The Crown: A Dramatic Exploration of the British Monarchy

The Groundbreaking Journey

The Crown broke new ground in dramatizing the British monarchy, with certain chapters reaching impressive emotional heights through stellar performances and writing. The Netflix drama concluded after six seasons, serving as one of television’s most talked-about, yet uneven shows when reimagining pivotal 20th century British history.

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana's

Debuting in 2016, creator Peter Morgan instantly won acclaim for assembling A-list talent and pairing feature film-scale production spotlighting intimate depths within the iconic royal family. However, though pioneering in its approach of recasting all characters every two seasons between backdrop-shifting historical eras, this framework also spelled unevenness between stellar standouts versus flatter installments.

The queen meeting jackie kennedy in The Crown season 2

As the cast of The Crown became more famous over the years and reactions became more heated, debates continued over each season's strengths and weaknesses. Some shone as triumphs of great acting and writing, while others missed the mark with overdone melodrama lacking narrative focus. Analyzing all six installments illuminates what creative factors distinguished excellent intimate drama from episodes bogged down by excessive theatrics.

Diana on her wedding day in The Crown season 4

Season 6: Redundancy and Melodrama

While season 6 of The Crown may be the saddest of the series, it falls short due to its melodramatic characterization of key figures and the repetitive emphasis on foreshadowing Princess Diana’s imminent death. Portrayals intended to be gripping come off as clichéd and soap opera-esque. For example, Mohamed Al-Fayed is depicted as a sneering villain who manipulates his son and Diana’s romance for personal gain. The season also leans heavily on dramatic cliches when exploring the Al-Fayed father-son relationship. Even scenes following Prince Charles and his public relations lack the show’s signature nuance and realism, instead resorting to overt scheming and pronouncements like “This is war!”

Charles and Diana in The Crown season 5

Typically, The Crown’s strong suit lies in intimately imagining private moments that humanize the royals against the odds. However, this season remains chained to the impending tragedy of Diana’s death. The show’s constant foreshadowing of her looming fate, from repetitive metaphors about paparazzi to Diana herself referring to her marriage as a “landmine,” diminishes the show’s usual tone of authenticity in favor of melodrama. While covering Diana’s history remains an essential task, the redundant back-and-forth between her and Charles quickly grows tiresome. Regrettably, the predictable build-up reduces her shocking end to a ticking clock, instead of focusing on the show’s exceptional exploration of Buckingham Palace’s inner world.

Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed kiss while on a yacht in The Crown season 6.

Season 5: A Rehashing of Events

Despite season 5 of The Crown needing a disclaimer, the show treads lightly in humanizing Charles, but continues to skim over the public outrage around his infidelity. His infamous phone call with Camilla is depicted, but so is the couple’s enduring support throughout the controversy. Diana receives no such generous treatment or deeper context, with the show doubling down on her Bashir interview aftermath rather than introducing mitigating facts. Ultimately, this season feels rushed and oddly intent on rewriting history to apologize for the royals.

Oliva Coleman as The Queen in The Crown season 3

In addition to the season's pitfalls, its portrayal of female characters proves particularly weak, seeming to cast aside their complexity for dull or even vicious stereotypes. The show has tended to favor its male perspectives and characters over the years, but hits a new extreme this season. In contrast, the moments exploring what The Crown represents in difficult times prove more compelling. Using a literal fire threatening the palace as a metaphor, the show questions the ongoing relevance and public mandate of the monarchy itself. Compared to some contemporary fictional takes on the same pivotal historical era, season 5 of The Crown struggles to match their artistry.

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth Deep in Thought in The Crown Season 6 Part 1 Ending