While it is sad to see the struggles of the other royal daughter, her choices make her seem a bit pathetic. Anthony Armstrong-Jones is a womanizer and a sad figure on his own. He is very handsome and is trying to make an impression on his mother. While he bides his troth to Margaret, he is involved with other women, one of them pregnant. Elizabeth is aware of this and there is a edgy confrontation between them. Also, Margaret wants to announce her engagement, but Elizabeth is pregnant and she gets top billing for the time being. At times I got tired of the extended lovemaking scenes. I must be getting old.
10 Reviews
The proposal
TheLittleSongbird20 July 2021
The previous Margaret-centric episodes in 'The Crown' left me somewhat mixed. Didn't care for her or her subplot on the whole in Season 1, primarily in "Gelignite". Season 2 however saw a vast improvement in the way she was written, far more interesting and mature as well as easier to root for. With one of the best episodes of Season 2 being "Beryl" showing most that growth and is still one of the best Margaret-centric episodes of 'The Crown'.
"Matrimonium" however could have been better than it was. It is certainly worth watching and has a lot of very recommendable things. To me, it is one of the weaker episodes of an on the whole very impressive indeed Season 2 and is more on "Lisbon's" level rather than "Vergangenheit" as far as previous episodes of Season 2 goes. As a Margaret-centric episode, "Matrimonium's" character writing for Margaret is closer to that of "Beryl", but her story is more akin to "Gelignite".
What brings "Matrimonium" down is the Margaret and Townsend subplot, which doesn't go very far, doesn't engross that much, is quite derivative and it slows the episode down.
Some of the pacing is a bit over-deliberate as a result and some of the writing could have been tighter.
All of that is a shame, because the rest of the storytelling is great. Elizabeth's story is very compelling and has tension and poignancy. Much of me did still relate to Margaret's dilemma and her chemistry with Antony still scintillates. Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby play Elizabeth and Margaret absolutely beautifully and Matthew Goode is strong casting as Tony.
Furthermore, 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. It's on point in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. Most of the story and character writing are fine.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
"Matrimonium" however could have been better than it was. It is certainly worth watching and has a lot of very recommendable things. To me, it is one of the weaker episodes of an on the whole very impressive indeed Season 2 and is more on "Lisbon's" level rather than "Vergangenheit" as far as previous episodes of Season 2 goes. As a Margaret-centric episode, "Matrimonium's" character writing for Margaret is closer to that of "Beryl", but her story is more akin to "Gelignite".
What brings "Matrimonium" down is the Margaret and Townsend subplot, which doesn't go very far, doesn't engross that much, is quite derivative and it slows the episode down.
Some of the pacing is a bit over-deliberate as a result and some of the writing could have been tighter.
All of that is a shame, because the rest of the storytelling is great. Elizabeth's story is very compelling and has tension and poignancy. Much of me did still relate to Margaret's dilemma and her chemistry with Antony still scintillates. Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby play Elizabeth and Margaret absolutely beautifully and Matthew Goode is strong casting as Tony.
Furthermore, 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. It's on point in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. Most of the story and character writing are fine.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
Margaret's plans get interrupted... again.
TouchTheGarlicProduction10 December 2017
This episode tracks Margaret's engagement to her photographer boyfriend, and the obstacles that lie in her way. In my opinion, it is definitely the weakest episode of the season so far. It lacks a driving conflict for the entire first half, and when it finally does develop one, it's so similar to Margaret's story in season one (which was frustrating and repetitive in its own right) that it is neither compelling nor interesting. The entire episode, I couldn't help but feel like I had seen it all before. However, the ending is quite different, which gives me hope that we won't have to see this same plot repeated again and will instead explore new stories and sides of Margaret.
For me, the most compelling part of the episode is the party scene in which Elizabeth is forced to interact with the photographer's friends. It's interesting and uncomfortable to see royalty forced to interact with disrespectful modern people, and I wish the episode had explored this dynamic even further. I also enjoyed the scenes between Elizabeth and Margaret, in spite of how repetitive they were, thanks to the fantastic performances from Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby.
All in all, I found this episode to be a little too similar to previous episodes, but I am excited to see what happens next because of the way the ending finally breaks free from the loop Margaret has been on for quite some time.
For me, the most compelling part of the episode is the party scene in which Elizabeth is forced to interact with the photographer's friends. It's interesting and uncomfortable to see royalty forced to interact with disrespectful modern people, and I wish the episode had explored this dynamic even further. I also enjoyed the scenes between Elizabeth and Margaret, in spite of how repetitive they were, thanks to the fantastic performances from Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby.
All in all, I found this episode to be a little too similar to previous episodes, but I am excited to see what happens next because of the way the ending finally breaks free from the loop Margaret has been on for quite some time.
Vanessa Kirby & Matthew Goode Kill
csc134 June 2019
Watching Margaret and Tony come together through an exquisitely written/directed episode was mesmerizing. These actors are exceedingly well matched and play off each other with alternating intensity and restraint that is totally captivating. At the core both these characters suffer and look to find some kind of resolution in the other. We of course know the outcome but exploring this attraction and it's motivation was riveting.
Vanessa kirby and matthew goode stole the show of season 2
darmastuti26 March 2021
Vanessa kirby and matthew goode potraited brilliantly princess Margareth and Tony Amstrong-jones. The rebellious princess meet the enigmatic and complicated photographer..their both had the same attraction, wild and dangerous..both of them longing for loved, rebellious, and always pushing the boundaries..
Matthew Goode's insufferable mumbling
Plain_Text1 March 2021
Snobby Tommy
edlepera20 December 2021
Episode 207
bobcobb30112 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Matthew Goode may have been good (pardon the pun) on The Good Wife, but his character and performance here is just lacking something. Him standing around is not compelling television and this was probably the least impactful episode about cheating of a TV show I have ever seen. You can only do so much with the source material, but this was a disappointing episode of television for a solid show.
Boring
thekimberley3 March 2021
Pencil Neck Proposes
TheFearmakers16 November 2022
I know Pencil Neck is supposed to be a progressive artist and all that, and I didn't know that he was actually the person Margaret marries, for some reason, but he's an awfully boring actor, one-note all the way, and doesn't fit the style of this show... it seems like they threw in a 00's Hipster into late 1950's England and this episode and the one where they meet is just too artsy, too pretentious, and, again, tries too hard to be edgy, which goes against the entire purpose of the series...
Hopefully this doesn't wind up like Mad Men, that started out brilliantly during the more sparse times until all the fake groovy clothes and faker wigs got distracting... Licorice Boy aka Marg's husband is the beginning of that too-modern approach that the writer is/was probably dying to reach after so much tradition: which is more interesting to see the cracks in tradition than the useless void of progressives having to tradition at all.
Hopefully this doesn't wind up like Mad Men, that started out brilliantly during the more sparse times until all the fake groovy clothes and faker wigs got distracting... Licorice Boy aka Marg's husband is the beginning of that too-modern approach that the writer is/was probably dying to reach after so much tradition: which is more interesting to see the cracks in tradition than the useless void of progressives having to tradition at all.
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