The Crown: Mou Mou

November 10, 2022 12:18 AM - Season 5, Episode 3

In 1946, an Egyptian street vendor finds inspiration in the abdicated King Edward. Years later, he eagerly tries to integrate into British High Society.

The Crown S5 E3 real history: exiled royals and the al-Fayeds [History Extra]
The Crown Recap: Puttin’ on the Ritz [Vulture / Archive]

posted by ellieBOA (5 comments total)

I admit I don't think "Mou Mou" is the best nickname, sounds like he's a giant dress?

But Princess Diana with "Mou Mou" is ABSOLUTELY CHARMING and sassy and razzing and bluntly honest and I love her so much. "Do you always say everything twice-twice?" is both legit legit and an absolute hoot.

"Is it just Dodi, or Dodi Dodi?"
"What?"
"It's a joke joke."
"It's funny funny."

I enjoy the guys playing Mohammed and Sydney. Too bad Dodi is such a bland charmless wet blanket. Wasn't he supposed to interest Diana and be some kind of rich playboy? He had to have been more interesting than that.

I kinda lol in my head at Elizabeth and Margaret patting themselves on the back for doing a kindness of fixing up Diana and Mohammed and then HAHAHAHA LOOK WHAT HAPPENS THERE WITH THAT ACORN!

I feel like I'm supposed to want to give Mohammed shit for being a wannabe Englishman, but heck, guy loves what he loves, and he has the money to try to be what he loves. What's so wrong about that? He's kind to Sydney and vice versa.

I did find it interesting when Sydney said I know how you're feeling, the Duke felt that way about the BRF every day and Mohammed is all, no, I made the Queen happy! Well, good for you there, I guess.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:08 AM on November 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

I did not expect to get a full el-Fayed family flashback episode, but a truly fascinating bit of history - especially the connection to Edward and Wallis and Villa Windsor. Incredible way to wrap up that thread in the Windsor family backstory.
posted by crossoverman at 6:23 PM on November 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I found it worthwhile reviewing Mohammed Al Fayed’s Wikipedia page to cross check some of the material in this episode - Sydney Johnson’s too. Oddly this comes over not just as the most outlandish sounding episode of the series so far - but also the one which seems to stick most clearly to the truth (some expensive legal mistakes too be avoided). Mr Al Fayed has had an extraordinary life - no more so then in his relationship with the royals. The meeting with Diana at the polo match in 1986 seems to be the only part that was maybe fabricated a little - the match was at Windsor castle so public details are scarce.
posted by rongorongo at 3:04 PM on November 21, 2022

I enjoyed this! I have a horrible cold at the moment so I can’t really fire up a critical faculty to see if it was really as well done as I felt like it was.
posted by lokta at 2:45 AM on December 9, 2022

I did find it interesting when Sydney said I know how you're feeling, the Duke felt that way about the BRF every day and Mohammed is all, no, I made the Queen happy! Well, good for you there, I guess.

I could feel Sydney's grimace of "If you don't understand what just happened, I don't think I know how to explain this to you..."
posted by vibratory manner of working at 11:47 AM on January 27, 2023 [1 favorite]