Season 2 showed a huge amount of promise and very high quality in its previous two episodes. The first episode "Misadventure" was excellent, if not quite as good as the best of Season 1. "A Company of Men" wasn't as good and not as secure in pacing, but it was still very intriguing and it was great to see more development to Phillip (one of 'The Crown's' more successful attempts at developing a character other than Elizabeth). "Lisbon" is an episode that sounded great from the premise.
It proved to be every bit as mostly impressive in execution, but more good than great. It is not perfect, or one of the best episodes of 'The Crown' or up to the same level as the best of Season 1, but "Lisbon" is nearly as good and as interesting as the previous two Season 2 episodes and a good episode from a mostly very impressive season. Do agree that 'The Crown' was at its best when focusing on scandals, where the higher stakes often have a lot of tension and intrigue. Both of which can be found in "Lisbon".
There is not much wrong here, but the pace again is a little too deliberate in spots meaning that parts drag and it at times reiterates what we know already from the previous two episodes.
Also didn't like how Phillip is written at all, here the opposite of the complex, nuanced character writing he had in "A Company of Men". Actually found myself despising him pretty much in "Lisbon", which portrays him as too much of a manipulative, petulant and at times selfish snake. This is through no fault of Matt Smith who is fine, it's the way he's written that is the problem.
On the most part though, the story is very absorbing. The drama that comes with depicting the scandal has a lot of tension, both in a subtle and nail-biting way, and in a way that isn't soapy or melodramatic. It also does well with not taking sides or presenting most of the characters one-dimensionally (failing only with Phillip), even Eden isn't judged in too much of one way. Also really liked that we see how much Elizabeth has grown in her role as queen, her handling of Eden's resignation and MacMillan's arrival was done so admirably and in complete control.
It was also great seeing Tommy Lascelles again and "Lisbon" far from wastes him, in fact he is handled fantastically like with the newspaper headlines and he is immensely likeable. Eileen fascinates as well, like when she expresses her real thoughts regarding working for the Royal family. The flashforward at the beginning is done well.
Furthermore, 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. It's mostly above par in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. All the acting is without qualm.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
It proved to be every bit as mostly impressive in execution, but more good than great. It is not perfect, or one of the best episodes of 'The Crown' or up to the same level as the best of Season 1, but "Lisbon" is nearly as good and as interesting as the previous two Season 2 episodes and a good episode from a mostly very impressive season. Do agree that 'The Crown' was at its best when focusing on scandals, where the higher stakes often have a lot of tension and intrigue. Both of which can be found in "Lisbon".
There is not much wrong here, but the pace again is a little too deliberate in spots meaning that parts drag and it at times reiterates what we know already from the previous two episodes.
Also didn't like how Phillip is written at all, here the opposite of the complex, nuanced character writing he had in "A Company of Men". Actually found myself despising him pretty much in "Lisbon", which portrays him as too much of a manipulative, petulant and at times selfish snake. This is through no fault of Matt Smith who is fine, it's the way he's written that is the problem.
On the most part though, the story is very absorbing. The drama that comes with depicting the scandal has a lot of tension, both in a subtle and nail-biting way, and in a way that isn't soapy or melodramatic. It also does well with not taking sides or presenting most of the characters one-dimensionally (failing only with Phillip), even Eden isn't judged in too much of one way. Also really liked that we see how much Elizabeth has grown in her role as queen, her handling of Eden's resignation and MacMillan's arrival was done so admirably and in complete control.
It was also great seeing Tommy Lascelles again and "Lisbon" far from wastes him, in fact he is handled fantastically like with the newspaper headlines and he is immensely likeable. Eileen fascinates as well, like when she expresses her real thoughts regarding working for the Royal family. The flashforward at the beginning is done well.
Furthermore, 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. It's mostly above par in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. All the acting is without qualm.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
