Coup
- Episode aired Nov 17, 2019
- TV-MA
- 57m
While the Queen travels abroad to learn about horse training, unhappiness among the British elite with the devaluation of the pound involves Lord Mountbatten in a plan to oust Harold Wilson.While the Queen travels abroad to learn about horse training, unhappiness among the British elite with the devaluation of the pound involves Lord Mountbatten in a plan to oust Harold Wilson.While the Queen travels abroad to learn about horse training, unhappiness among the British elite with the devaluation of the pound involves Lord Mountbatten in a plan to oust Harold Wilson.
- Marcia Williams
- (as Sinéad Matthews)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe poem that Lord Louis Mountbatten recites is Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay" (1890), which is set in colonial Burma (now Myanmar). It is voiced by a Cockney soldier who nostalgically recalls a Burmese girl he met in the titular city. The text was set to music in the early 20th century and performed by popular artists, including Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
- GoofsIn the episode it is suggested that Earl Mountbatten had not seen his sister, and the Queen advises him that his best service to the Crown would be to visit Princess Alice. In reality, historical records show that at that point Princess Alice had been a frequent visitor to Mountbatten at his home - Broadlands - since the end of World War II.
- Quotes
Princess Alice: Oh... Who cares? Honestly. One of the few joys of being as old as we both are is that it's not our problem. It's not really our country, either.
Lord Mountbatten: What are you talking about? Of course it's our country.
Princess Alice: We Battenbergs have no country. Our family might have kings and queens in its ranks, but we're mongrels, too. Part-German, part-Greek, part-nowhere at all.
"Coup" is an exceptional episode and a fine example of how well and quickly Season 3 picked up. It is almost on the same level of "Aberfan", though not quite as emotionally powerful, and is one of the best episodes of Season 3 in my view. "Coup" is especially notable for one particularly well done scene and a truly inspired casting choice that was pulled off brilliantly. Have seen plenty saying that 'The Crown' declined from Season 3 onwards, despite finding the previous two seasons better and more consistent episodes like "Aberfan" and this are indicative to me of that not being true.
Pretty much everything is fantastic here. 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 is never less than intriguing and emotionally investable, it never veers into soap-opera land and doesn't sound too modern. The story is not over deliberate and is extremely absorbing, the major standout scene being the final one. One of the season's best and most moving in an episode that is one of the season's most intelligent and poignant, the need of tissues is pretty much guaranteed.
The character development is illuminating and insightful, with Lord Mountbatten already being an interesting character. The acting is nothing short of spot on, Olivia Colman's casting has really grown on me and she is a lot more relaxed and expressive compared to her first episode "Olding". Jane Lapotaire has lost none of her poignant dignity, but best of all is Dance in a pitch perfect performance brimming with authority. Best supporting actor casting choice since John Lithgow's Churchill.
Overall, brilliant. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 21, 2022
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1