‘The Crown’ Premiere: What Works, What Needs Work
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. And heavy is the duty of the person married to her.
The Crown, Netflix’s lavish, gorgeous, sumptuous royal drama, undertakes the ambitious task of telling the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The first season focuses on the early years of her rule, with the premiere beginning even before she ascended the throne.
The show, created by Peter Morgan, is an intimate, finely drawn portrait of a young woman who’s about to be thrust into a highly public position of great expectations and responsibilities. Elizabeth (Claire Foy) was just 21 when she married Philip (Matt Smith) and 26 when her father, King George VI (Jared Harris), died.
The premiere focuses on Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding and the first year or so of their marriage. It introduces key players, hints at dramatic events to unfold, and provides a glimpse of the woman who would become the longest-reigning monarch in Britain. Here’s what works about The Crown pilot — and what needs works.
What Works
The rumor is that Netflix spent $130 million on The Crown, making it perhaps the most expensive television series in history. The money is certainly on the screen in the premiere — the set dressing, the period details, the eye-popping costumes. The show is certainly a feast for the eyes, and for period drama lovers missing Downton Abbey, a gift from the TV gods.
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But beautiful production design isn’t enough to make a show great. The Crown could easily have fallen into the trap of seeming stilted and cold. Luckily, the top-notch actors bring warmth and vitality to their performances. Elizabeth can be a bit of a cipher, but Foy projects an appealing earnestness and vulnerability. Philip is a bigger, more outsize character, and you can see the passion and pride simmering in Smith’s eyes.
Seriously, everyone is good, from Harris as the clearly dying king; Vanessa Kirby as Elizabeth’s feisty sister, Princess Margaret; and, most particularly, John Lithgow as aging, beloved Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
A drama about royals might seem stuffy, but Morgan’s writing feels fresh and relatable. Yes, she may be a future queen, but Elizabeth has to deal with marital issues and a vivacious, rebellious sister. And she may wear a crown, but it’s a job — and one that comes with a steep learning curve and a huge amount of pressure.
What Needs Work
To be honest, not a lot happens. The pilot is busy introducing everyone and their relationship to one another, all while hinting at the future. There is a bit of fast-forwarding too: Elizabeth and Philip get married, have two children (Charles and Anne), and ship off to Malta for his naval career in less than 20 minutes. The biggest “event” of the premiere episode is the chain-smoking King George’s undergoing surgery to remove his diseased lung.
That’s not to say The Crown should be packed with drama just for the sake of it. But the premiere is a bit slow. Likely, once Elizabeth becomes queen, the pace will pick up, considering what we already know about her reign.
The only other thing we’d like more of is interaction with commoners. There’s a lovely scene on Christmas at Sandringham, where village carolers move King George to tears. A queen doesn’t rule in a vacuum; she has subjects, so let’s see them.
All 10 episodes of The Crown are currently streaming on Netflix.
