King Charles III

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Its astonishing the kind of battering this movie has taken from some critics. I watched it last night after the Royal Wedding (Harry & Meghan). I needed an antidote to a ceremony that had all the trappings of history and state yet seemed in other ways strangely...'other'. This movie certainly provided the antidote. I enjoyed it for its controversial view of a post Elizabeth II monarchical scenario. I think it scored well in several areas. It underlined the uncertainty arising after 70+ years of Elizabethan rule. That's 3 generations. Assuming Philip would have passed on before the Queen. Charles is shown as 'confused'. Quite probable. However much he prepares himself, the event when it happens will change everything... There is this question in many minds as to whether Charles will accept the kingship or pass it on to William asap. Then how will the political establishment react to the inevitable passing, esp. in view of a possibly stalling Brexit (not mentioned in the movie but there nonetheless). The relationship between Charles and the political establishment, and his sons, is esp. worth watching... Tim Piggott-Smith does a very good job as Charles. I think William was also well drawn by the actor playing him. The interplay between William and Kate was fascinating. Is she really so driven? I was less impressed by the way Harry was drawn. Not the actor's fault...The script drew him as weak, muddled, somewhat rebellious and a bit 'out of it'. The Harry we know is gregarious, engaging, very active and dynamic, very much his own man and doing his own thing. But he is also very angry about everything re his late mother and how the Palace treated her. This hardly comes through at all. However, I agree with how the story portrays his relationship to the monarchy v the outside world. I watched this film online. I'll buy the DVD. Its worth it. It serves to remind people esp. in the UK, that there are ahead no more Royal weddings...only Royal funerals, for Philip then the Queen, within the next 5 yrs? This movie does us a service by helping to prepare people in the UK esp. and worldwide for that experience. When it happens, the world will change. However much anti-monarchists reject this, the British Monarchy is a Force, recognised and celebrated word-wide for 70+ years. When this happens, everything will change, somehow. I thank the producers for making this movie when they did. There are no spoilers in this review as far as I'm aware.

Almost didn't watch this based on the reviews on this page but so glad I did, it's an excellent piece of Shakespearean drama. The performances are excellent, Piggot-Smith is the standout, and it's satisfyingly short and efficient in its storytelling. As far as I can tell many of the criticisms either come from offended monarchists or people who didn't like the blank verse dialogue and unrealistic plot. Although I can see why these would be issues for some people, I think they are inherent to it's pho-Shakespearean nature, it's not pretending to be an accurate and earnest take on the monarchy, it merely uses them it as setting and the Royals as very loosely based caricatures. Go in expecting Shakespeare in a modern context, not a realistic drama about the monarchy.

I could not believe how terrible this was. The acting was totally awful and every last character was fake news as far as I'm concerned. I guess even PBS is allowed a clunker or two and this is one of theirs for 2017. I watched for 25 minutes and was so put off by the stilted dialog and accents that I turned over to Dancing with the Stars.

Although this play had an excellent cast I found it predictable; mainly because it draws extensively, if not totally, on two British dramas from the 1990s. To Play The King was the second part of the original House of Cards trilogy, broadcast in 1993 and featured a future king, played by Michael Kitchen doing an impeccable Prince Charles impersonation, at odds with the Prime Minister and lead character of the series. The Student Prince was broadcast around 1997/8 and told the story of the bodyguard assigned to protect the prince/ future king who had gone to study at university, (clearly based on William). In the end the prince ends the succession and becomes a 'commoner' in the new republic, (similar to Harry's story line in this play). The BBC's decision to film this play, which in my opinion is better suited to the stage, suggests to me a desire to attract an American audience and boost viewing figures on their BBC America channel.

Behold the king.As yet uncrown'd;his beloved mother,a clever and subtle queen loved by her people recently dead. He is weak,vain,embittered ;a vaunting ambition to execute his own will even to the detriment of his people's. Two princes:one of serious mien with a wife keen for power.The other a jackanapes set on earthly pleasures before duty. As their father waits to assume the trappings of kinghood they plot to steal the throne. Bernard Levin wrote a clever poem comprised entirely of quotes from William Shakespeare. It was very popular.People understood it. Quite why there is an assumption on some writers' parts that the viewing public would not "get" a 21st century play written in part in blank verse I am not sure.I think these writers are underestimating the intelligence of the audience. I thought "King Charles the third" was rather elegantly done. We all know the Royals don't occupy the same planet as the rest of us. This play merely confirmed that. Monarchist or Republican,there is nothing in it to change your point of view. Just enjoy the magnificent Mr T.Piggot - Smith having a whale of a time and enunciating beautifully as the spoiled 70 -odd year old new king. He and Miss C.Riley use the speech patterns most successfully . The conscience of the king proves to be his downfall. Aided and abetted by the Prime minister and the Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Charles would have been justified in saying " A pox on both your houses".