The Crown (TV Series) Act of God (2016) User Reviews

A tense, claustrophobic episode that benefits from its singular focus.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 9/10 · 5 November 2016]

The episode focuses mainly on a single event, and its effects on the government and the populous. By making everything everything in the episode tie together like this, it lends the narrative an urgency and unity that has been in some ways lacking up to this point. Mind you, if every episode were like this, it could start to feel episodic. But thrown in with a bunch of more diverse ones like this one was, this kind of episode comes as a refreshing, exhilarating change of pace.

A thick fog has fallen over London, and Churchill is in denial about its significance. His refusal to act provides an opportunity for others to act against him, destabilizing the entire political situation. Because of the fog, the characters are forced to remain indoors most of the time, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere which is heightened by the rising political tensions. This atmosphere is emphasized by the beginning and end of the episode, which contrast it with beautiful flying sequences.

This is a very good episode, with a self-contained plot and well-constructed atmosphere.

Fallen fog

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 20 October 2020]

'The Crown' started off great and went from strength to strength throughout the whole of the first season. From the very start of its inception 'The Crown' managed to be an exceptionally well made, written and acted series, with absorbing storytelling too, and became one of 2016's major hits when it first began (had no personal doubt that it would be as this is exactly my kind of thing). Anybody interested in the Royals should consider seeing at least one episode.

"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

A Sad Day for Churchill

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 28 November 2016]

This is such a wonderful series. I feel that they have shown respect for British history without candy-coating it. The pomposity of the Royals is quite astounding. There is a scene where the elderly former queen tells young Elizabeth why the monarchy is necessary and why there is the idea of divine right. When she says that they represent what is great for the commoners to have something to aspire to, it's a bit hard to take. One need only look at the treatment of others through imperialism and hatred to come to that conclusion. Can you say Scotland and Northern Ireland? The new Queen seems to ingest this but we don't get a clear picture of how much of it she buys. The episode revolves around an intense combination of fog and pollution that has filled London. People are dying or suffering. Of course, the people blame the government for what is going on, and Churchill has no interest in doing anything. The rest of Parliament is only interested in driving the old guy out, using this catastrophe to sway the people against him and introduce a vote of no confidence. Churchill has a young female aide whom he adores (though he lords it over her). Her fate changes the shape of things. Meanwhile, Prince Philip is trying to carve out a life for himself as Mr. Elizabeth, but he is under intense scrutiny. Once again, the camera work and staging is so creative.

If you hate it because it's inaccurate then fair enough.

[matdeman · 8/10 · 1 March 2021]

I come to this show not because I want to learn but because I just want to watch a good tv show. I don't automatically relate the characters to their real - life counterparts. These people in the Crown are fictional for all I care. Anyways, the cinematography of this thing just improves every single episode. They do several interesting camera sequences and that is appreciated. A solid episode.

A Foggy Day in London Town

[lavatch · 10/10 · 26 December 2017]

This taut episode focuses on the tragic events of December 5-9, 1952, when a dangerous fog descended on London. The pollution levels rose, and the tally of loss of life may have reached as many as 12,000.

The well-crafted plot examines the meteorological disaster from multiple perspectives, focusing on the reactions of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In the most moving part of the narrative, Churchill's loyal assistant, Miss Venetia Scott, is killed by a bus as she races through the fog attempting to implore Churchill to provide greater medical assistance to those suffering from respiratory ailments. Miss Scott is one of the rare fictional characters in "The Crown." Her character plays a major role in unifying the diverse strands of the episode.

The death of Miss Scott prompts Churchill to move into action, starting with another one of his masterful speeches. In attempting to rally the people of London as he did during the Battle of Britain, Churchill once again demonstrates his leadership prowess...and saves his job in the process.

In this episode, the young Elizabeth takes a backseat to the story of the fog and the central role of Churchill. But the character who nearly steals the program is the indomitable Queen Mary. Her character sets the tone from the start when she is asked by an attendant about some outdoor music. The dialogue goes as follows:

Attendant: "What are they rehearsing?"

Queen Mary: "My funeral."

Short sequences throughout the program offer the wily Mary the opportunity to reveal her wit and wisdom, as she counsels the young Queen about how to respond to an impending political crisis. The program's title is "Act of God," and the stoic Mary reminds Elizabeth that "monarchy is a calling from God" and "to do nothing is the hardest job of all."

The program succeeded in providing the scientific background on the sulfur dioxide created by the fog attack. A precedent for the thick fog as the catalyst for dangerous air quality came from the suburb of Donora, located south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River. It was the site of the notorious "Donora Fog" of 1948, which claimed the lives of fifty Pennsylvanians, including the father of baseball star Stan "The Man" Musial. By the end of the program, Churchill's government has not been toppled by the faction of Robert "Bobbety" Salisbury and Clement Attlee, and the Clean Air Act in Great Britain was eventually passed in 1956.

No matter how true - still spooky

[spenser-43563 · 9/10 · 30 July 2020]

We watched this episode in the middle of the pandemic. We are fans of history - but we never really knew about this incident.

We realize that these stories are not 100% true - but if it is close - what is happening today in the US is a thousand times beyond pathetic. If the story is mostly for dramatic purposes - the fact that it thought up by someone - and it has come to pass in an almost identical manner - it's even scarier.

1952 Smog Crisis

[vivianla · 11 September 2020]

Philip goes flying on a glider with Peter Townsend. The engine stops and they hover in the air enjoying the view.

Winston Churchill does not check his mail or care about the fog. His assistant dies being hit by a bus in the fog and that was when he started taking things more seriously.

Queen Elizabeth's grandmother is in bed when Elizabeth arrives. Elizabeth spoke about her concerns on wondering if state and the church should be separate. The grandmother is on the church side. She says in the monarchy church terms have always been used.

Elizabeth wonders to what extent should she immerse herself with state affairs. She considers the advice given about dismissing Prime Minister Churchill for his incapability in dealing with the national crisis.

The crisis lasted for a few years.

Excellent Writing!

[yousra8-1 · 9/10 · 21 November 2021]

Well written episode, especially the dialogues between the queen and her grandmother queen Mary.

Great acting also.

John Lithgow's performance as Winston Churcill is superb.

The relationship between queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary shows how women led, powerful and wise.

The scariest episode of London

[Shantalecinematicexpresso · 6/10 · 5 January 2021]

This episode portrays when thought he was doing something as a prime minister. I didn't felt great watching this (Because of the story) but quite great to think that the young Elizabeth had to handle Winston's anger)

Totally fake history

[tblack-07679 · 1/10 · 2 May 2020]

Yes there was a fog that killed thousands, but literally none of what the film shows actually happened, if you read the history of the great fog, no one could have known what would happen, in fact efforts to clean the coal backfired under the unusual conditions. This shows up the writers environmental bias. At this point why watch anymore episodes, its based on what the author believes not actual facts.

Don't change the facts

[Riddler91 · 4/10 · 3 June 2022]

When you create a historical series, you don't need to falsify history so you can pander about climate change, sorry but this is just disingenuous. I really like this series, it's a good start but people shouldn't praise the falsifying oh history, it's what the communists used to do.

An Inconvenient Fake

[TheFearmakers · 3/10 · 4 September 2020]

Boy oh boy the writer jumped on this. Winston Churchill is turned into a complete boob and basically a "global warming denier" here. Hollywood got a one/two punch: destroying a great man (by casting a quirky American actor in the first place) of history and forwarding their agenda, all at once..

And for anyone who disagrees with that paragraph, you'll HAVE TO agree with the fact that Churchill did not have his favorite little secretary DIE in the fog...

Don't believe me... then believe Google:

"Winston Churchill's secretary Venetia Scott gets fatally hit by a bus after stepping out in the fog. Poor Venetia never existed in real life. Indeed, both her life and death are a work of fiction, and her character is actually based on a number of different members of the prime minister's staff."