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The Crown (TV series)

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The Crown
Genre
Created byPeter Morgan
Written byPeter Morgan
Starring
Theme music composerHans Zimmer
ComposerRupert Gregson-Williams
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom[1]
  • United States[2]
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersStephen Daldry
Peter Morgan
Production locationUnited Kingdom
Running time54–61 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)

The Crown is an American-British television drama series, created and written by Peter Morgan and produced by Left Bank Pictures for Netflix. The show is a biographical story about the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The first season, comprising 10 one-hour episodes, was released in its entirety on November 4, 2016. Reception to the series was overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising cast performances, direction, writing, cinematography, production values, and relatively accurate historical accounts of Queen Elizabeth's reign. A second season has been commissioned.

Premise

The Crown traces the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to the present day. It is expected to span 60 episodes over six seasons, with Claire Foy playing the Queen in the early part of her reign.[3][4]

The first season depicts events from 1947 to 1955.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Wolferton Splash"Stephen DaldryPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
In 1947, Prince Philip of Denmark and Greece (Matt Smith) gives up his royal titles and all foreign relations in order to be allowed to marry Princess Elizabeth (Claire Foy), heiress presumptive of King George VI (Jared Harris). The couple have two children together, Charles and Anne, and live in Malta, where Philip serves as Lieutenant-Commander of the Royal Navy. In 1951, they return to London when George has to undergo lung surgery; soon after, he learns he has months to live due to a malignant tumor in his remaining lung. In the knowledge he has very little time left with his family and that Elizabeth will soon be Queen, George counsels Philip on how best to assist his wife in the challenge ahead. Meanwhile, Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) is reelected after six years out of government, a move of which George approves.
2"Hyde Park Corner"Stephen DaldryPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
Due to King George's ongoing ill health, Elizabeth and Philip tour the Commonwealth in his place. While they are in Kenya on safari, George is found dead in his bed to the devastation of his wife Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (Victoria Hamilton), his mother Queen Mary (Eileen Atkins), and Elizabeth's sister Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby). In the African bush, Elizabeth is unreachable and the event is spread via radio to the world before she can be informed. Philip breaks the news to his wife, who then returns to the UK to unite with her family in their grief.
3"Windsor"Philip MartinPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
Through flashbacks, the abdication of King Edward (Alex Jennings) is explored. In 1952, Edward, now known by the title of Duke of Windsor, returns to the UK for his brother's funeral. There is deep animosity between the Duke and both his mother, Queen Mary, and sister-in-law Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who he nicknames 'Cookie', in his letters to his wife Wallis (Lia Williams). Elizabeth meets with Churchill and discusses two of Philip's demands: firstly, the family keeps his name of Mountbatten, and secondly, they remain living at Clarence House rather than moving to Buckingham Palace. Churchill is reluctant to bend to either demand, and the counsel of her uncle Edward convinces Elizabeth to drop the requests, to Philip's fury. Churchill also pushes back Elizabeth's coronation to over a year away, which Elizabeth recognises to be to secure his own power against his party, who believe him too old to be Prime Minister.
4"Act of God"Julian JarroldPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
A great smog covers London, which Churchill deems an 'Act of God' and mere weather. People begin dying, including Churchill's favoured secretary Venetia Scott (Kate Phillips), who is hit by a bus due to bad visibility. Elizabeth is pressured to ask Churchill to step down, but is reluctant as royalty does not usually involve itself with the affairs of government. However, with Churchill blamed for the smog and not taking action, she decides to call him to see her. However, Churchill makes an impassioned speech at a hospital after visiting Venetia's body, and Elizabeth changes her mind after the fog clears moments before their meeting. Meanwhile, Philip begins flying lessons from the Royal Family's aide, Group Captain Peter Townsend (Ben Miles).
5"Smoke and Mirrors"Philip MartinPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
Queen Mary dies, prompting the Duke of Windsor to make another return trip. He clashes with Elizabeth's Private Secretary Tommy Lascelles (Pip Torrens) when he asks Edward not to attend the upcoming coronation and informs him that his wife Wallis will not receive an invitation. Elizabeth places Philip in charge of her coronation, and he upsets most of the committee with his insistence that it should be a modern affair, notably deciding to televise the event. He also requests that he should not have to kneel to Elizabeth while she is being crowned, a request which she refuses, causing unrest between the couple about the line between Queen and wife. Elizabeth is crowned at Westminster Abbey, while Edward hosts a viewing of the coronation from his house in Paris.
6"Gelignite"Julian JarroldPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) and Group Captain Peter Townsend (Ben Miles) ask the Queen's permission to marry, but Tommy Lascelles (Pip Torrens) and the Queen Mother (Victoria Hamilton) are against it. A newspaper gets wind of the story, and starts publishing articles about the relationship. The Queen originally promises to support Margaret, but on reflection explains that it must wait until Margaret is 25, thanks to the Royal Marriages Act 1772. Elizabeth and Philip take Peter with them on a trip to Northern Ireland to show their support, before he is due to head to Brussels on duty. But the popularity shown to Peter by the press and public causes Tommy Lascelles to recommend that the posting to Brussels happen early, before Margaret returns from a trip to Southern Rhodesia. This affects the Queen's relationship with her sister forever.
7"Scientia Potentia Est"Benjamin CaronPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
8"Pride & Joy"Philip MartinPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
With Elizabeth and Philip away on a stressful tour of the Commonwealth, Margaret takes on more royal engagements with mixed results. The Queen Mother goes to Scotland to reflect on her new position in the Royal Family, and ends up buying a castle. Elizabeth (King George's pride) and Margaret (King George's joy) declare their mutual envy.
9"Assassins"Benjamin CaronPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)
Philip begins spending more and more time out of the house, while Elizabeth begins to spend more and more time with her old friend Porchey, a horse manager and old friend of the Royal Family who many had expected and even arranged for Elizabeth to marry. As tension arises, including Elizabeth having a direct line put in for Porchey to call Buckingham Palace, the two have an angry confrontation, which leads to Elizabeth telling Philip afterwards that, despite the fact a marriage with Porchey was more desired and perhaps would have even worked out better, the only person she had ever loved in her entire life was Philip. Following a moving speech at a dinner at Downing Street for Churchill's 80th birthday, Philip silently apologises to Elizabeth, but the tension continues. Graham Sutherland (Stephen Dillane) paints Churchill's portrait for his 80th birthday.
10"Gloriana"Philip MartinPeter MorganNovember 4, 2016 (2016-11-04)

Production

Development

Peter Morgan, who wrote the 2006 film The Queen and the 2013 stage play The Audience, is the main scriptwriter for The Crown.[11] The directors of the television series who were also involved in the stage production are Stephen Daldry, Philip Martin, Julian Jarrold, and Benjamin Caron.[12] The first 10-part season was the most expensive drama produced by Netflix and Left Bank Pictures to date, costing at least £100 million.[13][14][15] A second season was commissioned and began production before the first season was released.[16][17]

Filming

Filming took place in South Africa[18] and the United Kingdom including Hatfield House and The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, which was used for the London Docks scenes in the third and fourth episodes.[19]

Historical accuracy

The show has been interpreted by some as perpetuating the myth that The Queen and Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden forced Princess Margaret to give up the idea of marrying Group Captain Peter Townsend. In reality, evidence shows they produced a plan to remove the hurdle holding up the marriage. In contradiction to the TV dramatization this plan would have allowed Princess Margaret to keep her royal title and her civil list allowance, stay in the country and even continue with her public duties. Instead of opposing the marriage, Eden summed up the Queen's attitude in a letter to the Commonwealth prime ministers: "Her Majesty would not wish to stand in the way of her sister's happiness." Whereas in the dramatization The Queen is seen telling her sister that if she marries Townsend before the age of twenty-five, she will no longer be a member of the family because of the Royal Marriages Act 1772.[20]

Release

The series' first two episodes were released theatrically in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2016.[21] The first season was released worldwide in its entirety on November 4, 2016.[22][23]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Powerful performances and lavish cinematography make The Crown a top-notch production worthy of its grand subject."[24] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 81 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[25]

The Guardian's TV critic Lucy Mangan praised the series and said, "Netflix can rest assured that its £100m gamble has paid off. This first series, about good old British phlegm from first to last, is the service's crowning achievement so far."[26] Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Ben Lawrence said, "The Crown is a PR triumph for The Windsors, a compassionate piece of work that humanises them in a way that has never been seen before. It is a portrait of an extraordinary family, an intelligent comment on the effects of the constitution on their personal lives and a fascinating account of postwar Britain all rolled into one."[27] Chief television critic Jaci Stephen of The Mail on Sunday lauded the series and said, "Faultless is the only word for The Crown with its exquisite writing and magnificent acting."[28] Writing for The Boston Globe, Matthew Gilbert lauded the series saying, "The show, created and written by Peter Morgan of The Queen and Frost/Nixon is thoroughly engaging, gorgeously shot, beautifully acted, rich in the historical events of postwar England, and designed with a sharp eye to psychological nuance.[29] Vicki Hyman of The Star-Ledger said, "A sumptuous, stately but never dull look inside the life of Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy)."[30] The A.V. Club's Gwen Ihnat said, "The Crown easily rises far above, adding a cinematic quality to a complex and intricate time for an intimate family. The performers and creators are seemingly up for the task."[31]

The Wall Street Journal critic Dorothy Rabinowitz said, "We're clearly meant to see the duke as a wastrel with heart. It doesn’t quite come off—Mr. Jennings is far too convincing as an empty-hearted scoundrel—but it's a minor flaw in this superbly sustained work."[32] Television critic Robert Lloyd writing for Los Angeles Times said, "As television it's excellent—beautifully mounted, movingly played and only mildly melodramatic."[33] Hank Stuever of The Washington Post also reviewed the series positively, "Pieces of The Crown are more brilliant on their own than they are as a series, taken in as shorter, intently focused films like The Queen and another Morgan achievement, the play and film versions of and Frost/Nixon."[34] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times said, "This is a thoughtful series that lingers over death rather than using it for shock value; one that finds its story lines in small power struggles rather than gruesome palace coups.".[35] The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg reviewed the series positively and said, "The first chapter of Peter Morgan's chronicle of the rule of Queen Elizabeth II remains gripping across the entirety of the 10 episodes made available to critics, finding both emotional heft in Elizabeth's youthful ascension and unexpected suspense in matters of courtly protocol and etiquette."[36] Other publications such as USA Today,[37] Indiewire,[38] The Atlantic,[39] CNN,[40] Variety,[41] all reviewed the series positively.

Some were more critical towards the show, in a less enthusiastic review for Time magazine, Daniel D'Addario wrote, "The show will be compared to Downton Abbey, but that late soap opera was able to invent a historical or at least unexpected notes, Foy [Clair] struggles mightily, but she's given little: Avoiding her children, her husband, and her subjects in favor of meetings at which she either acquiesces to her advisors or puts off acquiescing until fifteen minutes later, The Crown's Elizabeth is more than unknowable. She's a bore".[42] Vulture's Matt Zoller Seitz quipped, "The Crown never entirely figures out how to make the political and domestic drama genuinely dramatic, much less bestow complexity on characters outside England’s innermost circle."[43] Verne Gay of Newsday said, "Sumptuously produced but glacially told, The Crown is the TV equivalent of a long drive through the English countryside. The scenery keeps changing, but remains the same."[44] Slate magazine's Willa Paskin, expressed "It will scratch your period drama itch—and leave you itchy for action."[45] Writing for The Mail on Sunday, Hugo Vickers, an English royal historian was of the opinion that "while [The Crown] certainly holds the attention, it is marred by a series of sensationalist errors and some quite remarkable lapses into vulgarity."[46]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2017 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Drama Series The Crown Pending [47]
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series John Lithgow Pending
Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Jared Harris Pending

See also

References

  1. ^ "Netflix plans original UK drama about the Queen - BBC News". BBC.
  2. ^ "The Crown: Claire Foy and Matt Smith on the making of the £100m Netflix series". Telegraph. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Leane, Rob (June 19, 2015). "The Crown: Matt Smith nabs role in Netflix drama". Den of Geek. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Singh, Anita (August 19, 2015). "£100m Netflix Series Recreates Royal Wedding". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Trailers for Netflix series 'The Crown,' and 'The Get Down'". Geeks of Doom. January 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Lloyd, Kenji (January 7, 2016). "The Crown trailer: First look at Peter Morgan's Netflix drama". Final Reel. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (August 21, 2015). "Why Britain's psyche is gripped by a different kind of royal fever". The Guardian. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  8. ^ Patrick Munn (October 5, 2015). "Netflix's 'The Crown' adds Greg Wise as series regular". TV Wise. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  9. ^ "Paul Sheridan filming Netflix's The Crown". International Artists Management. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  10. ^ John Gruccio (January 6, 2016). "The trailer for Netflix's royal drama series, "The Crown"". TMStash. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  11. ^ "Netflix plans original UK drama about the Queen". BBC News. May 23, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  12. ^ "The Crown is a 'game changer for British drama'". Telegraph. October 17, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "The Crown: the Royal family are 'nervous' about Netflix's new £100 million series". The Telegraph. July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  14. ^ Anthony Couto (June 19, 2015). "Matt Smith starring in Netflix series, The Crown". IGN. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  15. ^ "Bugget". Dailymail.
  16. ^ "Netflix's glittering Crown could leave BBC looking a little dull". TheGuardian. November 4, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  17. ^ "The Crown is a 'game changer for British drama'". Telegraph. November 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Netflix period drama The Crown filmed on location throughout the UK and South Africa | The Location Guide". www.thelocationguide.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  19. ^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office The Crown Article".
  20. ^ Paul Reynolds (19 November 2016). "Did the Queen stop Princess Margaret marrying Peter Townsend?". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  21. ^ "The Crown [Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2] (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  22. ^ Dylan Kickham (April 11, 2016). "Matt Smith's Netflix drama The Crown gets premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  23. ^ "Claire Foy and Matt Smith face the challenges of royal life in new extended trailer for Netflix drama The Crown". RadioTimes. September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  24. ^ "The Crown: Season 1 (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  25. ^ "The Crown:Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  26. ^ Mangan, Lucy (November 4, 2016). "Netflix's 'The Crown' bows to the queen". The Guardian. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Lawrence, Ben (November 2, 2016). "The Crown, spoiler-free review: Netflix's astonishing £100 million gamble pays off". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Stephen, Jaci (November 2, 2016). "A royal feast... now just watch me binge! Faultless is the only word for The Crown with its exquisite writing and magnificent acting". The Mail on Sunday. The Daily Mail. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (November 3, 2016). "Netflix's 'The Crown' bows to the queen". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Hyman, Vicki (November 3, 2016). "'The Crown' review: 'Downton Abbey' fans, meet your new (and better) obsession". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Ihnat, Gwen (November 2, 2016). "The Crown is a visually sumptuous family drama fit for a queen". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Rabinowitz, Dorothy (November 3, 2016). "'The Crown' Review: The Making of Elizabeth II". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ LIoyd, Robert (September 20, 2016). "Netflix's 'The Crown' is a winning tale of royals and the weight of tradition". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 September 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Stuever, Hank (November 2, 2016). "Netflix's 'The Crown' is best when viewed like separate little movies". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Neil, Neil (November 2, 2016). "Review: Netflix Does Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Crown,' No Expense Spared". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (November 1, 2016). "'The Crown': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 5, 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Bianco, Robert (November 4, 2016). "Review: 'The Crown' is sumptuous miniseries with stellar cast". USA Today. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ Travers, Ben (November 2, 2016). "'The Crown' Review: Netflix Period Drama Came to Reign in Made-To-Order Emmys Contender". Indiewire. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ Sims, David (November 2, 2016). "The Crown Is a Sweeping, Sumptuous History Lesson". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  40. ^ Lowry, Brian (November 2, 2016). "'The Crown' regally explores reign of Queen Elizabeth". CNN. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ Ryan, Maureen (November 2, 2016). "TV Review: 'The Crown'". Variety. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (November 4, 2016). "Review: Netflix's The Crown Makes the Most of an Unknowable Queen". Time. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (November 2, 2016). "Netflix's The Crown Is Tedious, But Anglophiles Will Like It". New York (magazine). Vulture. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ Gay, Verne (November 4, 2016). "The Crown Review: Queen Elizabeth Story Falls Flat". Newsday. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  45. ^ Paskin, Willa (November 3, 2016). "Netflix's sumptuous $100 million drama about the British monarchy delivers exactly what it promises. That isn't enough". Slate. Retrieved November 7, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  46. ^ Hugo Vickers (16 October 2016). "With a £100million budget Netflix's eagerly-anticipated new show The Crown is the most lavish biopic ever, says royal expert HUGO VICKERS, but it's marred by sensationalist errors and some remarkable lapses into vulgarity". The Mail on Sunday. London. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  47. ^ "HBO LEADS TELEVISION NOMINATIONS FOR THE 22ND ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS WITH 22 NOMINATIONS". November 14, 2016.
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