The Crown Season 3 Episode 3
The Crown
Season 3

Ep 3. Aberfan

  • November 17, 2019
  • 9.3  (7,197)

On the third episode of The Crown season 3, the series brings forth the heartbreaking story of the Welsh mining town of Aberfan, where one of the greatest tragedies in UK history took place in 1966 when the hills above the village gave way and a giant slag heap slid down into the mining community below.

The episode Aberfan revolves around Queen Elizabeth II's reaction to the tragedy and her interactions with the Welsh community as they mourn the loss of 116 children and 28 adults. The early moments of the episode show people getting ready for their daily chores. The sun is shining, and the day feels pleasant. However, we soon witness the catastrophic event unfold, leaving an entire village in a state of devastation. The focus then shifts to Queen Elizabeth, who finds herself confronted with an impossible dilemma; how to react while avoiding criticism for not showing enough empathy?

The episode deals with the devastating effect of the tragedy that changed the lives of those who lost their loved ones or witnessed the catastrophe. We see Queen Elizabeth as a monarch, feeling the weight of the disaster on her shoulders, and a mother navigating her feelings. The episode also depicts the aftermath as the Queen's reaction was seen as detached and indifferent. The incident is seen to have highlighted a rift in British society. A nationwide fundraising drive collected about £1.7m, equivalent to over £30m today for the relief fund, showing the overwhelming response of the country to the tragedy. However, many blamed the indifference and lack of initiative by authorities for failing to avert the disaster.

Peter Morgan, the series' creator, takes a poignant approach to capture the tragedy. It was difficult to watch the despair and pain that Aberfan's people went through during the catastrophe. The episode also brings forth the narrative of the families affected by the disaster, and how they dealt with the loss and devastation. We saw how traumatic and hopeless it must have been for the families. Aberfan, the episode is as much of a historical reenactment as it is a tribute to the lives affected.

The episode reflects on a time when Britain was divided by politics, and many felt neglected and unheard. Aberfan was a tragedy waiting to happen. A report following the catastrophe concluded that those in power ignored warnings about the slag heap's instability. The storyline tackles this lack of accountability and the sense that the authorities' inaction led to the loss of lives. The episode also highlights how the disaster led to a movement that brought Wales' support for a greater sense of self-determination and demands for more significant investments to promote welfare and safety in working-class communities.

The episode also explores how the disaster impacted the Queen and the Royal Family. Aberfan pushed Queen Elizabeth to find a way to connect emotionally and share the grief of her people. The image of the queen at the disaster site became one of the most iconic of her reign. The scene where the queen visits Aberfan's disaster site and meets the people affected by the tragedy brings forth a sense of sorrow, which becomes infectious as the Queen meets the families of Aberfan's deceased children, who share stories of their loved ones. The queen's visit is marked as an emotional moment that shows her empathy towards her subjects and highlights the power of connection in times of hardship.

The cinematography and sound design are impeccable, capturing a sense of tragedy and hopelessness. The use of archive footage and the focus on personal stories provides the episode with authenticity and emotional depth. The royal reaction to the disaster serves as the backdrop for the depiction of Aberfan's community's daily life.

Overall, the third episode of The Crown season 3, Aberfan, is a moving and emotional episode that captures the tragedy of Aberfan and the grief of the people affected by it. In a series that often concerns itself with protocol and tradition, Aberfan feels like a powerful reminder that Royal duties are more profound than mere formality. It is an episode that is bound to cause an emotional stir in its audiences, and has been lauded for its portrayal of one of Britain's greatest tragedies.

Description
Watch The Crown - Aberfan (s3 e3) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
The Crown, Season 3 Episode 3, is available to watch and stream on Netflix. You can also buy, rent The Crown on demand at Netflix online.
  • First Aired
    November 17, 2019
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    9.3  (7,197)