4/5
The Queen's Gambit.
10 Episodes. Starring: Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh O'Connor, Emma Corrin, Erin Doherty, Marion Bailey, Gillian Anderson & Charles Dance. Creator: Peter Morgan.
Now who thought you'd ever hear the word, "tw##" on 'The Crown'? Slithering down on one knee like a sleazy fiancée, Margaret Thatcher bends the knee in front of her Royal Highness like she was lowering a sword as she slurs, "your Majesty". The veins of cold, old hands hanging on to every word like most people try to grasp to positions of power like the red binder of a manifesto. The struggle of power and the Caesar crowning notion of corrupting absolutely like wars waged. "The fiercest battles can take place behind closed doors" the trailer for Season 4 of Netflix's 'The Crown' says as Number 10 tries to take Queen in this Gambit. From Claire Foy (so entrenched in Elizabeth that her epic English accent even comes out sometimes in her sublime Swedish assassin in the amazing 'The Girl In The Spider's Web'), to 'The Favorite' on the throne, Olivia Colman CBE, 'The Crown' is already one of the best shows on television (or smartphone or whatever you use to watch things now we're locked down at home in quarantine), but Season 4 may be the best yet. All the way down to the make-up (shout out to an old and good friend taking her throne here for this show in that very department. And how about the reference to my hometown Southport too? I say! Jolly good show!), as 'The X Files' T.V. star Gillian Anderson stares into the Downing Street mirror like the half of what she did in London's West End for the theatrical remake of 'All About Eve', light years away from Scully as Margaret Thatcher. Truly out of this world and on another plain as the perfectly played villain of this piece, who even like a predator asks for her victims to be sent in "one by one". One that pawing at everything puppet string plays like 'The Godfather'. But this time with a deer head instead of a horses put to bed on a Balmoral test like a Bushtucker trial ("I'm a Conservative, get me out of here!") that doesn't go with those blue suede shoes stepping on and in mud. We'll get to who channels Michael Corleone soon just when one thought they were out. But pulling you back in the amazing Anderson, looking as distant and no expletives given gone as a stare like a thousand yards, puts her earrings and war paint on, getting ready for her carriage down the mall to storm Buckingham Palace. With a frosty complexion and look that could crack the glass of this mirror like this coming Winter or seven year bad luck (like we need anymore after 2020). All to the haunting "ah, ah" sounds of The Smiths' 'How Soon Is Now'. "Woman to woman. We are the same age after all" Anderson's Margaret tells Colman's Elizabeth after putting on a ring like it was a brass knuckle, "just six months between us". "Oh" the Queen replies in one's trademark. Sitting off to the side everytime they meet in both defence and disrespect. "And who is the senior" she asks with scorn. "I am" declares Thatcher. Adding a customary Ma'am at the end like a final punch. Iron Lady takes Queen in this gambit. Checkmate.
Flashbulbs pop as someone truly fit for a Queen walks down a red carpet laid just for her. The kind of woman who would have you singing "who's that lady" like Motown's Isley Brothers, or more appropriately 'Dirty Diana' by Michael Jackson, even if the King of Pop refused to play that at a show she was in attendance for, much to the princesses dismay and disappointment (she loved that song). How can you talk about 'The Crown' without talking about Princess Diana? She's here now. Even those waiting tentatively for 'Tenet' star Elizabeth Debicki's Royal appointment as Lady Diana like Netflix 'Two Popes' star Jonathan Price's Prince Philip needed to know there's someone just as good like Foy and Vanessa Kirby are as Olivia and Helena Bonham Carter's Princess Margaret, or a terrific Tobias Menzies and masterful Matt Smith's Philip. As DC 'Gotham' spin-off 'Pennyworth' star Emma Corrin is at your service like Alfred as she is truly the people's princess, rollerskating around the palace with a Walkman. “Your duty now is the choice of a woman who people will love as a princess and in due course, as Queen," 'Game Of Thrones' Legend Charles Dance tells Josh O'Connor as Diana's dress of matrimony follows her as long as her legion of adoring fans, with a look that says this young Prince playing Pacino doesn't see it this same way. Eye to eye in this eye for an eye, heads will roll play for the throne. It's a look of daggers that could draw swords like horse and carriage, just when they thought the confetti of their just married, King and Queen wedding day would reign on them forever. Instead dragging cans before the honeymoon phase even began. Waving goodbye from the backseat like the traditional trademark farewell address of Her Majesty.
Trooping the colour, horse drawn in the opening scene with Spitfire's lighting up the sky like those fireworks at night, Olivia Colman shows everyone who's Queen as the Academy Award winning actress salutes the soldiers like Captain Sir Tom Moore. This is still her show like those 15 minutes after you've had Christmas Dinner...and what a speech she'll have this of all years as out waistlines wrapped around like tinsle are set to deliver our Christmas turkey food babies. From landmark, groundbreaking TV shows like ITV's 'Broadchurch', or the BBC's 'Fleabag', Colman has never been as compelling as she is in this Netflix show. Even when she played Queen Anne for Yorgos Lanthimos like a 'Lobster'. And in her sister act with another absolute icon in Helena Bonham Carter-with sunrise and tequila shades of her Liz Taylor as Princesses Margaret-they form a dynamic duo, one/two punch like the California crown of King James and Anthony Davis. Yet its her marriage in matrimony with Tobias Menzies Prince Philip that years for more. Menzies probably giving one of the most mesmerizing moments of this fourth season as a father upset at his son not for having a surrogate father, but being replaced as the surrogate son (isn't it ironic like Morissette?) in the first of all episodes which belongs on stage for 'The Audience' of this play based series. The 'Outlander' star is outstanding like the time his royal eat humble pie in front of his mother with the morning paper. Menzies like the, "two women running the shop", just remind us like Foy, Kirby and Smith how such a shame it is that this is it now for their character, before this one third give their way to the next two seasons of change. Whether that be Helen Mirren or another royal appointment but Peter Morgan the creator of 'The Queen'. Binge beware. Let's enjoy their moment on the throne whilst it lasts. Like a classic O'Connor. More than the ears, but someone who hears Charles. Like his sister with the hilarious, affectionate name for her siblings hearing instruments, as the Bristol Old Vic and British Broadcasting Corporation 'Les Miserables' young star Erin Doherty offers more character dressage to a young Princess Anne showjumping. Whilst Marion Bailey's Queen Mother and a real throne player in this Chess piece in the form of Charles Dance really completes the board like Bishop and rook. We're all just pawns in this, watching and fact checking. But from an Anderson acclaimed Thatcher as good as John Lithgow's award winning, two fingers and cigar of Churchill that my Royal aficionado friend Richard says has "Emmy" written all over it, to a cinematic introduction to Lady Di playing like Shakespeare between the faux ferns of a 'Midsomers Night Dream', this crown has all the jewels in season. Going fourth at a time where like Brexit this reflection on the royal silverware shows us that this kingdom we live in is anything but united right now. But even tilted crowns find their head again. There's always another side to the coin. Oh yes! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Iron Lady', 'Diana', 'The Godfather'.
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