WiC Watches: The Crown season 3
Photo: Josh O’Connor in The Crown: Season 3.. Image Courtesy Colin Hutton/Netflix
Episode 308: “Dangling Man”
In season 3’s final trio of episodes, affairs of the heart come center stage and the proverbial excrement starts to hit the fan. “Dangling Man” opens with a callback to the very first scene of The Crown’s pilot. This time, instead of seeing Queen Elizabeth’s father coughing up blood, it’s her uncle, the former King Edward, who abdicated the throne to be with the woman he loved. Edward (now played by Derek Jacobi) and his beloved divorcee, Wallis Simpson (now played by Geraldine Chaplin, Charlie’s daughter) are now elderly and frail, having metaphorically choked on Edward’s decision to give up the crown for most of their lives. The couple attempts to rehabilitate Edward’s image is his final days with a well-reviewed visit from Japan’s Emperor Hirohito. Back at Buckingham Palace, however, the Queen’s mother and husband are none too impressed.
As we prepare to say goodbye to Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, we also greet a couple of new additions to the cast. The episode introduces young Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennell) and her future husband, Andrew Parker Bowles (Andrew Buchan). Even the most casual observer of the British Royal Family is likely aware of what a critical role Camilla will play in the coming story. It seems unlikely that the future Duchess of Cornwall would be very happy with her depiction here. In “Dangling Man,” Camilla and Andrew play games in an attempt to make each other jealous. Both Prince Charles and Princess Anne become unwilling pawns in these games, though the feisty Anne is clearly wiser about Andrew’s intentions than her older brother is about Camilla’s. Does a love triangle become a rectangle when it ensnares four people? Whatever the correct shape-related nomenclature, it’s clear that the Prince of Wales is smitten with Camilla.
Prince Charles also forges a connection with the former Prince of Wales, his great uncle, Edward. In a visit to Edward’s Paris home and in subsequent mail correspondence, Charles praises Edward’s individuality and willingness to take a stand to be with the woman he loved. The young Prince feels a special kinship with his elder because of his attraction to a woman who others deem an unsuitable companion for him. It will be interesting in the next couple of seasons to see how this rebellious streak is resolved in a more mature Charles.
“Dangling Man” also introduces yet another Prime Minister: Edward Heath (Michael Maloney). Heath makes an even worse first impression on the Queen than Harold Wilson. Olivia Colman continues to give a master class in conveying emotions through body language alone.
Queen Elizabeth makes time to visit her dying uncle in Paris, and the two share a touching scene of reconciliation after years of resentment and mistrust. Eventually, Edward finally passes away quietly with the love of his life by his side. It’s a completely earned emotional beat that leaves the question of how Charles’ love story will end dangling quite brilliantly.
