The Balmoral Test
- Episode aired Nov 15, 2020
- TV-MA
- 57m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty.Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty.Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe music heard at the end is the prelude from Verdi's 'La Traviata', the story of a woman who also immerses herself in high society and is eventually consumed by it.
- GoofsMrs Thatcher is shown sacking Francis Pym from the Cabinet in 1980, this is factually wrong. Pym was moved Defence to Leader of the House in the January 1981 reshuffle he was not sacked. In September 1981 he also became Lord President of the Council. In April 1982 he was promoted by Mrs Thatcher to Foreign Secretary following the resignation of Lord Carrington, he remained in that job until the after the June 1983 General Election.
- Quotes
Princess Margaret: Life in postwar England has been a long, painful, uninterrupted crisis
Featured review
Fitting in
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.
Was rather disappointed in the previous episode "Gold Stick", the Season 4 premiere. "The Balmoral Test" is an improvement and sees the season and the characters introduced in this season (so Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and Camilla Parker-Bowles) moving forward. It is a long way from a perfect or great episode and is a long way from being one of the best episodes of 'The Crown', but there are many good things (despite not everything working) and this reviewer is not going to be one of those criticising "The Balmoral Test" for animal cruelty when it was representing privilege and the appointment process.
"The Balmoral Test" has a lot to like. 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 story is compelling and moves things forward very well, while making one excited enough to see what the rest of the season entails. Charles and Camilla's relationship is beautifully done.
Most of the acting is fine. Emma Corrin stuns as Diana and Josh O'Connor brings out Charles' conflict of choosing royal duty or following his heart with a lot of nuance and in a way where his point of view is understood. Emerald Fennell shows a lot of potential.
For my tastes though, Gillian Anderson never properly disappears into Thatcher's character and it does come over as too much of a Thatcher caricature and Anderson trying too hard. Actually thought that Olivia Colman's acting improved a lot throughout Season 3 but here she comes over as too cold and firm.
Perhaps there are some slow spots.
On the whole though, a well done episode, warts and all, and an improvement. 7/10.
Was rather disappointed in the previous episode "Gold Stick", the Season 4 premiere. "The Balmoral Test" is an improvement and sees the season and the characters introduced in this season (so Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and Camilla Parker-Bowles) moving forward. It is a long way from a perfect or great episode and is a long way from being one of the best episodes of 'The Crown', but there are many good things (despite not everything working) and this reviewer is not going to be one of those criticising "The Balmoral Test" for animal cruelty when it was representing privilege and the appointment process.
"The Balmoral Test" has a lot to like. 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 story is compelling and moves things forward very well, while making one excited enough to see what the rest of the season entails. Charles and Camilla's relationship is beautifully done.
Most of the acting is fine. Emma Corrin stuns as Diana and Josh O'Connor brings out Charles' conflict of choosing royal duty or following his heart with a lot of nuance and in a way where his point of view is understood. Emerald Fennell shows a lot of potential.
For my tastes though, Gillian Anderson never properly disappears into Thatcher's character and it does come over as too much of a Thatcher caricature and Anderson trying too hard. Actually thought that Olivia Colman's acting improved a lot throughout Season 3 but here she comes over as too cold and firm.
Perhaps there are some slow spots.
On the whole though, a well done episode, warts and all, and an improvement. 7/10.
helpful•81
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 23, 2022
Details
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content