Netflix’s most expensive series to date follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II
Americans have a strange fascination with the British royal family—don’t we?
How else could you explain the near-constant press coverage of the late Princess Diana during her time at court? Or the 23 million Americans who tuned in to watch the royal wedding back in 2011? Maybe our fascination comes from the fact that our own country has never had a true royal family—and yes, I count the Kennedys and Kardashians in that statement—that is looked upon as a symbol for the United States and has been idolized as such for hundreds of years. The British royal families, on the other hand, have been scrutinized in so many forms that it’s hard to count them all.
The newest analysis of the royal family, Netflix series “The Crown,” follows a young Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) and her relationships with her country and family. The cast of characters include her father King George VI (Jared Harris, “Mad Men”), sister Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), family friend Winston Churchill (John Lithgow, the lone American in the show) and her husband Prince Philip (Matt Smith, “Doctor Who”). It is said to be the most expensive original program ever funded by the streaming service, with a $130 million price tag attached. As I can safely say after watching all 10 episodes, though, the money is well spent on the screen and in the writing.
While “The Crown” is not something that historians will praise for its “fly-on-the-wall” authenticity, that is not to say that it doesn’t entertain. The show was created by writer Peter Morgan, best known for other royal family media like “The Queen” and “The Audience,” both of which star Helen Mirren as an older Elizabeth, and earned her an Oscar and a Tony, respectively. Morgan’s writing is intriguing and suspenseful; qualities one wouldn’t normally expect from a dramatic biopic series. Sure, I could have known what was going to happen in the next episode by Googling a few key words, but Morgan makes his audience stay, and this endless watchability is at the core of what makes “The Crown” so great.
The actors bring great life to Morgan’s words. Foy and Smith are particularly noteworthy, playing Elizabeth and Philip as a young couple who recognize their duties to country and each other early on, and work on dedicating themselves to both. The standout actor, however, is Lithgow as Churchill. Older British actors (Michael Gambon, Albert Finney, Timothy Spall) have been playing the “greatest Briton in history” for decades, so it’s fascinating that an American was cast for the part.
Most Churchill portrayals are hard-edged and no-nonsense, but Lithgow recognizes that the man himself was a reveler (check out the recent “Drunk History” episode on the Roosevelts for more on this). He makes Churchill’s character a person who appreciates a good joke, but knows when to be serious. There’s a subplot, for example, where Churchill, returning to his office as Prime Minister, meets a new secretary and takes pleasure in joking with her as the series goes on. This subplot in and of itself was one of my favorite parts of the show; it takes an idea that was most likely fictional, and uses it to display a part of a real person we may not have seen.
“The Crown” is an addictive mix of romance, politics, and tradition, and a solid watch for anyone who is the least bit interested in the important lineage taking place across the pond.
