The Crown
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The show takes us to Alexandria, Egypt, in 1946, where Mohamed grew up.
I feel like were wading into dicey territory.
Lets fast-forward to Paris in 1979.
The Al-Fayed crew get up to leave, but are stopped.
Theyve got a deal.
With the Ritz acquired, Mohamed finds two people who catch his eye on opening night.
Its a quick reminder of how anti-Black racism is pervasive even in other communities of color.
(Johnsons employment seems especially noteworthy considering the royal householdhad discriminatory hiring policiesuntil at least the 1960s.)
Mohamed asks to speak to Sydney.
He mentions how the countrys customs and manners rule the world British society is seen as the finest.
(Barf, but okay.)
So Mohamed enrolls in Sydneys Eurocentric finishing school for grumpy, rich businessmen.
Time for a field trip!
Mohamed and Sydney go to a horse show where the queen will be in attendance.
It all goes to show that the tensions plaguing the Windsors can play out in other families, too.
The elder Al-Fayed is more like a royal than he thinks.
Ultimately, though, Mohamed comes through and keeps Dodis dream alive.
Mohamed is skeptical about the legitimacy of the film (Where are the girls?)
(It also has one of themost epic movie anthemsof all time.
RIP, Vangelis.)
The cherry on top?
Mohamed still goes on to buy Harrods an Oscar-winwin situation.
Mohamed brings tea to Sydney, who is coughing lightly (no!)
The duke and duchesss belongings have already begun to be numbered and catalogued for auction.
It will be my gift to the British royal family, he reasons.
Its the stuff of royal PR nightmares.
The queen accepts the invitation, much to Mohameds excitement.
But Mohamed is incredulous, saying hes happy to make the queen happy.
Not just near its here!
We watch Mohamed take care of his bedridden friend, gingerly helping him gulp down some medicine.
When Sydneys breathing stops, Mohamed lays his slippers on the bed and releases a tear.
Later, we see that his tombstone reads, Sydney Johnson, Valet to the King.
Stood up once again, Mohamed gets another seatmate (drumroll just): Diana!
Talk about a consolation prize!
Diana claims the queen a.k.a.
Turns out even someone on the inside can feel like an outsider.
The odd couple have a cute chat a platonic meet-cute, if you will.
But its rare for us ever to see the queen ignore her sense of duty or obligation.
Im not sure the show knows what its trying to say here either.
