by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
Some will lament the show’s supposed political leanings or historical oversights, but The Crown is best enjoyed when viewed for what it is: an incredibly well-produced soap opera with terrific performances and a stupidly high production value.
Though unquestionably a step down from the previous four seasons, the fifth season of The Crown remains highly watchable due to its marvelous ensemble cast. Once one gets past the customary two-to-three episode recasting adjustment period, it is difficult not to be won over by these incredible performers. The Crown might contain the greatest collection of British actors outside the Harry Potter series, and anyone who has seen the show can attest that the 17 acting Emmy nominations (including seven wins) the show has received thus far are entirely earned.
Those familiar with Imelda Staunton’s work outside of the Harry Potter series in films like Vera Drake know that it is no exaggeration to call her one of our greatest living actors. Though her role as Queen Elizabeth II may not give her the opportunity to show off quite as much as one would like, Staunton nevertheless acts as a steady rock for the show and a more-than-worthy successor to the unforgettable performances given by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman in the show’s previous seasons. Amusingly, when asked what advice Colman would give to the next actor to play the Queen, she simply replied, “I wouldn’t. It’s Imelda Staunton.”
Season Fives’s Phillip and Margaret are given expectedly professional performances from veterans Jonathan Pryce and Lesley Manville, the latter of whom gets the most impressive acting moment of the entire season, when she presses Elizabeth on her past treatment of Margaret’s relationship with Peter Townsend (Timothy Dalton). Dominic West, though physically unlike then-Prince Charles in nearly every way, so strongly manifests the struggle of the Crown’s tug-of-war between tradition and progress that the dissimilarities in appearance quickly become irrelevant.
As excellent as the entire season’s ensemble may be, no actor rises to the occasion quite like the remarkable Elizabeth Debicki, whose portrayal of Princess Diana is nothing short of a revelation. Despite the surprising number of depictions of Diana in recent years, Debicki manages to perfectly replicate the Princess’s trademark mannerisms in a way that feels true to the real-life Diana, without feeling like a Saturday Night Live impression.
Finally, in an understated but admirably sympathetic performance of Prime Minister John Major, Jonny Lee Miller remains one of the most unexpected highlights of the season. Major acts as a stabilizing force between Charles, Diana, the Queen, and a host of other Royal personalities as he calmly engages them all in thoughtful, measured conversation.
Unfortunately, for as many compelling character moments and story beats as screenwriter Peter Morgan delivers, Season Five remains a minor disappointment given how revelatory The Crown was in its first four seasons. Every episode felt remarkable in the show’s early days, and one would leave each season with a small handful of standout episodes — Season One’s “Hyde Park Corner” or Season Three’s “Aberfan” and “Tywysog Cymru” immediately come to mind. This latest 10-episode installment has no such standouts, leading to a season that feels sadly unremarkable when compared to the excellence that came before it. Even so, a below-average season of The Crown remains better than the vast majority of television shows today, making it impossible not to recommend to fans of the show.
Score: 7/10
The Crown is currently streaming on Netflix
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