Here are my top ten favorite episodes of "The Crown," which wrapped up its final season last year. The show had its ups and downs over the years and it's very obvious which seasons I think of as the stronger ones.
The episodes below are unranked and ordered by date of release.
Wolferton Splash - The series premiere features four years worth of history packed into one episode, starting with Elizabeth's marriage to Philip, and also introductions to the dying King George IV and the ascendant Winston Churchill. This is very much a prologue to Elizabeth's reign, but does a fantastic job of setting up character dynamics and the central theme of "The Crown" - the uneasy relationships that everyone in the royal family has with power.
Gelignite - Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby were launched to fame by "The Crown," and this was one of the episodes that definitely propelled Kirby. Her Margaret is so dynamic and so doomed, it's impossible not to feel for her as the relationship between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend is methodically blocked and denied by those closest to her. Every other appearance by Margaret in the rest of the series ties back to this episode, and her defining tragedy.
Assassins - A showcase for John Lithgow, as Winston Churchill spends the episode worrying over his legacy. Churchill was a major part of the first season of "The Crown," and none of the other prime ministers in later years ever came close to having the same impact. This version of Churchill is very human and fallible, and terribly saddened by the end of his career. Peter Morgan had trouble humanizing some historical figures, but succeeded admirably here.
Misadventure - Elizabeth deals with the Suez Canal crisis while also facing a more personal dilemma with her marriage. This episode has some of the best Elizabeth and Philip interactions, even though they're separated for a good chunk of it. I especially enjoy the confrontation on the boat in the middle of a storm, which is the least subtle metaphor ever, but so much fun to watch. Claire Foy and Matt Smith are so well matched and carried "The Crown" through their seasons splendidly.
Paterfamilias - Prince Charles is such a bore in the later seasons of the show, it can be hard to remember how devastatingly good his early episodes are. "Paterfamilias" portrays the contrasting experiences of Philip and Charles at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, revealing the lifelong disconnect between father and son. Punches are not pulled in depicting the misery of UK boarding school, with the athletic competition in particular representing a new, damp, circle of hell.
Aberfan - As someone who didn't know anything about the Aberfan disaster, this was a riveting hour of television, from the recreation of the terrible events to Elizabeth's struggle with her feelings in the aftermath. It's one of the few times where the royal family effectively serve as stand-ins for the general public, because they're just as powerless as everyone else reacting to the horrible situation. It took me a little while to warm up Olivia Colman's Elizabeth, but this outing won me over.
Bubbikins - The royal family's difficulties with the media are the subject of more and more installments of "The Crown" in later seasons. I don't like many of these episodes, but "Bubbikins" strikes me as a thoughtful, evenhanded look at the state of things in the late '60s, with the notorious "Royal Family" documentary. The Princess Alice story is also tremendously touching, which ends up humanizing the family far more than their own clumsy attempts ever could.
Tywysog Cymru - Season Three of "The Crown" saw Prince Charles, played by Josh O'Connor, become a major POV character. His investiture as the Prince of Wales brings out a lot of feelings, and political tensions with Wales are high. So, of course Charles' relationship with his Welsh language instructor becomes a microcosm of the thorny relationship between England and Wales. We also get some insights into the difficult relationship between Elizabeth and Charles.
The Balmoral Test - I have some trouble with Gillian Anderson's performance as Margaret Thatcher (mostly the voice), but this is a highlight of the series regardless. Two trips by two different women to visit the royals at Balmoral Castle represent how the most famous British women of the era will deal with power. I like how we see the royal family from an outsider's point of view here, emphasizing their privilege and chilly distance in a way that puts their behavior in perspective.
Favourites - Finally, we all have our oddball personal favorites, and this one is mine. "Favourites" feels like a stage play, exploring Elizabeth's relationships with her children through one-on-one interviews. Trouble is already brewing between Charles and Diana, Anne and Edward are discontent, everything about Andrew foreshadows trouble, and Tobias Menzies as Philip couldn't be more wryly amused. As for Elizabeth, she's very relatable here in a way I liked very much.
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