TV Review - The Crown: Season 4

Peter Morgan was first nominated for Best Writing, Original Screenplay at the 79th Academy Awards for his film The Queen (2006). That 2006 Oscar-winner focused on the experiences of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal family in the late 1990's in the wake of Princess Diana's death. It was also about Elizabeth's relationship with the Prime Minister at the time, that of Tony Blair. Inspired by that film, Morgan created The Audience (2013), a play that basically depicted Elizabeth's interactions with her Prime Ministers starting with her very first after she took the throne. Four years ago, Morgan created this Emmy-winning series, which was based on the research he did for that play. The series could also be seen as an adaptation. Except, instead of going through 40 years of history in just one play, Morgan decided to spread out that 40-year history into four seasons of television. Each season has dealt with a particular decade in Elizabeth's life. The first season was the 1950's. The second season was the 60's. Last season was the 70's and this season is the 80's.

This has been one of the most buzzed seasons because it's the season that introduces the character of Princess Diana. For many, this is the most exciting of all the seasons because it introduces the character that was going to be the next Queen of England after Elizabeth. Yes, Elizabeth has an eldest son who was going to eventually succeed her on the throne, but his wife was then going to be the next queen, if only by marriage. Obviously, the excitement over this season is increased, given how much of a tabloid story Princess Diana was for reasons that will be more explored next season when the series finally catches up to where Morgan began with his 2006 film.

Olivia Colman (Fleabag and The Favourite) stars as Queen Elizabeth II, reprising the role she took over in the third season. Prior to that, Claire Foy played a young Elizabeth and those first, two seasons were really about Elizabeth learning the sacrifices that are required of her role as the monarch and as a royal. Despite living in the lap of luxury and having such wealth and privilege, she discovered how little power she has and how trapped in many ways she is, forced to endure certain things that men perpetrate. All she can do is try to maintain the appearance of decorum and propriety, even if it's hurtful emotionally and psychologically, not only to herself but to her family.

The previous season didn't give Colman that much to do and made Elizabeth more of a looming presence and at times a secondary or background character. It didn't seem to center her as much as the first, two seasons did. Two episodes focused more on Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, played by Tobias Menzies (Game of Thrones and Outlander). At least three episodes focused on the experiences of Elizabeth's eldest son and her successor to the throne, such as his early romantic life. However, Elizabeth herself felt relegated to the rear. This season, however, in my estimation, fixes that. This season feels materially different, in that Elizabeth feels more central with perhaps only one episode that virtually ignores her.

Gillian Anderson (Hannibal and The X-Files) co-stars as Margaret Thatcher, the first, female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She's the leader of the Conservative Party, the right-wing political party of the UK. She was also the longest-running Prime Minister, having served from 1979 to 1990. This season was probably the most anticipated because it would be the season that introduces Thatcher, contrasting her as the actual, female leader of the country. Yes, Elizabeth is the figure head leader, but in terms of making actual decisions for where and how the country goes, Thatcher is the first woman in the UK to have that role. It's very compelling to see Anderson's almost breathless performance of Thatcher clashing cordially with the Queen. Their scenes have a tension and combativeness that's even more intense than anything we've seen before, yet the two women never raise their voices or lose their politeness. It's just a really compelling verbal tête-à-tête.

It kicks off brilliantly in the second episode titled "The Balmoral Test" as we really get a better idea of how strong these two women are, but also how different they are. We also get introduced to the different politics of Thatcher, which sets the stage for the fifth episode titled "Fagan," which delves a little more personally into how Thatcher's politics might be affecting the every day man who doesn't live inside a palace or wealthy estate. It all culminates in the final two episodes, especially "48:1," which really brings the test of wills between the Queen and Thatcher to a head. Anderson might be on the path to receiving some recognition come awards time, but she's going to have stiff competition in the next actress featured here.

Emma Corrin (Pennyworth and Grantchester) also co-stars as Lady Diana Spencer, the wife of Prince Charles, played by Josh O'Connor (Emma. and God's Own Country), and the daughter-in-law to the Queen. She's introduced in a parallel way to how Charles was introduced in the third season. Charles was introduced as an aspiring thespian. We saw him in costume about to do a play. Diana is similarly introduced in costume about to do a play. It's an analogous meet-cute. The chemistry between the two feels almost instant and electric.

We get the sense that the potential was there for a fairy-tale romance. However, in the following episode titled "Fairytale," we learn that that potential is quickly thrown out the window. It's then that we see the parallels, not just to Charles but to the Queen herself. Elizabeth's relationship to Philip was not the same as Diana's relationship to Charles. While O'Connor's performance and million-dollar smile can't help but make you adore and fancy him, it becomes clear that Charles wasn't truly in love with Diana or not as strongly in love as he was to Camilla Parker Bowles, played by Emerald Fennell.

There is a bit of a comparison between the older and young couple. In both couples, it gets to a point fairly quickly where the woman outshines the man and seemingly has more power than the man. In Elizabeth's case, it's actually true. In Diana's case, it's only virtually true, meaning only true in the press and news media where she is as bright as an actual star. Yet, somehow the men have more freedom for their various dalliances, even sexual ones, whereas the women still feel more trapped. Even in the case of Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), there's a bit more freedom but in Episode 7 titled "The Hereditary Principle," she's still bested and put down by a man, it being her nephew, Prince Andrew, played by Tom Byrne.

When it comes to the women of this show, Morgan has really provided interesting themes for them to explore or common themes but with interesting and fresh avenues to come at them. For example, the common theme of motherhood is explored here. In the episode titled "Favourites," that theme is explored through an interesting and fresh avenue. There's again a parallel track where the Queen and Thatcher have to determine if they have a favorite child among the several they have and if so, who is that favorite child? It's a clever way to go about it. In the episode titled "The Hereditary Principle," Morgan explores the theme of mental illness in an interesting way. Regardless of the topic or theme, I was impressed with Morgan's writing and his way into it, around it or through it. This is the best season of this series thus far.

Rated TV-MA.
Running Time: 1 hr. / 10 eps.

Available on Netflix.