The Crown's Final Season Shines Light on Princess Diana
The Crown's final season disappoints, shifting focus to Princess Diana As the series delves into more recent events, it loses its regal allure The disjointed fifth season is followed by a tabloid-like sixth, leaving the acclaimed Netflix drama slightly bruised as it approaches its end
Blaming either the subject matter or the disparity between recent events and those from decades ago, "The Crown" concludes with its weakest season yet, following a disjointed fifth season with a sixth that leans more towards tabloid-esque rather than regal. After winning numerous Emmys with its previous cast, the Netflix drama appears poised to finish with a last-minute struggle, albeit slightly wounded.
Divided into two parts, the initial four episodes of the final season primarily focus on two relationships in the aftermath of a world-shaking divorce. However, due to the audience's awareness of what lies ahead, there is an almost grim undertone to this set of episodes, particularly exacerbated by the framing device employed by writer-producer Peter Morgan and his subsequent moments of imagination.
While the cast is still splendid, the spotlight inevitably falls on Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) as she embarks on a romance with the wealthy heir Dodi Fayed (Khalid Abdalla), who, despite being engaged, is encouraged by his authoritarian father Mohamed Al Fayed (Salim Daw) to pursue her. The elder man views the princess as a valuable asset, one that will bring the family a level of respect that has eluded them, despite their wealth.
Meanwhile, in a cringe-worthy moment, Charles (Dominic West) practically begs his mother (Imelda Staunton) to attend the 50th birthday party he is organizing for Camilla (Olivia Williams). He realizes that the presence of the Queen would greatly help validate his partner in the eyes of a skeptical public.
Elizabeth and Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce) have become increasingly out of touch with the modern requirements of the monarchy and are unable to conceal their annoyance over the consequences of their son's actions. On the other hand, Charles, who is treated with more generosity in Season 5, acknowledges that he is engaged in a public relations battle with his former partner and asserts to his advisers, "This is war," before adopting a more measured approach.
Fflyn Edwards as Prince Harry, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Rufus Kampa as Prince William in "The Crown" Season 6.
Daniel Escale/Netflix
Diana witnesses her charitable efforts overshadowed by the excessive attention given to her personal life. The show also explores how the allure of financial gain, fueled by astronomical prices paid for her pictures, ultimately led to her demise. This tragic event implicates numerous individuals, including the public who avidly consumed this coverage before shifting to mourning.
The issue, for those who were alive and conscious in 1997, is that we have seen similar narratives unfold previously - perhaps in various forms such as documentaries and even a musical. While "The Crown" remains meticulous in its attention to detail, the nuanced portrayals of the Royals in recent seasons occasionally veer towards exaggerated representations, a characterization that also applies to the pressure exerted by Mohamed Al Fayed on his son.
"The Crown" initially captivated audiences by skillfully portraying fascinating periods of British history, delving into a new decade with each season and providing an intimate glimpse into the lives of the most privileged individuals on Earth.
However, the fifth season premiered shortly after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, somewhat overshadowing its flaws. Whether it is the fault of the Royals or the filmmakers, the once-glowing reputation of "The Crown" has lost some of its shine, despite maintaining its impeccably composed characters and stiff upper lip demeanor.
"The Crown" begins its sixth season November 16 on Netflix. The final six episodes will premiere on December 14.
