WIG REVIEW: THE CROWN SEASON 4
You guys. It has come to my attention that I never got around to doing a wig review of The Crown. Nor, apparently, have I ever done a wig review of any season of The Crown!! Apologies all around. I guess this is probably because unlike most prestige TV, this show was given an actual wig budget which has resulted in actually good wigs (and that’s no fun to review!) Anyway, since I have now moved on to far more trashy British prestige TV viewing (Bridgerton), I will not do a full episode-by-episode review of The Crown but will take it character by character. Ahem:
THE QUEEN (AND PRINCE PHILIP)
Olivia Colman is, well, MY FAVOURITE but honestly, this season is not about her or her wigs, which are absolutely lovely wigs fit for a queen. And unlike most male wigs, Philip’s wig is not bad! It does not have the frightful issue most mens’ wigs possess: the fact that they jut out at the tape of the neck. Prince Philip is an absolute asshole and he does not deserve such a good wig, but whatever: he got one! Cheers to both these characters that no one actually cares about this season. Moving on!
MARGARET THATCHER AKA THAT BLOODY WOMAN
My father is from Northern England and my family still very much call Margaret Thatcher “THAT BLOODY WOMAN” and it is the only thing anyone should ever call her. My one issue with her portrayal in this show is that they try to make her seem like a human being with real, vulnerable emotions and not the evil gargoyle that she actually was. As an OG X-Files fan, I love Gillian Anderson and support the fact that she has now become a faux British person in a way that Madonna was never able to achieve and she is absolutely just fine as That Bloody Woman even if her wig is slightly larger than That Bloody Woman’s actual hair.
Still, the quality of this wig is impeccable (as are all these wigs - please give shows actual wig budgets, people!) But I am very disappointed that this season really didn’t show That Bloody Woman to be the monster she was and didn’t even mention the fact that she gutted the English mining industry. For a far more accountable portrayal, please see this number from the musical version of Billy Elliot and please sing this song every damn Christmas. One thing I did learn is that the kitchen at 10 Downing St is tiny and apparently That Bloody Woman had to do a lot of cooking as PM. Ok?
PRINCESS MARGARET
Obviously, the only Margaret I care about in this show is PRINCESS MARGARET who has always been the goddamned coolest (and most heartbreaking) character on this show every season. Although her fashion is still ON POINT this season, her wig is mostly in some bun or french twist but still looks great?
Also I absolutely adore the royal family’s affinity for head scarves. Also look at how many jackets she is wearing! Princess Margaret can do whatever the eff she wants (except find love apparently...) and also I really applaud her for how she reacted to discovering her family covered up secret disabled cousins (!) while she was trying to get her own self care. OY VEY.
CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES
Camilla has long been the UK’s enemy #1 and apparently this season of this show has created a renaissance of this feeling. However! As played by Emerald Fennell (who also wrote and directed the fabulous Promising Young Woman), Camilla is just a misunderstood gal who was forced into a loveless marriage by the queen mum and Lord Montbatten (RIP). This frizzy, bent as hell ‘do is honestly way better than Camilla has ever looked in her damn life. Amen.
PRINCESS DIANA
There is one true star of the royal family (STILL!) and of this season, and obvs that is Lady Di. We first see her as a teenage weirdo dressed as a tree nymph who later captures Charles’s heart by wearing yellow overalls and this damn sweater to a county fair. SURE!! Her first wig is as unfortunate as this outfit since it has the issue most male wigs has - it just out at the back!
As her hair grows longer, this becomes less of an issue. I will say that they did their best to recreate these iconic royal moments.
I love that as her fame grows, so does her hair! These wigs are honestly impeccable even when Charles is not (TRULY UGH CHARLES).
In the end, Charles and Diana’s marriage is a total effing MESS but these wigs totally can withstand high winds and horrible husbands/in-laws/lovers/80s fashion.
VERDICT: WURQS
