The Crown is a Netflix made, lavishly produced, phenomenally acted look at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It's pretty crazy the show costs north of $10 million an episode, making it one of the most expensive TV shows in history (even more than Game of Thrones prior to its final season). We get to watch how the Queen lives her life, in the castles she owns and elsewhere, and everything expected of her. This includes so many rules, paperwork as head of state, weekly audiences with the prime minister, public appearances and more. We get to watch her tackle crises, insofar as they relate to her, and also the things she enjoys as a private individual. More than anything we see the family drama. What makes it most interesting to me is the many intersections with major and more minor historical events, though it's also easy to get sucked into everything else relating to the monarchy in the modern age. Elizabeth is a bridge to the past, including to the time of British primacy on the world stage. You have to wonder what would've happened had she not lived so long as a beloved and stabilizing figure in the UK.
Each season so far has covered approximately a decade. To keep up with the epic, sprawling nature of the show, the cast changes every two seasons so the actors and actresses are playing characters reasonably close in age. One exception to this is the irreplaceable Pip Torrens as Tommy Lascelles, private secretary to the Queen and her father George VI. Otherwise someone may show up again briefly in a flashback.
Season one (1947-55) shows Elizabeth's (Claire Foy) rapid ascension to the throne following the death of her father (Jared Harris), who she strives to emulate. We learn a great deal about the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII, an event that almost ruins the Windsor family. Her relationships with her individualistic husband, Philip (Matt Smith), and sister, Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), as they struggle to adjust to their new roles, provide much of the drama. Prime minister Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) is a primary ally in navigating the early years.
Season two (1956-64) begins with the Suez Crisis. The strained marriage between Elizabeth and Philip is highlighted, as is again the troublesome love life of Princess Margaret. Elizabeth fights to adapt to the changing times and faces threats to the continued existence of the monarchy. Along the way she meets the grounded evangelist Billy Graham and the overly cocky JFK. A young Prince Charles joins the story, and even earns some sympathy.
Season three (1964-1977) sees Elizabeth's (now played by Olivia Colman) first experience with a Labour prime minister, Harold Wilson. I'll never forget learning about the Aberfan disaster and the Queen's reaction. This period also includes the Apollo 11 moon landing and the investiture of Charles as the Prince of Wales, in Wales. Charles is now a primary character, and his family, including great uncle Lord Mountbatten (Charles Dance), can't help but meddle with his love for Camilla Shand.
Throughout the first three seasons in particular it's really drilled into her (and you the viewer) that the Queen holds very little actual power. Usually the best course of action is simply to do nothing, leading to frustration for both herself and the people around her even if it does serve to protect the family and crown. She is, in contrast, often at her best when giving people (like male members of the upper class, including but not limited to Prime Ministers) a stern dressing down in private. In the end though, what she learns at the early stages of her reign doesn't work forever or with everybody. This is abundantly clear in the struggles with Charles and Diana in the most recent season.
Season four (1979-90), released in November, shows the royal family starting to come apart at the seams. This happens against the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher's (Gillian Anderson) rise to PM, the first woman to hold the position, and her handling of issues like domestic economic unrest, the Falklands War and apartheid in South Africa. There are times Thatcher is clearly being played as a villain and yet I still think she's completely awesome. Meanwhile, Charles meets and starts courting Diana Spencer. She's considerably younger but intrigues him at first and hits it off with the family. He's essentially forced into a marriage which unsurprisingly, despite fleeting moments of bliss, goes off the rails. The Queen does what she knows, mostly giving lectures on duty. But the marriage clearly won't last. The whole royal family, though Charles most of all, comes off pretty terribly in the treatment of Diana. The Queen isn't spared, for her aloofness (especially as a mother figure) has never been more apparent.
Now the Crown has always been overly dramatic. Season four, however, leaned into it and took a turn into soap territory. Granted, part of this was the events that happened. Diana lit the world on fire with the 1983 Australia tour and much of her relationship with Charles created media frenzy. Even so the show at times is a bit much and it's easy to understand the criticisms this season in particular for historical inaccuracy. Undoubtedly this is at least partially due to the royals in toto looking awful, really for the first time in the series.
I'm most struck by the constant drastic comparison (shall we say juxtaposition?) done in season four. We see how well Diana fits in at Balmoral Castle, where the royals enjoy the outdoors in Scotland, and how poorly Thatcher does. Diana doesn't know Charles at all, even though they're engaged, while Camilla knows him intimately. Thatcher knows her children and herself, even talking about her 'favorite' child, while the Queen needs reminding about her own offspring. The royals live in splendor yet unbeknownst to them have relatives in a mental hospital. Elizabeth grew up with the former British Empire, now the Commonwealth, near and dear to her heart while Thatcher clawed her way from humble origins to the top of British politics by caring foremost about Britain, not the rest of the world. The fight between Thatcher and the rest of the Tory MPs as her power diminishes plays against the fight between Charles and Diana and their fracturing marriage. I'm sure there was more too. Altogether it adds to the tension and soap opera feel of much of the season through its heavy-handed usage.
Overall it's almost obscenely enjoyable. It's important to remember the private conversations and other unverifiable parts exist to play up the drama. Look up the real events, definitely, but also just enjoy the ride. Because that's what it is. Through season four we've reached 1990. The man behind the show, Peter Morgan, has said there will be six seasons total and contends won't stretch quite to the current day. Maybe it'll end with the Diamond Jubilee? Whatever it may be I'll be watching, absurd over-the-top drama or not.
I love the Crown. The acting is so good and the historical references are fascinating especially seeing world events through a British perspective. I was sad when they changed actors midway through because I enjoyed watching Claire Foy but Olivia Colman is amazing.
One of my favorite episodes is when Churchill (John Lithgow) wrestles with the portrait painter. The acting was simply sublime and worthy of some kind of award in my book.
I also enjoyed the one with Billy Graham. The conversations the queen had with him were fascinatingly spiritual.
Gillian Anderson’s depiction of Thatcher and certainly rivals Meryl Streep. I think the soapy nature of season four coincides with the advent of cable tv and the 24 hour…