I think I can safely say that The Crown is one of the most intriguing pieces of television of our time. If you don’t already know, it’s a historical-drama series that chronicles the lives of the current British royal family. The concept of showcasing the life of the presently living monarch Queen Elizabeth II – who is also the longest reigning monarch of British history – is ballsy, for lack of a better word.
The Crown is currently on its third season, with no sign of slowing down, as a fourth season has already been confirmed. Since I’m only halfway through Season 3, here are my first impressions of the newest addition to the critically acclaimed show.
Storylines & Structure
Personally, I’m a fan of the massive 15-year time jump Season 3 has taken since its previous season. It makes for an even more refreshing and exciting version of itself.
As I’ve mentioned before, The Crown is based on real life events. However, much of the content bases itself on speculation – rather, gaps are filled to what is presumably the best of the writers’ knowledge. This fact is not surprising considering how intensely private the Queen is. In spite of this, I think the show does their best to stay as close to the truth as possible. It never feels as if The Crown overly dramatizes, scandalizes or even bastardizes its real-life counterparts (and even if they wanted to, I don’t think they could get away with it).
I think the more important takeaway from shows like The Crown, who heavily rely on both historical events as well as media outlets, is that it motivates viewers to do their research. I can’t count the number of times I’ve hopped onto Google immediately after completing the episode to see what exactly transpired in real life. I’ve learned a lot more about the royal family than I ever thought I would because of this.
The show outlines important events in history that might otherwise have become forgotten, of events that shook the world throughout the 20th century (Queen Elizabeth has been ruling for almost seven decades). Each episode is almost like its own standalone film: compelling, with tasteful pacing, and contained within itself. And yet, I am simultaneously always left with the urgency to see what happens in the next episode, and that’s due to the show’s ability to maintain an overarching cohesiveness.
Casting
The cast of the first two seasons seemed hard to beat, and I know many viewers were disappointed that we wouldn’t be seeing more of Claire Foy, Vanessa Kirby, and Matt Smith among the other stellar actors – including John Lithgow in his award-winning role of Winston Churchill – reprising their respective roles. However, Netflix has truly outdone themselves with the casting for Season 3. Every single choice has been spectacular, which is to be expected from a list of seasoned British actors. Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Helena Bonham-Carter as Princess Margaret, and Olivia Colman as the Queen herself are particularly standout, with notable performances by Jane Lapotaire as Princess Alice of Battenberg and Erin Doherty as Princess Anne.
Characters & Tone
It can’t be an easy feat to work with an entirely new cast. Let alone to maintain the same tone as the show’s prior seasons. But, due to the amazing casting choices, the tone has stayed consistent and feels like a natural continuation of its predecessors. In fact, with a matured cast comes a matured show. Each character is a more fully realized version of their former selves, new plots and subplots never feel forced, and events from previous seasons are nodded to when need be.
Overall, The Crown Season 3 provides a further analysis into the evolution of the monarchy and the Queen’s political role. It’s a good reminder to those of us who now think of the monarchy as obsolete to see what events have led us to think that way.
The newest season of the series is as much a family drama as it is a political drama. It manages to be respectful while continuing to push boundaries. It explores complex concepts: the monarchy’s relevance in society, the intense pressure of being a royal, and the nuanced intricacies of British government, to name a few. Season 3 so far is full of moments that make you gasp, that break your heart, that appall you, that enrage you, and that engage you. More than anything, The Crown is a show that humanizes the people that we, more often than not, forget to humanize.
~ Z ~
Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash
