The Hottest Show on Television: The Crown

Mckenzie Post, Associate Editor

On Sunday, November 15th the highly anticipated Season 4 of the acclaimed series The Crown was released to the excitement of millions of people around the world. So many had been waiting to see the lives of the royal family play out from 1977 through 1990. With this season, the show introduced  popular figures including the infamous first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and a global icon Diana, Princess of Wales. Season 4 explored awaited events such as Diana and Charles’ tragic marriage, the state of the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher’s power, and the growing issues in the country and throughout the royal family. 

 

Tensions are brewing with the Royal Family as many pressures throughout the establishment are wonderfully highlighted in the show. There is a heightened interest among millions of new viewers to the series as Season 4 focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Their relationship and their portrayals were a major highlight of the season that showcased newcomer to the series Emma Corrin’s amazing performance as Diana. Viewers were in awe as she got certain aspects of Diana down such as her voice, her mannerisms, and her famous “Shy Di” look. 

 

The series explores Diana’s inner turmoil as she struggles with feeling unappreciated by the royal family and her now-husband, Charles. The show begins to touch on more sensitive topics such as self-image, eating disorders, and toxic relationships and behaviors. Josh O’Connor revives his role as Prince Charles after playing him wonderfully in Season 3, with viewers finding his performance breathtaking as well. He deals with the pressures of having to find a perfect wife for the establishment he was born into and how he is dealing with his life in the spotlight. We see Diana and Charles’s relationship blossom and come to a crashing halt by the end of the series that takes us through a whirlwind relationship with infidelities including the infamous Camilla Parker-Bowles (Emerald Fennell), power struggles, and tension. 

 

The brilliant Olivia Coleman plays Queen Elizabeth as she finds herself maturing and finding her place as the Queen of England. We see Elizabeth in this season examining her relationships with her husband, Prince Phillip (Tobias Menzies), and her children Princess Anne (Erin Doherty), Prince Edward (Angus Imrie), Prince Charles, and the now-disgraced Prince Andrew (Tom Byrne). There is an episode dedicated to Elizabeth trying to find her “favorite” child as she explores her relationship with each of them only to realize that she doesn’t know much about them at all in the end. This season focuses on her finding her true power and managing her country as well as looking at her personal life and how much she has changed. There also is a major focus on the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and her personal life. Margaret’s story focuses on her addictions that lead to her untimely death, her failed romantic relationships, and her discovery of a major family secret that shakes the royal family to its core. Another highlight of the season that millions of fans were waiting for was the Iron Lady herself—Margaret Thatcher. The incredibly talented Gillian Anderson takes on the tough role of Thatcher who finds herself amid an economic collapse and finds her values being challenged during a dark time in modern-day Britain. Anderson got Thatcher’s very famous mannerisms and attitude completely down you almost start to think it’s Thatcher. 

 

Overall, Season 4 of The Crown is simply stunning from everything to the cinematography and the acting to how they dealt with certain issues. There has been some controversy with the royal family themselves and their advisors over the validity and dramatization of events that could be taken as fact. You know a series is good when it comes to a point where even the Royal Family is paying attention. Everyone should try to explore this amazing series at some point!