This is another neat insightful view of a Royal. We need to remember that these are people under pressure. To think that they wouldn't have some of the foibles others have is naive. If one went back in history, the Kings were beset with illegitimate children from affairs with scullery maids and other court employs. Phillip is on this extended voyage, going to various British properties and enjoying the adulation while the Queen deals with the affairs of state. Anthony Eden, suffering from his own bad decisions making in the Suez crisis, has dropped into deep depression and is heading off to Jamaica to recover. We all know that he never does and the Empire has to start downsizing while the rest of Europe pays for their goof-ups.
7 Reviews
A compelling, multifaceted examination of Phillip's cavorting.
TouchTheGarlicProduction8 December 2017
This episode is dedicated to the adventures of Phillip and the boys' club on their commonwealth tour. However, rather than focusing solely on Phillip's perspective, the episode examines its overall impact by looking at it through the lens of every story-line, depicting both the negative and positive aspects. We see the misogyny, racism, civic injustice, and scandal involved but also the valour, fun, and brotherhood. As in real life, we are shown the good and the bad, then forced to make the moral judgment ourselves.
At the centre of this contradiction is Phillip, who is undoubtedly the main character of the episode. There are moments where we find his behaviour reprehensible, and there are moments where we are made to sympathize with him. Nowhere is the latter more prevalent than the fantastic interview scene, which uses interwoven flashbacks incredibly effectively to illuminate his character. By the end of the episode, while we may not condone his behaviour, we can understand it and perhaps forgive it.
Phillip's friend, however, proves himself beyond forgiveness with his unabashed deviance. One of the episode's central plots is his wife's investigation into his adultery, which serves both as a glimpse into the effects on the victims left in the wake of the boys' club, and a big threat to the monarchy. This is where we get into the ugly side of their activities.
On the whole, this is another smoothly executed hour of The Crown, which takes a narrower focus than most and is able to dive deeper as a result.
At the centre of this contradiction is Phillip, who is undoubtedly the main character of the episode. There are moments where we find his behaviour reprehensible, and there are moments where we are made to sympathize with him. Nowhere is the latter more prevalent than the fantastic interview scene, which uses interwoven flashbacks incredibly effectively to illuminate his character. By the end of the episode, while we may not condone his behaviour, we can understand it and perhaps forgive it.
Phillip's friend, however, proves himself beyond forgiveness with his unabashed deviance. One of the episode's central plots is his wife's investigation into his adultery, which serves both as a glimpse into the effects on the victims left in the wake of the boys' club, and a big threat to the monarchy. This is where we get into the ugly side of their activities.
On the whole, this is another smoothly executed hour of The Crown, which takes a narrower focus than most and is able to dive deeper as a result.
Finally
jknousak12 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Here we get to learn about Philip, such an integral person of the monarchy since 1947. I enjoyed viewing this episode; I liked the character portrayal of the Duke, they, the writers, really touched all the bases -- 'boys will be boys', his love of being at sea, interviewing correctly as a true royal, experiencing moments of sadness in memory, doing the right thing by the lost sailor, his lovely Christmas speech and finally, his homesickness. Just wonderful!
Men's company
TheLittleSongbird6 April 2021
"Misadventure" was a highly impressive start for Season 2, which in general was of equally exceptionally high quality as Season 1. It is interesting when an episode of 'The Crown' primarily focuses on another character other than Elizabeth, this has varied up to this point with 'The Crown' (being a big success with Churchill but not as compelling with Margaret). Had little doubt that "A Company of Men" would do something to progress Phillip's character, something that did need to happen.
It does this very well on the most part. "A Company of Men" may not one of the best episodes of Season 2, let alone one of the best of 'The Crown'. Also thought that it was not as great as "Misadventure". It was a very good episode though, with most aspects in fact executed excellently. Although the pacing is not always secure, the much needed character development for Phillip showed a lot of promise with even more room for growth.
"A Company of Men" isn't perfect. Will agree that the episode does drag at times and that would have been solved if the side plot was more compelling and progressed more than it did. There was not an awful lot to it and it was like the writers laudably were going to great lengths to give meat to Phillip and that the side plot was a slight afterthought.
However, "A Company of Men" has a huge amount to like about it and most of the components as said are excellently done. Absolutely loved the character development to Phillip, something that dominates the episode. It is illuminating development and well balanced and it progresses Phillip as a character significantly. This is an instance of both hating and feeling sympathy for him, and seeing him in a dilemma that is uncondonable in what he does yet his point of view can be understood.
The acting is uniformly very good, with Matt Smith authoritative and nuanced as Phillip and Jeremy Northam a conflicted Eden. The production values have their usual sumptuous class and the photography once again can't be faulted. 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 is thought-provoking and intriguing, with some subtle tension and an intimacy without being too closed. It doesn't come over as soapy or too modern. The story is too deliberate in stretches but everything with Phillip is highly intriguing, intelligently done and makes one eager to see how and whether it advances.
Concluding, very good if a slight step down. 8/10.
It does this very well on the most part. "A Company of Men" may not one of the best episodes of Season 2, let alone one of the best of 'The Crown'. Also thought that it was not as great as "Misadventure". It was a very good episode though, with most aspects in fact executed excellently. Although the pacing is not always secure, the much needed character development for Phillip showed a lot of promise with even more room for growth.
"A Company of Men" isn't perfect. Will agree that the episode does drag at times and that would have been solved if the side plot was more compelling and progressed more than it did. There was not an awful lot to it and it was like the writers laudably were going to great lengths to give meat to Phillip and that the side plot was a slight afterthought.
However, "A Company of Men" has a huge amount to like about it and most of the components as said are excellently done. Absolutely loved the character development to Phillip, something that dominates the episode. It is illuminating development and well balanced and it progresses Phillip as a character significantly. This is an instance of both hating and feeling sympathy for him, and seeing him in a dilemma that is uncondonable in what he does yet his point of view can be understood.
The acting is uniformly very good, with Matt Smith authoritative and nuanced as Phillip and Jeremy Northam a conflicted Eden. The production values have their usual sumptuous class and the photography once again can't be faulted. 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 is thought-provoking and intriguing, with some subtle tension and an intimacy without being too closed. It doesn't come over as soapy or too modern. The story is too deliberate in stretches but everything with Phillip is highly intriguing, intelligently done and makes one eager to see how and whether it advances.
Concluding, very good if a slight step down. 8/10.
The Development Philip's Character Needed
Oktay_Tuna6 September 2020
It has been really hard to empathize with Philip's characters in the first season, not because his motives were wrong or Matt Smith's performance was lacking but because we never really understood who he was. In 8th episode of Season 1(Pride & Joy) we truly understand the relationship between the mother and her daughters, and that episode is one of my favorites. This episode kind of tries to do the same thing with Philip and mostly succeeds. The episode is not a flashback episode which I truly appreciate because when the stories of the past are slowly told in the present it is more effective. Especially in the middle of the episode, the interview scene, the episode shines a lot. This episode is real great start for Philip's arc, but it's still a start; it needs much more to become perfection. My only problem with the episode is the side story(not Elizabeth's) which just made the episode drag. This episode also made me realize that when Elizabeth and Philip are apart, they are actually closer emotionally than when they are together.
Five-Months Boys' Trip
vivianla16 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Philip is off on his royal tour to explore the remotest parts of the Commonwealth and to open the Olympics.
A speech is made where all the boys are together drinking and making merry. Normally when the Queen is there they are on their best behaviour. But the waitresses serve the loud men and some of the men wrap their arms around the waitresses' waists and have them sit on their lap. The speech told by one man says that 90 percent of the men on board are married and what happens on boards stays on board.
The men are wild and have a beard-growing contest. The guys are lined up horizontally at the sinks and one guy takes off the towel and walks away completely nude saying nothing you haven't seen before. One man says now we can't see and the men laugh.
Philip noticed one reporter who is attractive eyeing him and talks to his private secretary saying have you noticed the way she was looking at me? He allows her to interview him and as she is bending over gives a knowing look to his secretary while checking her out. He gets angry when she asks personal questions about his Nazi sisters and his family.
The private secretary's wife is looking to divorce but the lawyer says there must be evidence. She approaches one of the waitresses and wants to know what happens in there. The waitress eventually pities her and tells her that she heard her husband has been with other women. The waitress steals a letter from Mr. Parker, the secretary and gives it to Mrs. Parker. It has evidence that says men are having sex with prostitutes in every port.
The Queen and prince are to make a Christmas speech one after the other as the Queen's advisors have heard about the rumours of Mrs. Parker looking for divorce. They don't want the same rumours circling around Philip and the Queen.
A speech is made where all the boys are together drinking and making merry. Normally when the Queen is there they are on their best behaviour. But the waitresses serve the loud men and some of the men wrap their arms around the waitresses' waists and have them sit on their lap. The speech told by one man says that 90 percent of the men on board are married and what happens on boards stays on board.
The men are wild and have a beard-growing contest. The guys are lined up horizontally at the sinks and one guy takes off the towel and walks away completely nude saying nothing you haven't seen before. One man says now we can't see and the men laugh.
Philip noticed one reporter who is attractive eyeing him and talks to his private secretary saying have you noticed the way she was looking at me? He allows her to interview him and as she is bending over gives a knowing look to his secretary while checking her out. He gets angry when she asks personal questions about his Nazi sisters and his family.
The private secretary's wife is looking to divorce but the lawyer says there must be evidence. She approaches one of the waitresses and wants to know what happens in there. The waitress eventually pities her and tells her that she heard her husband has been with other women. The waitress steals a letter from Mr. Parker, the secretary and gives it to Mrs. Parker. It has evidence that says men are having sex with prostitutes in every port.
The Queen and prince are to make a Christmas speech one after the other as the Queen's advisors have heard about the rumours of Mrs. Parker looking for divorce. They don't want the same rumours circling around Philip and the Queen.
A Company of Men
bobcobb3019 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
An episode that felt even more boring than the season premiere. This was a bunch of men on a royal trip behaving badly, but not in a humorous way, in a way that was awkward for the viewer. This was another thrown together episode that those who love the show will call brilliant, but can't pinpoint why. For someone who is not obsessed with the show it was boring and slow-moving.
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