Ep 1. Gold Stick

In the first episode of season 4 of The Crown, titled "Gold Stick," the focus is primarily on introducing the newest additions to the cast, namely Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher, as well as highlighting the challenges faced by the royal family during the early 1980s.

The episode opens with a scene showing Prince Charles and Princess Diana meeting each other for the first time. Charles is still carrying a torch for his old flame Camilla Parker-Bowles, but his parents and his grandmother, the Queen Mother, believe Diana would make a suitable match. The episode then swiftly pivots to address the political arena, as Margaret Thatcher is introduced as the newly-elected Prime Minister, with many members of the royal household finding her to be an unpalatable presence.

The plot jumps back and forth between the two main storylines and reveals the personal and professional trifles faced by both Diana and Thatcher. Diana is struggling to adapt to her new role as a royal, dealing with the pressures of a media that are constantly breathing down her neck and a husband who is emotionally absent as he continues to pine after Camilla. Meanwhile, Thatcher is fighting to maintain her power in the face of growing opposition from her fellow politicians and a country that is restive due to the severe recession.

The main subplot of the episode involves a fictitious incident in which someone breaks into Buckingham Palace at night and manages to enter the Queen's bedroom. Even though this is a fictional account, the incident creates chaos throughout the palace, as security is stepped up and the family is forced to spend their nights sleeping under guard for some time.

As a result of this, Prince Philip takes charge and creates a new position called Gold Stick, which is awarded to the officer who will be responsible for protecting the palace from further intrusions. The person appointed to this role, Colonel Toby Browne, proves himself immediately capable and efficient, but it is clear that his hardline methods don't sit well with everyone.

Ultimately, "Gold Stick" lays the foundation for what is to come in the rest of the season, setting up the dramatic tension between Diana and Charles and Thatcher's eventual downfall. It paints a vivid picture of life within the royal household with all its intrigue, indulgence, and contention. The cast and crew deliver top-notch performances, driven by a tightly constructed narrative that makes it a must-watch for fans eagerly awaiting the latest season of The Crown.