Smoke and Mirrors

Episode aired Nov 4, 2016
TV-MA
55m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

5.7K

YOUR RATING

Biography Drama History

Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

5.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The Duke of Windsor's nasty comments about his family are profusely documented in his letters to Wallis Simpson, which have been researched by historians.

Goofs
During the coronation scene, the bishop pours oil out from a container onto a spoon even though there is already oil on the spoon. Also, when he makes the pouring motion, nothing comes out of the container.

Quotes
Duke of Windsor: Oils and oaths. Orbs and sceptres. Symbol upon symbol. An unfathomable web of arcane mystery and liturgy, blurring so many lines no clergyman or historian or lawyer could ever untangle any of it.
Party Guest: It's crazy.
Duke of Windsor: On the contrary. It's perfectly sane. Who wants transparency when you can have magic? Who wants prose when you can have poetry? Pull away the veil and what are you left with? An ordinary young woman of modest ability and little imagination. But wrap her up like this, anoint her with oil, and hey, presto, what do you have? A goddess.

Connections
Featured in The Ringer's 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century (2018)

Soundtracks
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
(uncredited)
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

User reviews11

Featured review

9/10

A "Crowning" Episode

One of the greatest episodes in this magnificent series. It fully lives up to expectations in its treatment of the ceremony itself. The solemnity of the occasion is particularly well realized. The writing is brilliant in the way it incorporates the queen's conflict with her husband, leading into the preparations, and especially moving in the way that conflict is seen to resolve (at least for that occasion). Claire Foy is deserving of any award she can be given, but Matt Smith also deserves recognition for his nuanced playing of Philip.

And not to be forgotten is Alex Jennings's performance as the Duke of Windsor, whose abdication years earlier and "scandalous" marriage had led to his virtual banishment from the royal family. He adds unexpected depth to our perception of the ceremony.

"Smoke and Mirrors" might be seen as the first climactic episode of the series. While many great moments have preceded it, this one can stand alone as a fine achievement of writing, production and acting.