The Crown: Season 1 [DVD] [2017]

For Edward VIII, love before duty - he abdicating in 1936. Now thrust into the spotlight, a branch of the family never wishing to be there. Gradually the public warmed towards stuttering, homeloving George VI - he trying so hard to do what was right. Far earlier than expected, it became the turn of Elizabeth - she movingly having pledged her life to serving her people, duty before all.Tellingly portrayed here is a monarch (main passions family and horses) straitjacketed by protocol - the Establishment of old and ailing decreeing what she can and cannot do. (At one point she chides her mother for an education which has been an irrelevance, she in so many ways unprepared for what is now expected.) Love of her life is Philip (their marriage opposed by the powers that be). He is one increasingly disenchanted by what he calls "the circus", enforced restrictions rendering him little more than a royal appendage. (Matt Smith declares he initially was no fan of the Duke but came increasingly to admire the man on discovering what he had to endure.)Much food for thought here, also much to admire. Claire Foy impresses as Elizabeth - ever mindful of what is required of her, forthright when the occasion demands. John Lithgow makes a convincing Churchill, so doggedly clinging on to power. Alex Jennings is great, completing here a royal hat trick (Charles in "The Queen", Albert's real father in "Victoria", now the Duke of Windsor - legendary charm so often replaced by vitriol at how treated since he quit the throne).Incidental pleasures abound - the Queen Mother in Scotland, Churchill's scenes with artist Sutherland. For those alive at the time memories will be evoked by Episode 4, a dramatic reminder of when days of smog caused so many deaths.Ten hour long episodes. Bonuses disappointingly limited to a photo gallery."The Crown" well deserves the acclaim given - conflict between love and duty throughout a concern, it now Margaret's turn to choose.Many may emerge with greater respect for those who have sacrificed so much. Understanding grows for those due to inherit, major adjustments needed to render the Monarchy more relevant.

Expensive looking series, great costumes and sets, good acting IMO and not a sign that I can see of this 'woke'/revisionist history nonsense that is plaguing the media nowadays. Now I ought to say that it is a drama, not a documentary. Because of this the screenwriters have to work around the basic known facts but fill in the details as they see fit. This means that clearly a great deal of the dialogue is an interpretation of what happened. I see nothing wrong with this and can't imagine that there's a practical alternative anyway.There are a good variety of sub-plots - historical characters and events - and the plot is interspersed with flasbacks to earlier times and events - all to put things into context for the viewer.It's all plausible though, to the average viewer with a reasonable knowledge of history and that's the main thing. I also ought to say the casting people have done quite well to make the actors/actresses look like the person they are playing - well done. I liked it well enough to go out and buy Season II !

Great watch

Wow, what a wonderful insight as well as gripping story. I was engaged, charmed, sympathetic and felt invited into the 'firm' almost right away.From the first episode, it is a detailed, well managed, intimate view of the crown (George VI as well). It looks at many things around it and how it all works together. It was a revelation, even to someone who thought he'd a fair to middling knowledge already (though not an insider). It has public landmarks to hang its narrative from. It addresses all the challenges and crises you may already know about and a few domestic rough patches, that you almost certainly don't.If I had two criticisms:- There is missing the detail of some big characters, deeply human and strong genuine friendships, between some of the secondary characters.- And palace anecdotes that are perhaps classic but merely fun seem not to have had much space left to them.Nothing is simple, so it takes great skill to show things without over-simplifying them and 'The Crown' manages it VERY well. So my criticism is more a cost of the more important focus the director has chosen, than anything that could have been done better. .

Gripping drama, gorgeous costumes, plenty of political as well as Windsor family intrigue. A kind of upmarket soap opera. At the end of each episode, there is usually a sentence or two to explain how things ended up when the episode contained details of real life events.The acting in most cases was very good, it made it easy to believe that one was watching a true record rather than a drama.I wish though that some graphic details had been omitted e.g. King George VI coughing up blood. Being of a squeamish disposition, I had to fast forward a bit.

From beginning to end this whole series is a triumph. The quality of the writing, the costumes and sets, the attention to creating the atmosphere of the times is all first rate, whilst the acting is so very good. Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary and Alex Jennings as the Duke of Windsor are consistent scene stealers whilst John Lithgow is first rate as Churchill. Everything however, hinges on how successfully the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen are portrayed and both Claire Foy and Matt Smith deserve every plaudit they have received. In particular it is a complete tour de force from Claire Foy - you know she's an actress, in essentially a work of fiction, but she is just so good you almost completely suspend disbelief. Now for season two!