Act of God
- Episode aired Nov 4, 2016
- TV-MA
- 57m
When dense fog cripples London for days and creates a serious health hazard, Churchill's inaction leaves him vulnerable to his political enemies.When dense fog cripples London for days and creates a serious health hazard, Churchill's inaction leaves him vulnerable to his political enemies.When dense fog cripples London for days and creates a serious health hazard, Churchill's inaction leaves him vulnerable to his political enemies.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn research that was published barely three weeks after this episode aired, scientists from Texas A&M studying modern Chinese air pollution announced that they had uncovered the chemistry that explained how the The Big Smoke became so acidic beyond normal bounds.
- GoofsWhen Churchill learns that Prince Phillip is learning to fly, he tells Queen Elizabeth that nothing she nor the Royal Highness do is private. Phillip at this point isn't a HRH, rather he is a duke. Its not until 1957 that he was elevated to HRH and granted the title of Prince, five years after the Great Fog.
- Quotes
Queen Elizabeth II: It doesn't feel right, as Head of State, to do nothing.
Queen Mary: It is exactly right.
Queen Elizabeth II: Is it? But surely doing nothing is no job at all?
Queen Mary: To do nothing is the hardest job of all. And it will take every ounce of energy that you have. To be impartial is not natural, not human. People will always want you to smile or agree or frown. And the minute you do, you will have declared a position. A point of view. And that is the one thing as sovereign that you are not entitled to do. The less you do, the less you say or agree or smile...
Queen Elizabeth II: Or think? Or feel? Or breathe? Or exist?
Queen Mary: The better.
"Act of God" is a great fourth episode and sees the first season still going strong. "Hyde Park Corner" and "Windsor" to me had slightly more tension and Elizabeth had more character progression in those episodes too, but all the things that made them and the first episode "Wolferton Splash" as wonderful as they were are absolutely here in "Act of God" with equal effect. To me it didn't matter that liberties were taken with the truth, believing firmly in judging a film/show/episode on its own merits and "Act of God" fares wonderfully on its own in this regard.
Once again, "Act of God's" 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. Much of it is quite stunning and some of the best of the whole of Season 1, at the best worthy of a film. The music is neither too intrusive or too low key.
It's on point in the writing as well, it always intrigues and provokes a lot of thought. The story is deliberately paced but not dull, the situation does have some tense conflict, thanks to the chillingly claustrophobic atmosphere, and it worked very well as a separate story from the previous three episodes. All the characters are written well, especially Churchill.
Similarly, the acting can't be faulted. Love Claire Foy's nuanced Elizabeth (her expressive face and eyes) and John Lithgow is entertaining, formidable and at times vulnerable as Churchill (it didn't ever matter to me that Lithgow is too tall for Churchill because the interpretation was always spot on).
Concluding, wonderful fourth episode. 9/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 20, 2020
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
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- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1