The Crown Season 1 Review: A Glimpse Behind The Royal Scepter

Now streaming on Netflix
Rating: ★★★★★

If you are looking to fill that Downton Abbey sized hole in your heart, Netflix has something to patch you up.

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II

Full of all the glitz, glamour, and ambition of a royal family clashing with modern politics, The Crown takes an intimate look at Queen Elizabeth II’s (Claire Foy) rise to power and the early days of her reign. Set in the late 1940s and early ’50s, The Crown explores a war-fatigued Britain in the wake of WWII and the aftermath of a nation that was once a world superpower.

Fans of similar period pieces, for instance The King’s Speech, will recognize many of the same players and events, including the repercussions of King Edward’s abdication and King George VI’s reluctant rise to the throne.

Albeit the drama of The Crown is much more subtle than Downton Abbey’s unexpected romps, births, deaths, and consistent scheming, The Crown offers a much deeper tension. It showcases the burden of duty, honor, and responsibility of the monarch’s office over everything: family, love, and Elizabeth’s own feelings.

Foy’s Elizabeth is both reserved and unwavering, delicately navigating personal dilemmas and royal responsibility.

The Crown

The struggle of Elizabeth’s two sides—one as a loving mother, daughter, sister, and wife, and the other as queen—are at odds throughout the show. They are a constant source of tribulation as Elizabeth’s personal relationships with her family are placed second to her royal duty. The show portrays this strife through a growing distant marriage and an increasingly resentful relationship with her sister Margaret (Vanessa Kirby).

Doctor Who fans will immediately recognize Matt Smith, who plays Queen Elizabeth’s husband as a petulant and unruly Phillip. Thirsty fans will appreciate several of his shirtless scenes.

Among the bright spots of The Crown is a vibrant John Lithgow, who plays Winston Churchill. Although history remembers Churchill’s instrumental political maneuvering during WWII, the depiction of him in The Crown is of his waning political career, coming to terms with illness and age, and the continued churning of progress, with or without him. The series largely juxtaposes Elizabeth’s youth and desire to usher Britain into more modern times with Churchill’s desire to adhere to tradition.

John Lithgow as Winston Churchill

The cast of The Crown does a fantastic job bringing to light the emotional nuances and relationships of the British royal family and key political players. As Foy’s breakout role, her performance sets the stage for a complex and captivating story.

As you would expect from a period piece, The Crown spares no expense for the underlying luxury that comes with the station of royalty. Jewels, gowns, pristine white tablecloths, and glamorous parties herald the aristocratic old world charm that surrounds The Crown. Also included are some of the key details that mark the 1950s, including rounded black and white TVs, beautifully sleek black cars, and the constant smoking that pervaded this era.

The Crown is an aesthetically beautiful and emotionally complex story and will give you a newfound respect for the monarchy and the role it plays in British life.

For more on the show, go to https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678
Follow The Crown on Twitter @TheCrownNetflix
Like The Crown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix/

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Erin Richards-Kunkel

The one with the overly-active imagination! Erin is a fan of all things storytelling in every form (movies, books, shows, podcasts, you name it). She is known for always carrying a book in her bag as well as paper and pen (just in case). She is also currently working on her debut YA novel. Find her on Twitter @ErinSRichards!