Netflix's "The Crown" Clashing with the Royal Family?
Dateline: December 2017
Slug: Movies & TV Shows
By Saptarshi Dutta
With season two of Netflix’s popular drama “The Crown” out this month, it brings the question: will the show catch heat for when it inevitably has to portray sensitive events in the royal family’s life, such as low points in The Queen’s marriage or possible conspiracies surrounding Princess Diana’s death?
The show depicts the life of Britain’s royal family from shortly before Queen Elizabeth II came into reign, following her father’s death in 1952. The first time she was asked to fill in for the monarch was around Christmas that year; the ill King George asked her to replace him on the upcoming commonwealth tour. The king’s death soon after the holidays is what really set things in motion for the series.
Before that, viewers simply got to see glimpses into the family’s personal life, a highlight being the heartfelt Christmas scene in season one where King George sang with the carolers, knowing full well it would be his last Christmas; season one ended with the Queen at odds with certain family members, the Church of England and not to mention, the government.
The period between 1956-64 was of particular interest to the public in regards to the Queen’s life; with tension between her and her sister due to scandalous romances, change of Prime Ministers, and her husband Prince Philip allegedly cheating on her, it’s clear why the show’s creators did not downplay that plotline.
When asked if it’s fair for the Queen to have some of the worst points in her life exploited for entertainment, Alia Rasheed, a grade 9 student and a fan of the show said, "I feel really bad for her honestly. She already has enough on her plate so this is just annoying."
Furthermore, the 60s , referred to as “the decade that shook Britain” by Historic UK, saw many significant changes in the culture, lifestyle and government affairs of England. Season 2 will go further into how the monarchy had to make changes to stay relevant in the ever-changing world, one of which was putting the Queen's Christmas speech on television, instead of radio.
The 60s brought the independence of many countries from the Empire, the demise of another Prime Minister and the craze of recreational drug use, which must not have been a time Her Majesty would prefer to be highlighted. Although it hasn’t been confirmed if the royals have seen the show, how long will it air for until it is scrutinized by Her Majesty's representatives?
Until then, The Crown season 2 is something to hold on to till Christmas, available from December 8.
Netflix's "The Crown" Clashing with the Royal Family?
Dateline: December 2017
Slug: Movies & TV Shows
By Saptarshi Dutta
-30-
Netflix's "The Crown" Clashing with the Royal Family?
Dateline: December 2017
Slug: Movies & TV Shows
By Saptarshi Dutta
Sources:
Natalie Hodges
Alia Rasheed
Entertainment- http://ew.com/recap/the-crown-series-premiere/
Variety- http://variety.com/2017/tv/reviews/the-crown-season-2-review-netflix-claire-foy-matt-smith-1202623240/
RSB- https://rebeccastarrbrown.com/2017/11/01/the-crown-s1-wolferton-splash/
Vulture- http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/crown-recap-season-1-episode-10.html
USA Today- https://www.usatoday.com/life/
Vanity Fair- https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2009/02/snowdon-excerpt200902
Quotes:
Question- What are you most looking forward to in season 2 of The Crown?
Answer- "I am most looking forward to the relationship between Princess Margaret and the guy she was having an affair with. Princess Margaret is my favourite character because she's badass and kind of a rebel, she isn't afraid to break the rules even though she's a princess."
"Seeing the Queen and the relationship she has with Prince Philip, I don't know if he would do something like that. In the beginning I can see how they're constantly arguing, but I feel like he has a good conscience."
Question- Do you think it's fair for the Queen to have some of the worst points in her life exploited for entertainment?
"I think Queen Elizabeth's a really good leader and she faces a lot of hardships not just politically, like her family life. I think it's gonna be interesting how she deals with it all."
"I feel really bad for her honestly; she already has enough on her plate so this is just annoying."
Lines:
Seeing the cheating rumors come to life on screen may easily be one of the biggest reasons fans have been highly anticipating the new season.
Perhaps one of the most unrelenting conspiracy theories about the British monarchy is the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The tragic death of the Queen’s former daughter-in-law is evidently a topic that won’t go untouched in The Crown, due to popular belief that the Queen had a hand in her accident.