The Crown Season 4 Review
Netflix's series The Crown, a drama depicting the inner workings of the British Royal family, continues to be one of its best-made series to date. This latest season seamlessly adds two of the most famous women from the 20th century — Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana. It shows how two outsiders struggled to interact with a family and system designed to be hostile to everyone but a single center piece.
One of the greatest accomplishments of season 3 was its ability to take a group of individuals that many would consider unlikable and paint them in a picture that humanizes them enough to feel sorry for. Prince Charles being the prime example of this. We saw him as a young man who only wanted to be himself, and his own mother, in short, told him to shut up and do what's best for her and the crown.
Season 4 flips that narrative right around. Charles is shown as a spoiled brat and a womanizer, taking full advantage of his title. Even going as far as to rub it in his siblings' faces. The only moments he has any charm are when he is partying with his mistress, which of course has its own issues.
This season the only member of the royal family that is likeable is its newest member, Diana. We see her when she is just a child and meeting her future husband for the first time. And we see her do her best to win over the family she wants nothing more than to be a part of. When she realizes what it takes to be part of this family and who Prince Charles really is, it’s too late.
Actor Josh O’Conner nails the mannerisms of Charles — from his hunched posture to his smug, aloof demeanor. His counterpart — Emma Corrin — who played Diana, also excelled in her role. She displayed a youthful energy along with the vulnerability that comes along with being “The Peoples Princess”. It’s a shame next season will have different actors portraying these rolls. But seeing how show runner Peter Morgan handled the transition between season 2 and 3, it's safe to assume the show is in good hands.
While most of the marketing focused on the introductions of Diana, Margaret Thatcher played an equally important role this season. She's seen as the main combatant to the Queen. Despite both being rigid and reserved, they rose to power in different ways. Thatcher had to climb her way to the top of the England's conservative party by being objective and showing no emotion due to being a woman and coming from a middle class home. Meanwhile, Elizabeth… just happened to be born the daughter of the King. That difference is at the core of their disagreements. And while things never get too out of hand, they have a few heated conversations. There is even some behind the back mud slinging. Which to those posh ladies is like performing a pile driver.
Gillian Anderson received the honors of playing the Iron Lady and, just as every other actor on this show, does a superb job. Thatcher is famous for her drawn out monotone cadence, which Gillian nailed. It's hard for me to see her as anyone other than Scully from The X-Files, but she did such a wonderful job I forgot all about the Doctor who doesn’t believe in the supernatural despite constantly being exposed to it.
The only thing that could have made this season of The Crown better is more screen time for Princess Margaret. I thought she was the most interesting character from the royal family in the first three seasons. Yet this time around, she really only gets one episode where she does anything more than make a few snide comments. I believe Princess Margaret could have her own spin-off where she goes around getting drunk and chasing after a love that is doomed to leave her heartbroken. It could flip back and forth between her younger days, played by Vanessa Kirby and her older, more jaded version with Helena Carter. I’m not saying it would win any Emmy's, but it could be a world phenomenon. Because the characters that are so close to power but barely missed out on it are more interesting than those that possess it.
Overall, The Crown continues to be a delight. It might be the only show Netflix can’t cancel prematurely. The next season will be the penultimate of the series, and an even tougher pill to swallow is that it won’t be out until 2022. On the bright side, maybe it gives the Queen enough time to do something crazy like buying some tigers and releasing them on London. Then maybe they will be able to stretch it an extra season or two.
