In the previous episode of Netflix’s The Crown, there was a lot of focus on Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and Dodi Fayed (Khalid Abdalla). In “Dis-Moi Oui”, Dodi proposes to Diana, but she declines. They decided to stay friends from now on and they were leaving Paris. As they’re driving off, with paparazzi crazily following behind, they end up in a serious car accident.
Now, in the fourth episode of the season, “Aftermath”, the accident is found to have been fatal. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and King Phillip (Jonathan Pryce) discover the news, as does Dodi’s father Mohamed (Salim Daw). The Princess of Wales is severely injured and unfortunately, Dodi died.
Mohamed has his driver take him to where the accident took place. Afterward, he goes to the morgue to say his final goodbye to his son. The Royal Family gets a phone call and they get the horrible news that Diana didn’t make it when she came to the hospital. The following morning, Charles breaks the news to his and Diana’s sons Harry (Fflyn Edwards) and William (Rufus Kampa).
Charles brings Diana back home, from Paris. Driving from the hospital to the airport, they drive past a downtown area, where people notice the vehicles and as they drive by, the people start clapping out of respect for Charles. This scene itself shows just how much of an important role model and human being Diana was.
As Charles is on the jet coming back home, he imagines Diana sitting across from him, conversing with each other. It’s as if the conversation they’re having is their final one. He tells her she was the most liked out of everyone in the family and that she was so loved. He also tells her that the only thing he has thought about since getting the news is regret.
One major thing to point out in this episode is how Elizabeth and Philip are taking the news of Diana’s death. King Philip denied Charles’ request to get a special source of transportation to bring Diana’s body home because she wasn’t a member of the royal family anymore. Another scene is when Charles comes home and tells his parents that they should keep an eye on the boys. They treat her death like it isn’t something sad, that it’s something normal.
The King tells Charles that Diana’s death and all plans further have to be decided and focused on by the Spencers. Of course, it makes sense. But, Charles is still her family, as are the boys. Even though they are divorced, it doesn’t mean that she’s not in the family, that she doesn’t belong in the family.
As Charles and his parents are talking, they discuss the funeral. They think the Spencers should have their service, something small and for close family only. But, Charles thinks that it should be a public service. He realizes how much of an impact Diana has had on people’s lives all over the world. People will want to say their goodbyes. They don’t like that idea and Charles says something that stands out about how much he cares about his late ex-wife: “I let her down in life, but I will not let her down in death.”
Mohammed has his service for Dodi and it’s heartbreaking. Even though Mohammed cared about the power and money in Dodi and Diana’s relationship, he truly did love and care for his son. After the service, he comes back home and he’s sitting in his office. He and Dodi get to have their final goodbye just as Charles and Diana did.
William leaves the palace and everyone is worried. After being gone for fourteen hours, he comes back home. When he returns home, Charles talks more to his mother about the service and her speaking in public, sending a message out to the world. She’s convinced to do so when she has a moment with Diana. During the march in the streets of London, William is confused as to why all of these people are crying. His grandfather tells him that they aren’t crying for Diana, they are crying for him and his brother.
Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards do an incredible job of portraying Prince William and Prince Harry in this episode. It was upsetting to see how the King and Queen were handling the situation, the comments that were being made about the tragic event, and all that came with it. It will be intriguing to see how the family handles their busy lives after the death of Diana and if Mohammed will get the respect he deserves.
Rating: 9.5/10