Recap / The Crown S 2 E 5 Marionettes

• Artistic License – History: Lord Altrincham met with Martin Charteris, not the Queen. This is handwaved by having it be a secret meeting with Lord Altrincham agreeing to stick to the official version that he only met with her Assistant Private Secretary.
• Both Sides Have a Point: Breaking down the barrier between a monarch and the people risks ending the deference with which she is regarded, putting the institution of monarchy at risk. But as Lord Altrincham points out, that deference simply isn't there any more. Republics are now the most common form of government and the monarchy has to be more in touch with their subjects if they want their support to continue.
• Controversy-Proof Image: Argued by Tommy Lascelles who should know better (in fairness he's dealing not with a rogue Royal but a speech that his hand-picked man has approved). He argues that the public adores the Royal Family, and even if they don't they'll just shrug and go on with their lives.
• Deliberate Values Dissonance: An In-Universe example with the patronizing Palace-approved speech the Queen gives at the Jaguar plant.
• Delicious Distraction: Lord Altrincham's attempt to get the staff at his periodical to address the issues of the day is met by indifference, but not when his secretary brings around her homemade toffees. Eventually the boss unbends enough to sample one himself...and promptly breaks a tooth on it.
• How the Mighty Have Fallen: As they prepare to meet a selection of 'average' people who have been gathered to meet them, the Queen Mother laments to Queen Elizabeth the slow and steady demise of the monarchy from absolute rulers chosen by God to the "marionettes" they've become in the modern world. Then they put on their smiles and gloves and go to work.
• How We Got Here: The episode opens with Lord Altrincham's assault and the broadcast of his interview on Impact. When the host asks Altrincham why he "hates" the Queen, we Answer Cut to one month earlier.
• Inherent in the System: Rejected by Lord Altrincham during his interview, as only the Queen has the power to force change in how the Palace operates.
• Instant Turn-Off: Elizabeth's sensible 'regimental wife' hairstyle, which Philip claims will interfere with her desire to have more children. He's much more approving of Margaret's glamorous hairstyle from someone called Vidal...Baboon?
• Let No Crisis Go to Waste: Lord Altrincham's article makes him the most despised man in Britain, with a television interview by the notoriously aggressive Robin Day. However it's pointed out that the interview could be to his advantage as long as he keeps his cool and makes his point, which Lord Altrincham does, turning public opinion in his favour.
• Mundane Made Awesome: Elizabeth gets her hair cut into her now trademark bob. While Elizabeth treats the event as being exceptionally mundane (and is more concerned with reading her magazine than paying attention to her hairdresser), the scene is scored to Handel's "Zadok the Priest", the anthem that has been sung before every British monarch has been crowned since 1727 and the reveal is treated like an Awesome Moment of Crowning.
• Not Me This Time: When Michael Adeane advises them to avoid reading today's newspapers, Philip says to Elizabeth, "What's your sister done now?"
• Relationship Upgrade: An offhand remark to Philip makes it clear that Margaret is sleeping with Antony, the photographer she met in the previous episode.
• The Snark Knight:
  • The Royals might not be allowed to publicly respond to criticism, but they are the masters of the biting retort.
    Aide: Lord Altrincham has been struck.
    Queen Mother: Dumb, I hope.
    Aide: Better than that, ma'am. In the face. Quite forcefully, I'm told.
    Elizabeth: By whom? What gallant and chivalrous individual?
  • Having faced not only professional but personal criticism from Lord Altrincham, Elizabeth drops in a few biting comments during their later audience.
    Queen Elizabeth: And that same monarch is sitting before—forgive me—a failed politician and an unrecognized journalist, and taking his advice on how to do her job.
    Lord Altrincham: The situation is as baffling to me as it is to you, Your Majesty.
  • And retirement hasn't caused Tommy to lose his touch.
    Martin: Sir, forgive me if I'm interfering beyond my station... (notices Lascelles was also in the room) Tommy...
    Tommy: Martin... You were about to interfere beyond your station.
    (Tommy launches into a long, coercive diatribe on why the Queen is safe from media attacks)
    Martin: So I'm worrying unnecessarily?
    Tommy: Martin, I shall leave the drawing of that inescapable conclusion to you.
• Rule of Symbolism: Not for the first or last time, hunting is used as a motif for a potential threat to the monarchy, with Elizabeth shooting a stag and bringing it back to the castle, only to be informed by her Private Secretary about the change in public opinion in favour of what Lord Altrincham is saying.
• Shout-Out
  • Queen Elizabeth reads from Pilgrim's Progress for her Christmas speech.
  • A stag used as symbolism for a threat to the monarchy was also used in The Queen.
• Stealth Hi/Bye: Lord Altrincham is told to step outside after his private audience with the Queen. He's rather bemused to be summoned back by Martin Charteris and discover that the Queen has vanished, despite there only being one door that he can see.
• Sublime Rhyme: One newspaper heading is Peer sneer.
• Talk to the Fist: Philip Burbidge is shown buying newspapers, dressing up in a suit and his medals and waiting outside the ITV building until Lord Altrincham leaves after his interview, whereupon Burbidge punches him in response to his attacks on the Queen. The Palace is quite approving until they discover Burbidge is a member of a radical right-wing organisation.
• Tempting Fate: Tommy Lascelles isn't worried about any backlash due to the Queen's upcoming speech, saying the newspapers can always be pulled into line by threatening to boycott them from Royal events. Unfortunately there's a peer with his own periodical who isn't worried about such threats, and his attacks become newsworthy in itself, causing all the other newspapers to address the subject.
• Uncatty Resemblance: Martin Charteris goes to see Tommy Lascelles with concerns about the Queen's upcoming speech. The first thing he sees upon entering, much to his bafflement, is Tommy's two dogs, with one calmly staring at him. The two deerhounds resemble Tommy very much, sharing a stern, steely gaze and a decidedly non-sunny disposition.
• What's Up, Queen Dude?: When told he's going to meet with Martin Charteris, he assumes the Palace isn't serious or they would have him meeting someone of higher rank. He's taken up to Charteris' tiny office and is shocked to find the Queen herself there. Six months later the Queen is shown to have taken his advice to maintain the common touch and is meeting a selection of ordinary citizens who have been invited to the Palace.
• What the Hell, Hero?: When she's told the furore over Lord Altrincham is not just going to go away, Elizabeth rips into Michael Adeane for approving the speech that got her into this mess in the first place. He's noticeably absent from events for the rest of the episode, the Queen relying on Martin Charteris to handle her meeting with the renegade peer.