which actually did get better, had not settled yet with "Margaretology". Just to say though that it is not a bad episode, a lot is very good here, just disappointing compared to the exceptionally high standard of Seasons 1 and 2.
To me, Helena Bonham Carter still doesn't work as Margaret and still feels miscast. She just comes over as too mature in age, too modern and it was like Margaret's character development in Season 2 hadn't really happened as she is pretty out of her depth in this situation and doesn't come over as a real character, also have found it difficult shaking off her oddball roles typecasting she took on since 'Sweeney Todd'.
Not all the writing works, the dinner scene for example was not in good taste and was for 'The Crown' uncharacteristically childish. Some of the pace is a little too over-deliberate.
However, the production values are superb. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the atmospheric and stylish photography that stands out in this regard. The music is not overbearing or low key. There is a lot of thought provoking scripting and intrigue and enough of the story compels with some nice subtle tension.
Jason Watkins and Ben Daniels are still very good, perfect in fact, casting, and while Clancy Brown's sounded odd on paper he did actually succeed in making Johnson interesting (which can't have been easy). The character chemistry connects more.
Concluding, didn't bowl me over but a small step in the right direction. 7/10.