Gelignite

Episode aired Nov 4, 2016
TV-MA
58m

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

Biography Drama History

Margaret and Peter come to Elizabeth with a request. With a royal scandal about to break in the newspapers, the Queen Mother intervenes.Margaret and Peter come to Elizabeth with a request. With a royal scandal about to break in the newspapers, the Queen Mother intervenes.Margaret and Peter come to Elizabeth with a request. With a royal scandal about to break in the newspapers, the Queen Mother intervenes.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The Vickers Viscount 701 airliner (G-ALWF) used in this episode is on display at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Goofs
The Queen is showing sitting down watching TV coverage on the news of her visit to Northern Ireland that day. The actuality is based on newsreels of the day which would not have been available until days later and screened only in cinemas. UK TV news bulletins of the early 50s were limited to read bulletins delivered by an announcer. Pathe did send newsreels to the Palace but usually for special occasions.

Quotes
Queen Elizabeth II: Is everything all right?
Tommy Lascelles: I do hope it wasn't a mistake inviting the group captain to join us.
Queen Elizabeth II: You've never cared for him, Tommy.
Tommy Lascelles: No, I cared for him as long as he did his job and knew his place.
Queen Elizabeth II: My father held him in high regard.
Tommy Lascelles: As a member of staff, not as a member of the family.
Queen Elizabeth II: He has been a good friend to us all.
Tommy Lascelles: Too good, I would argue. And he let his wife go in the process.
Queen Elizabeth II: He was innocent in that regard. She left of her own accord. And he's a wonderful father to those boys.
Tommy Lascelles: I'm just trying to manage a difficult situation, ma'am.
Queen Elizabeth II: As am I. Sending him away will break my sister's heart.
Tommy Lascelles: Hearts mend.

Soundtracks
Infernal Gallop
(uncredited)
Composed by Jacques Offenbach

User reviews7

Featured review

7/10

Doesn't quite explode enough

If anybody, like me, loved all the previous episodes of 'The Crown's' first season, it is totally understandable if expectations are very high for "Gelignite". My expectations certainly were high, especially after such a fantastic previous episode. That is a great title for an episode with a fascinating unexpected meaning, and it did interest me to see Princess Margaret playing a big role in the storytelling which she had not done so before in the previous episodes.

"Gelignite" was a bit of a disappointment from personal opinion though. There is a huge amount to love about it and most of the things that made the previous episodes of the season so brilliant are here. It just felt like something was missing, the plot doesn't grab the attention as much here and whether one enjoys "Gelignite" or not does depend on whether they like how Margaret is written here and in 'The Crown' overall.

Enough compels in the story but the Margaret and Peter subplot really isn't one of the best subplots of 'The Crown'. Personally found it rather bland and one-sided and that never really was addressed. If the episode was trying to make one not like Margaret, it did succeed in that and came close to going too far on that.

Vanessa Kirby was on the annoying side as Margaret and the pacing drags on occasions.

Once again however, "Gelignite" is exceptionally well made. The expense really does show in the classy, sumptuous period detail and the atmospheric and elegant way it's shot. The music for me wasn't too intrusive or low-key and was beautiful scoring on its own. The main theme is not easy to forget.

Writing probes a lot of thought and intrigue, it is much more than soap-opera and doesn't feel too modern. The story is far from perfect, but it does intrigue at least and is at its strongest in addressing the moral dilemma Elizabeth faces and the conflict that comes with the situation, done with subtlety yet tact. When it comes to the acting, Claire Foy comes off best in a dignified and very expressive turn that never resorted to histrionics or over-seriousness.

In conclusion, good but disappointing after such greatness before. 7/10