The Crown (Season 6: Part Two)
Available on Netflix
The Crown’s final season couldn’t have gotten off to a much worse start than the crass dumpster fire that best describes its first four instalments, and this swansong certainly benefits from the subsequent low expectations that are imposed upon it.
Indeed, after the soap-operatic retelling of Princess Diana’s final days, it is a relief to see Peter Morgan resume his cash cow within the confines of Buckingham Palace, as The Crown desperately seeks to rediscover what initially made it one of Netflix’s premier series. That, of course, was its introspective analysis of the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II, and the uncompromising duties that are bestowed upon monarchy.
Unfortunately, these concluding six episodes only do a fitful job of restoring Morgan’s show to its former glories. Some, such as its eight (‘Ritz’) and tenth (‘Sleep, Dearie Sleep’), serve as a reminder of what originally made The Crown so compelling, and elicit the best performances of Imelda Staunton’s otherwise underwhelming stint as the aforementioned monarch. Sadly, others do the exact opposite. Take, for example, the odd sixth instalment (‘Ruritania’), which begins with a bizarre dream sequence in which the newly minted Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is crowned King by the British public, before proceeding to serve as an odd essay on the importance of protecting tradition (even ones as wasteful as the Keeper of the Queen’s Swans - look it up) from reformism.
Even more perplexing is this series’ recounting of the painfully dull romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton, an arc which does neither (particularly the latter) any favours and is far too inconsequential to merit the screen time it is afforded. That’s before you even begin to discuss Morgan’s loutish depiction of Prince Harry, a creative decision which assumedly makes his personal opinion on the recent royal scandal clear.
Alas, even at its most yawn-inducing, The Crown remains a supremely acted affair. Staunton, as mentioned, is more affecting than ever before, while there is a lot to like about Dominic West’s underrated performance as King Charles III. Sadly, this is just another case of a once-great series failing to nail its final landing, although few have decreased quite so drastically in quality as this.
