The Crown (TV Series) Vergangenheit (2017) User Reviews

The return of a great character, and a glimpse into his dark past.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 9/10 · 9 December 2017]

For the first half of this episode, I thought that it was following two unrelated plots; the uncovering of damning documents from the Second World War and the return of David the exiled former king as he searches for work. However, midway through the episode it becomes clear that David is linked to the documents, and that their fallout will determine whether or not he is successful. As a result, what initially seemed like an episode of odds and ends actually dovetails neatly into a single conflict, and a powerful dilemma for Elizabeth.

David was one of the more interesting characters of the first season. Though he may not always be likable, he is certainly complex and fun to watch. He's had scenes of cowardice, disdain, wisdom, and warmth. In this episode, he continues to demonstrate many different sides, though by the end we are left with a resounding disgust for him and his actions that may well herald the end of his role on the show.

David was not the only returning character this episode, though he did play the largest role. In a flashback, we see both Winston Churchill and King George again. John Lithgow and Jared Harris are arguably the two greatest actors to have been on the show, so it was great to see them again (though I wish they had a more substantial role in the episode). And though Tommy Lascelles has been in this season, this episode gave him his first really big scene to chew on.

All in all, this is a fantastic dive into (and seeming sendoff for) a great, multi-layered character who will be remembered as one of the show's best.

In the dark past

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 29 June 2021]

Remarked in my review for the whole show three years ago about finding David/Edward the Duke of Windsor's character writing biased and distorted. Rewatching 'The Crown' however in preparation for Season 4 that aired late last year, having loved Seasons 1 and 2 that much, that opinion is no longer held and actually feel bad about having it in the first place. In Season 1, David was an interesting and complex character. Not subtle or likeable by any stretch, but not as one-dimensional as remembered.

That is still the case with Season 2's "Vergangenheit". On the whole, Season 2 was every bit as good as the first (with the few disappointments such as "Lisbon" still being quite good). "Vergangenheit" is not just one of the best episodes of the season, but to me it is a show high point and is a perfect example of why 'The Crown' is such a great show and what it is all about. Everything is outstanding here, not just the usual praise-worthy things but the episode does a wonderful job with David.

David has lost none of what made him interesting and complex in Season 1. In fact, both increased here in "Vergangenheit" with darker and richer character development. It does reiterate and confirm that we know about him already (all in a less than favourable light), but it also shows the motivations behind the decisions he made and that there was more to it. As a character his development is moved forward rather than stuck or regressed, a likeable character he is far from but he is not one's definition of a stock villain. All the character writing here is great, but especially with David which is what sets "Vergangenheit" apart.

"Vergangenheit" once again has superb production values. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the photography that stands out in this regard. Very elegant and tasteful. The music has presence but is not used or too much, some of it is beautifully understated.

Writing is constantly intriguing and intelligent, not coming over as over-serious or soapy. The story has a lot of intrigue and subtle tension, the pace is deliberate but not overly so. For the reasons said above, David has really grown on me. The more political elements don't get too much, which is remarkable considering the time period and the subject. The conflict grabs the attention.

Acting is on point across the board, with Alex Jennings taking top honours this time. His performance being smarmy but subtle. Claire Foy's very telling expressions and eyes are very moving to watch.

Concluding, brilliant and one of the season's and show's best. 10/10.

Best episode yet... though all have been excellent

[TheReelMovieMaven · 10/10 · 4 January 2018]

I have a British cousin, who was the first to startle me by voicing his disgust for the monarchy, alluding to Nazi sympathizers among the royal family during WWII. I thought he was crackers (to use the British term for loony), but I then learned more about the Duke of Windsor's Nazi sympathies and his actions after his abdication. I found this episode to be the best (so far, in my viewing), not only neatly laying out how far the Duke's sympathies ranged, but also because of the splendid acting and storytelling arc. (My only quibble is that in one of the final scenes, while Elizabeth is watching Rev. Graham on TV, you can see that the TV is not connected by any electrical wiring on its table in the middle of a room.) The visual storytelling elements are subtle but highly effective, and the writing, as always, sparkling and powerful. Elizabeth has her greatest scene so far, as she confronts her uncle at the end.

No historical surprises here!

[zontagirl1 · 4 April 2018]

Anyone with a smattering of history is aware of the Duke of Windsor' nazi sympathies. This episode narrates the story very well with objective perspective while portraying the Duke as a petty, whiny, spoiled man-child.

The Dark Side of Edward VIII

[awrobel · 10/10 · 25 May 2021]

A great and memorable episode! The Duke of Windsor was an interesting fellow and an extremely complex one. What was the fascination he had with Hitler? One can only speculate what he might have been like had he been the King as England entered WW II. Let's not overlook the fact that the Royals were Germans after all.

The lure of Wallis Simpson is also one of the great mysteries. She was surely the Helen of Troy of the 20th century when you consider that Duke gave up his throne for her.

Great acting, absorbing history, just one of the best episodes of the entire series.

Excessive Pomposity

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 18 December 2017]

Ths show starts out with an obvious serious discovery. Several men, including one in a German uniform, find a clearing and dig up a sealed box. That box is removed and taken away. Now we cut to Elizabeth, who has become enamored with evangelist Billy Graham. She is starting to deal with some guilt and has seen Graham on television. Philip teases her but she is adamant. Now we cut to Edward, who was banished from the kingdom when he decided to marry a commoner, giving up his throne. He is growing restless and wants to find some kind of work to support his country. He is this condescending, pompous blowhard who spends all his time in idle entertainment, spending his allowance. He needs the Monarch to sign off on anything that he does because, technically, he is not supposed to even show up in England. What follows is the revealing of things that Edward did during the war and Elizabeth's tussle with forgiveness. I must read more about Edward and the connection to the Nazis. This was an eye opener.

Very powerful indeed...

[jrarichards · 9/10 · 31 January 2019]

My hair may be well grey, and British I certainly am, but I do not recall ever having the story presented in this episode of "The Crown" given to me quite so straight, so inexorably, quite so (apparently) fully, quite so powerfully. New the main idea is not, but here it is carried far with all its logical and shocking consequences. A service has certainly been done, therefore, though I believe people should know BEFORE, rather than AFTER or DURING watching, that many things presented as absolute facts are not, while others most certainly are. Overall, there is I believe a good case for most of what is shown here, but the limited release of documents to this day combines with the need to produce a dramatic story to leave us pondering a bit if things were (are) really and truly like that. And the Nazis certainly had their own divide and rule agenda, though the Duke of Windsor seems to have been a fairly willing contender for the role of puppet. Nevertheless, he may (well) have been "set up" at avrious points. Wallis's dalliances with Von Ribbentrop are here referred to as absolute fact, but I'm not absolutely sure that's so, though it may very well have been. Furthermore, the Amercians - allies and friends as they may ostensibly be - have always had this weird "thing" about monarchs and empires, and one cannot put it past certain powers there to enjoy and relish the chance to blacken the reputation of my country and its elite. (Please recall how to this day there are Americans very visibly and loudly convinced that Prince Philip has been seeking to re-establish the British Empire via conservation organisations).

That is all background comment, if I believe worthwhile.

Certainly, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent (apparently happy and supportive) times with the Fuhrer, did risky things while based in Portugal; and were indeed transferred to the Bahamas to be far from Nazi Germany and close to both British and American forces should a quick grab be needed.

But back to "The Crown", and an interesting (if slightly too-good-to-be-true looking) juxtaposition of Billy Graham Evangelism, a return to Britain by "Uncle David" and the likelihood that the awesome info about his potential collaborative wartime tendences might be released at any time. It makes for a SUPERB tale, better than many a work of fiction we have come across (assuming this is not itself fictional).

Either way, it gives us a chance to see more grit and substance finally conferred upon the portrayal of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (hitherto in the series a none-too-favourable one, but also one that bears no resemblance to the Queen Mother millions of British fans remember from her last decades). Here, suddenly, Victoria Hamilton does her stuff and the part she plays transforms over a couple of scenes. Given that Alex Jennings also does good things with HIS conveying of the rude, ever-superior, self-deceiving, superficially well-meaning but somehow tainted Duke of Windsor, and given that Pip Torrens gets the chance to make an absolutely devastating, dynamite, coolly outraged and furious presentation of the Duke and Duchess's catalogue of wrongs from the mouth of the Queen Mother's old ally Tommy Lascelles, there is truly powerful and effective acting on display here.

A bigger question mark concerns Claire Foy as the Queen herself, but most likely Her Majesty just cannot be "acted" anyway. She is as she is, a person (in 1957 though far less so in 2019) a tad uncharismatic, meaning well, a bit naive, here still learning the ropes.

But what ropes!

In this series we've so far had her come through Philip's weak points as a husband, Suez and the rapid retreat from Empire, the constructive criticism but also biting comment of Lord Altrincham, and Margaret's first dalliances with Tony Armstrong-Jones. One would be forgiven for thinking Her Majesty has just faced one big, even huge issue after another through her long reign, and somehow found a way through them all.

And that would be just the point...

Story well done

[jknousak · 9/10 · 13 August 2020]

And to jrarichards, well, typical Brit whingeing about the story -- about this detail and that error and, of course the requisite American bashing in favor of your 'beloved' country. I quote the 'b' word there because, after all, for a UK production it is beyond understanding why you would go on and on and on about how not factual the play is.

This episode presented historical drama in an excellent way -- it is, after all, entertainment. The primary points made -- truth will out, David Windsor's failure in trying to regain footing in Britain, his sympathies/actions w/ the Nazis, and Elizabeth's quandary about that + her likely feelings of Aloneness (what queen wouldn't feel that?). The story arc as one other commenter stated, was well played. And I especially liked/enjoyed that last scene with Philip lording about his and his 'mates' cheering of Liz's very-rightful decision, and the climb into bed -- wonderful stuff, indeed!

Clair Foy and Fair Treatment of Billy Graham and Christianity

[rjmeredith3382 · 10/10 · 9 September 2022]

I was expecting somewhat of a mistreatment of Mr. Graham and Elizabeth's faith. Many in the film business mock faith and Christianity in general. This episode seemed to present her faith in a way that is true to how the Bible speaks and of how she seemed to speak of her own faith. And Mr. Graham was not portrayed as some kind of charlatan, but a simple, honest preacher of his religion. Over and Over Claire Foy gets better and better. She is the brightest part of this series. I have been drawn back over and over again. In light now of the Queen's passing, it is good to see this portrayal of her faith, which seems genuine.

Episode 206

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 12 December 2017]

Seeing Churchill return on the show, even for a brief scene, was a treat. This was a really slow-moving episode, but the show shined a light on something that is not often talked about, but is truly a big deal in a secret agreement with Germany early on in their reign of horror and terror.

And we did get a glimpse of what it was like when the Reverend Billy Graham came on the scene in the 60's and the impact it had on US and UK culture since.

Nazis

[vivianla · 21 March 2021]

We go back into time when the Queen's uncle was king and Winston Churchill was prime minister. Important German documents got dug up in the forest. Fast forward into the current day and historians want to publish the truth after finding the closed German documents.

Queen Elizabeth learned that her Uncle David (father's brother) went to go visit Hitler with his wife and agreed to let the Germans invade Europe while he gets his throne back. His wife was seen with a German ambassador and supposedly having sex with him.

The Queen does not allow her uncle to come back to the United Kingdom and wonder if she did the right thing as a Christian who should always forgive.