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It is also still extremely well-acted, even though thats where the biggest shifts occur.
As you might expect, every single one of them is magnificent.
ButThe Crownis not a movie.
Its exceptional television that takes full advantage of the narrative structure and scope the medium provides.
You might have heard of her.
Her name is Camilla, soon-to-be Parker-Bowles, and shes played by Emerald Fennell ofCall the Midwife.
We have all made sacrifices and suppressed who we are.
Its already obvious that Elizabeth wishes she had the natural charm that Margaret possesses in unlimited supply.
But sometimesThe Crowncant resist stating the obvious.
Her performance is all about that suppression she mentions to Charles.
Colmans performance is a season-long exercise in extraordinary restraint that provides a profound payoff.
Menzies, on the other hand, doesnt hold back from displaying Philips impatience and stubbornness.
But he also allows the princes insecurity and vulnerability to peek through, particularly in the moon-landing focused episode.
Make no mistake, though, this man is uptight,and Menzies never lets you forget it.
While hes in the dressing room, he mentions that proper gardening requires nimble fingers.
Bonham Carter is always terrific.
Here, shes extra-terrific.
Elizabeth says some unimaginably cruel things, particularly to Charles.
Margaret is ridiculously self-involved.
Philip is a privileged ass.
But you cant watchThe Crownand conclude that any of them are fundamentally bad.
They are complicated and dealing with mixed motivations and utterly imperfect.
They are humans in all their fascinating contradictions.
