In a cinematic odyssey spanning six seasons and encapsulating the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to the early 2000s, ‘The Crown’ gracefully exits the stage. While the initial part of Season 2 focused on the final days of Princess Diana, the latter delves into the intricacies of young Prince William, the Royal Family’s losses, preparations for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the union of Charles and Camilla, and Tony Blair’s premiership. However, compared to the series’ previous intensity, this segment feels somewhat subdued.
Regal Performances, Sluggish Closure
Directed by May el-Toukhy, Erik Richter Strand, Alex Gabassi, and Stephen Daldry, the final episodes boast stellar performances from Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville as the Queen and Princess Margaret. Despite this, the conclusion of ‘The Crown’ seems to drag on, grappling with the monarchy’s struggle against public opinion. The series pins its hopes on the romantic saga between Prince William (Ed McVey) and Kate Middleton (Meg Bellamy) during William’s teenage fervor in the early 2000s.
As we navigate through the closing chapters, it becomes evident that the series, once a captivating portrayal of historical events, faces challenges in maintaining its earlier allure. The opulent period piece aesthetic, once a hallmark, loses its luster within the palace confines. The creative decisions, including the incorporation of ghosts, attempt to inject fresh energy but fall short of recapturing the captivating essence of the earlier seasons.
Fading Glamour in the Present
As ‘The Crown’ approaches contemporary times, its allure diminishes. The opulent period piece aesthetic loses its luster within the palace confines, relying on creative decisions like incorporating ghosts. Notably, the standout episode in Season 6, Part 2, gracefully oscillates between golden memories of the past and the stark reality of the present, recapturing the opulence that defined the earlier seasons.
History-Adjacent Brilliance
One of ‘The Crown’s’ marketing strengths has been its approach to historical events. Throughout its six seasons, it traversed significant moments, from the Great Smog of London to the Falklands War. Unfortunately, the final part of Season 6, Part 2 minimizes its engagement with historical events, focusing predominantly on palace drama and the love story unfolding in the University of St Andrew’s in Scotland.
The major world history moments of Season 6, Part 2 are largely channeled through Blair (Bertie Carvel, who survives an extremely gaudy use of surrealism in episode 2). The season travels through the wars in Kosovo and Iraq, the September 11 attacks, and the investigation into Diana’s death. To answer the “will they do it?” question for this season, yes, The Crown includes scenes of Prince Harry wearing the Nazi costume and the fallout — and instead of the Duke of Sussex’s own version of the story from Spare (in which both William and Kate allegedly encouraged him to wear it), The Crown has William egging Harry on but has Kate showing concern. It’s an uncomfortable series of events.
The Pinnacle: Episode 8, “Ritz”
Amidst episodes centered on a mourning William and Blair’s critique of the monarchy’s financial excess, Episode 8, titled “Ritz,” stands out. This episode intricately explores the relationship between the Queen and Princess Margaret, portrayed impeccably by Manville and Staunton. The narrative seamlessly transitions between the present and a pivotal night on May 8, 1945: V-E Day, offering a blend of history and emotion.
William and Kate’s Lackluster Romance
The much-anticipated romance between Prince William and Kate Middleton unfolds in the early 2000s. However, amidst the campus awkwardness, their narrative feels stagnant and overly sweet. While the series takes liberties with their initial meeting, it fails to match the intensity of other romance narratives within ‘The Crown.’
The Queen’s Final Moments
The series concludes with a poignant focus on Queen Elizabeth II herself. In the last episode, ‘The Crown’ hints at the Queen’s eventual demise, contemplating the ongoing role of the Royal Family in the face of public scrutiny. The final moments grapple with profound questions, intriguingly fabricated yet compelling to watch.
A Farewell to ‘The Crown’
In wrapping up ‘The Crown,’ a series that ambitiously covered vast historical ground, navigated liberties, and portrayed private moments, the metaphor of Britannia in Season 5 echoes. It signals the time for the series, and its audience, to bid adieu.
As viewers, we’ve traversed a long road with ‘The Crown,’ a series that attempted to cover an enormous amount of ground, took many historical liberties, imagined private conversations that plagued the paparazzi, and handed many an actor a role of a lifetime. But like the overt metaphor of the royal yacht, Britannia, in Season 5, it’s time for the series — and all of us — to let ‘The Crown’ go.
How to Watch: ‘The Crown’ Season 6, Parts 1 and 2 are now available for streaming on Netflix.
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