★★★★
Queen Elizabeth II's reign continues through the late 1960s to mid-1970s chronicling Britain's economic crises and continued tensions growing within the Royal Family.
Episodes: 10 Classification: 15 Channel: Netflix
In Britain the monarchy seems absolute, The Queen has been a staple of the world stage longer than most of us have been alive, witnessing how the world has radically changed since the time of her father King George and his prime ministers. The Queen and all she represents is widely beloved, in times of growing democracy autocracy, the British people still hold great affection for their monarch and what she represents for the country. Her majesty and the monarchy are the bedrock of this country, a theme which showrunner Peter Morgan touches upon in many episodes but what is fascinating about this returning season of The Crown is how it continues to show how fragile that foundation really is.
The times are a-changing, with the era of British imperialism and exceptionalism fading fast with the deaths of stalwarts Winston Churchill and the Duke of Windsor heralding an inescapable change. Time and age, with Claire Foy and Matt Smith's incredible performances replaced by the astounding Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. The transition was seamless and the show makes a point that these changes are out of the control of the characters and the audiences, time goes on despite every effort to stop it. Colman gives the role beautiful grace in how Elizabeth is still a character in reflection of what brought her to the throne and how she doubts her strength, a natural evolution from Foy's work with the character. That can be said with every new performance, a natural progression from what has come before with Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter and Charles Dance being incredible highlights of the season as they effortlessly embody their characters.
Despite the time that has passed much of season 3 of The Crown seems to be repeating itself in its thematic structures with the storylines of the Monarchy's place in Britain's changing society, Phillip's insecurities, Margaret's volatility, and Elizabeth's existentialism continuing from the previous seasons. Much like season 2, the structure this time is far more episodic than serialized, with individual episodes exploring singular characters and events but allowing for more grander storylines for newer characters. Josh O'Connor joining the cast as Prince Charles who gives incredible humanity and humility to his character with his episodes exploring how monarchy moulds the man rather than vice versa. Edward's abdication is still a spectre that haunts the halls and castles with Elizabeth, Phillip and Mountbatten doing what they must to keep Charles in line from his more individualistic thinking. Whether it be his growing relationship with Camilla Shand or his personal feelings about his investiture as Prince of Wales. Jason Watkins as Prime Minister Harold Wilson is another fantastic addition, again displaying the unique relationship between the two leadership positions. Wilson is the latest in the revolving door of men that comprise the "confederacy of elected quitters" but unlike his predecessors, he is the first Labour government Prime Minister of Elizabeth's reign.
Many episodes deal in separate instances the connection between government and monarchy as Wilson and Elizabeth both have to make compromises in ensuring Britain's survival in the rapidly changing world. Facing continuing economic crises which causes further reliance on American aid, along with internal crises which force both views to come to loggerheads. It's a dance of the two beliving that their beliefs are opposed to one another but them soon finding common ground that Elizabeth finds Wilson's liberal beliefs admirable and Wilson himself becoming a protective force to the monarch as public view sours. The old world of Kings and crowns represented by men like Lithgow's Churchill and Dance's Mountbatten has died, with episodes depicting the fall of Greece's monarchy and ideas of Welsh nationalism, the certainty of the Monarchy is no longer secure even with Elizabeth's growing seniority.
The idea of what holds it all together remains one of The Crown's most interesting facets, it's more than just dramatic recreations of private moments or acknowledging historical events (this season seeing the Aberfan disaster and Moon Landing get episodic spotlights) but the very notion what the Crown does to a person. Seeing Elizabeth change from Foy to Colman goes beyond age but deeper into how the role of Monarch has transformed this young woman. Standout episodes focusing on Bonham Carter's Margaret and Josh O'Connor's Charles display with tragedy how Elizabeth must work against their personal desires and have them conform to the Monarchy standard. The season continues to ask if this is to the Monarchy's benefit and whether the memory of the abdication can fade and allow more modern ideas to come through but alas everyone including Elizabeth must submit to the institution.
With time going by many of the characters are at introspective crossroads both young and old and while Morgan's show shouldn't be taken as historical fact, the personal insights both the writing and performances give to these individuals can be breathtaking. Tobias Menzies' performances as Phillip is remarkable with scenes exploring his complicated family history, strenuous fears of his role in the world and the love he shares with Elizabeth. Colman and Menzies as the older couple show how their bond has strengthened since their tumultuous youth but there is a tragedy in seeing their youthful vigour within their children Charles and Anne and seeing how they now do what their detractors did to them. It's the old ways against the new and vice versa and that safety of the past can never be regained. You become yearnful for that bright smile of Foy and the security of King George and Winston Churchill not because of the show's quality but in how this season captures that uncertainty that the future held, if "Great" Britain was truly a thing of the past.
This season continues the immaculate cinematography and production design in every episode, capturing the brief human beauties in the bleak and cool colour scheme. Large empty halls or the beauty of the Welsh coast, everything feels real but captured by this sheen of memory, all grace to the humanities buried within the histories. Not just to the Royals but many other characters Watkins' Wilson, Tim McMullan's Robin Woods or Mark Lewis Jones as Edward Millward, a Welsh nationalist who taught Charles the language before his ceremony. It truly feels like a time machine at times and the quality will appeal to both fans of history and monarchy alike even if The Crown has to take its creative liberties at times.
It may feel like more of the same but the genius of this season is playing into that fatigue of middle age not only of the main characters but of the show itself. Not everything is perfect and trying to recapture the original magic is impossible and episodes make a clear point of the futility to that goal. It allows The Crown to feel more reflective of itself as it is a symbiosis of show and character contemplating their own legacies. While hindsight may answer some questions put forth in historical context there is still plenty of intrigue from how the cast captures the intimacy in their vulnerabilities. The times have changed and they'll continue to change, the Monarchy still endures but not without the scars from its contemporary rebirth from decades of protocols fighting against inescapable modernisation. The Crown continues to be an exciting captivating examination of Britain's transformation over the 20th century through its oldest institution fighting to stay relevant and may its creative flair continue to reign with such confidence.
Created By: #PeterMorgan
Main Cast: #OliviaColman, #TobiasMenzies, #HelenaBonhamCarter, #BenDaniels, #JasonWatkins, #MarionBailey, #ErinDoherty, #JaneLapotaire, #CharlesDance, #JoshOConnor, #GeraldineChaplin, #MichaelMaloney, #EmeraldFennell, #AndrewBuchan
Release Date: November 17th 2019
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images from the Internet Movie Database
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