The Crown Season 5 on Netflix stars Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburg), Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, Dominic West as Prince Charles, Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major, Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles, Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne, Natasha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull and Marcia Warren as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Created and written by Peter Morgan, the show is based on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family of England. The new season has 10 episodes directed by Jessica Hobbs, Alex Gabassi, May el-Toukhy, Christian Schwochow, and Erik Richter Strand. The synopsis reads, “It’s a new decade, and the royal family are facing what may be their biggest challenge yet: proving their continued relevance in ‘90s Britain. As Diana and Charles wage a media war, cracks begin to splinter the royal foundation.”
The Crown Season 5 Review Contains No Spoilers
It’s the new season of The Crown, a new decade and new troubles in the Royal family. The 90s changed everything for many people, but Queen Elizabeth II and her family had seen most of the drama, setbacks, and controversies. It has been 40 years since the Queen’s reign; there’s a new Prime Minister, and people wonder if Prince Charles will be the King and the trouble in Royal marriages. Princess Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage made the most noise in the 90s.
In The Crown Season 5, Peter Morgan and his team added several incidents and issues in the Royal Family. There are also some fictional elements added. However, a lot is also omitted or mellowed down. Episode 2, called ‘The System’, is my favourite from the entire season. It speaks so much of the Royal family and how it functions and adversely affects the family members.
The 90s wasn’t an easy decade for the Royal family members and Queen Elizabeth II. But the weak narrative doesn’t let us feel the tension they dealt with. Major events that are talked about even today are presented underwhelmingly. Yet, the loyal viewers of the show on the royals, like me, will stick to the end, hoping that it will get as compelling as the previous seasons.
Despite having major issues, the new season of The Crown on Netflix will leave you with something to talk about. Even if there are some alterations, you will be engaged in watching several incidents that can be called the show’s best highlights. They include – Queen Elizabeth II dealing with the uncertainty of others about her position, Princess Diana’s bulimia problem, Diana and Charles’ marital trouble, and the rise in political tension in the homeland and internationally.
The Netflix show always leaves us surprised with its perfect casting. The new season also has some gifted actors playing these crucial characters. Imelda Staunton is brilliant as Queen Elizabeth II. She gets the mannerisms and aura the Queen had, which were also perfectly showcased by the previous actors, Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.
Along with Imelda, the new season also belongs to Dominic West. West has got Prince Charles’ mannerisms, complexities, and body language to the T. Actors Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, and Jonny Lee Miller have also done an amazing job. Many people, including me, were looking forward to Elizabeth Debicki’s performance as Princess Diana. After Emma Corrin’s praiseworthy act, the bar was set high.
Despite resembling so much to Princess Diana, the makers didn’t give Elizabeth a chance to shine. It’s disappointing, considering it should’ve been her at the forefront this time. In the new season, Diana often appears as a timid person.
Netflix’s The Crown Season 5 Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Netflix’s latest season is the weakest one so far. Despite having the most-talked-about decade from Queen Elizabeth’s reign as the central plot, it fails to amaze and engross you. The show has always been of 10 episodes. But this time, the dull narrative made it look like a long boring history lecture.
Watch the show on Netflix.
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