# Netflix's The Crown **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, netflix\ **Created:** [November 8, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042 "2016-11-08T03:23:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/21 "2016-11-08T21:52:45Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > It does seem that a good portion of the budget went to buying cigarettes šŸ˜€. Definitely shows the consequences of cigarettes as well. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/22 "2016-11-08T23:20:44Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > I always knew Prince Philip was a Time Lord!.. I like that theyā€™re doing his nude scenes now instead of waiting until season 6. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I havenā€™t seen this since I donā€™t have Netflix but after seeing her Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall, I can see why Claire Foy would be a good bet for this Queenā€¦ The only other think Iā€™ve seen Foy in was **Upstairs, Downstairs** where she played a promiscuous Nazi sympathizer. Itā€™s interesting to see her play the good sister this time. Dame Eileen is doing a fantastic job as Queen Mary. I loved that scene where she curtseys before her granddaughter in full mourning. > [@Johnny\_Ecks](#): > > Iā€™m midway through Episode 5, and while Iā€™m enjoying it, I also have to agree with the review on Slate- This is a show about nothing. Each episode has a conflict, and a decision for Elisabeth to make, and the decision is always to doā€¦ nothing. (Or at least to follow tradition)ā€¦ Queen Mary did a pretty good job of neatly explaining what the Sovereignā€™s role is (the bit about how unnatural being completely impartial is, not so much the bit about being a divinely inspired role model for the common person). ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/23 "2016-11-08T23:50:08Z")
What I find interesting is how Elizabeth and Philip had their own struggles with ā€œtradition.ā€ They too had to deal with palace staffers determined to keep the monarchy in a previous century. Itā€™s clear this is something each succeeding generation struggles with. Princess Diana would lob the same accusations against them, just a lot more publicly. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/24 "2016-11-09T02:16:36Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I like that theyā€™re doing his nude scenes now instead of waiting until season 6. > > The only other think Iā€™ve seen Foy in was **Upstairs, Downstairs** where she played a promiscuous Nazi sympathizer. Itā€™s interesting to see her play the good sister this time. Dame Eileen is doing a fantastic job as Queen Mary. I loved that scene where she curtseys before her granddaughter in full mourning. The sight of Elizabethā€™s stricken face realizing how things have changed as she saw her grandmother curtsy to her really moved me. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/25 "2016-11-10T03:59:30Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Havenā€™t watched it yet. [Tom & Lorenzo](http://tomandlorenzo.com/2016/11/the-crown-style-season-1-episode-1-tv-series-netflix/) recommended it. > > Sounds like just the thing for some post-Election bingeingā€¦ Thatā€™s exactly what Iā€™m going now. I desperately need a distraction from reality and am trying to avoid alcohol after last night. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/26 "2016-11-13T09:07:58Z")
Binged it over two days. Really, really well done. Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby are riveting actresses, Lithgow is also fantastic and the production value is insane. Yet another nail in the coffin of network television. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/27 "2016-11-13T09:24:45Z")
Iā€™m only 3 episodes in, so Iā€™m treading lightly for spoilers, but what Iā€™m really interested in is how muchā€¦adjusting of the facts theyā€™re doing. Iā€™m also wondering if Elizabeth ever considered putting a muzzle on Philipā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/28 "2016-11-17T08:13:34Z")
Iā€™m on Episode 7. Some thoughts: 1. Elizabethā€™s lack of general education shocked me. I mean, I know women were discouraged from being educated (watch the Queen Mumā€™s explanation when confronted) back then, but I had no idea by how much. At least Elizabeth had the wherewithal to realize her own shortcoming in that area and did something about it. 2. Philip is my least favorite character in all this, and I think Matt Smith is deliberately playing him as such in that as Elizabeth becomes comfortable in her role (or ā€œtallerā€ as Philip declares), their marriage takes a back seat. Not knowing that Eisenhower isnā€™t arriving is very telling. 3. Keeping everything ā€œthe way itā€™s always beenā€? Wow. Holy freakinā€™ crap wow. As somebody upthread said, you can see Elizabeth silently ruffled by it. Itā€™ll be interesting to see how her viewpoint changes as the series continues. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/29 "2016-11-17T08:24:19Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Definitely shows the consequences of cigarettes as well. Boy howdy. Episode one seemed like nothing but the rather gruesome story of a man dying from lung cancer. I really canā€™t decide if I should keep going. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/30 "2016-11-17T08:35:20Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > 1. Elizabethā€™s lack of general education shocked me. I mean, I know women were discouraged from being educated (watch the Queen Mumā€™s explanation when confronted) back then, but I had no idea by how much. At least Elizabeth had the wherewithal to realize her own shortcoming in that area and did something about it. In general, European royals got to education late. Juan Carlos I was the first King of Spain to get a tertiary education, which in his case was at the General Military Academy; Felipe is the first one to have a degree from a regular university but heā€™s kind of made up for lost time (he also has postgraduate degrees and the degree from the GMA). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/31 "2016-11-17T09:28:55Z")
Just finished the last episode. I knew the basics of it, but boy does Princess Margaret get treated really, really badly or what? Were there no other options? Marriage in the Church of Scotland? Just continue as a couple without getting married? ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/32 "2016-11-20T19:00:08Z")
Some thoughtsā€¦ Donā€™t wait to watch the show. Iā€™ve seen news articles that indicate the ratings numbers for this show werenā€™t that great. The more people who view it, the more likelihood of the show making it to next season, much less all 6. Itā€™s funny how people are worried about spoilers regarding a show based on history. Itā€™s like going to see Titanic & not wanting to know that the ship sinks. šŸ˜‰ I agree on the wonderful casting. I enjoy film & television programs more if the actors are people who I donā€™t know or recognize. Iā€™m much more likely to see their character rather than the actors themselves. alphaboi867, you owe me a new keyboard! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/33 "2016-11-20T21:46:47Z")
I thought it was fairly daring to show that the Queen was into blow jobs. Lithgow ate the scenery in every scene he was in, of course. Great character portrayal. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/34 "2016-11-20T23:08:05Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Just finished the last episode. I knew the basics of it, but boy does > > Princess Margaret get treated really, really badly or what? Were there no other options? Marriage in the Church of Scotland? Just continue as a couple without getting married? Marriage in the Church of Scotland wouldā€™ve been legally permissible\*, but politically unfeasible (at least in Churchillā€™s opinion). Itā€™s ironic that Churchill supported Edward VIII during the Abdication Crisis, but when his niece was faced with more or less the same dilemma wanted to force her to accept the same deal her uncle ended up with. \*Princess Anne held her 2nd wedding in the Church of Scotland due to her divorce and it was considered as option for Charles & Camila (Charles insisted on marrying in England, hence the civil marriage). ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/35 "2016-11-21T13:09:17Z")
Only seen the first three episodes, but I like how it shows their relationship. Everyone knows Elizabeth, but how many people know much about Phillip? I could have managed taking my wifeā€™s famous last name but dude, having to walk behind her would have sucked! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/36 "2016-12-02T16:34:08Z")
Iā€™ve just taken this up and am REALLY enjoying it. I just finished Ep 6 and really like how it portrays the job of ruling (and the mundane-ness of a lot of it). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/37 "2016-12-02T16:39:24Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Only watched 2 episodes so far and Iā€™m really enjoying it, especially Matt Smithā€™s portrayal of Philip. This is interesting to me. Iā€™ve watched the first two episodes now, and Iā€™m enjoying most characters, especially that amazing Churchill. But Phillipā€™s every moment on screen is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me: I loathe him, and not in the fun way that I loathe Kilgrave or Tony Soprano. Heā€™s just a superficially charming entitled douchebag, and he very nearly ruins the show for me. Opinions clearly differ :). ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/38 "2016-12-02T17:04:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Heā€™s just a superficially charming entitled douchebag That basically defines Prince Philip to a T. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/39 "2016-12-02T17:19:03Z")
Iā€™ve seen all the episodes and found it fascinating. I never had a lot of use for Philip, they seem to have portrayed a bit more intelligence and depth than I thought that he had. Margaret really got the short end of the stick- by the time of her proposed marriage, she was already behind Charles and Anne so keeping her place in succession seemed to be academic. Why they couldnā€™t just marry in another country and live off his income seemed a better option to me. Queen Mary was a hoot, but one of the most chilling scenes was Elizabethā€™s horror at seeing her grandmother kneel before her for the first time after Georgeā€™s death. Edward was well portrayed as the whiny entitled little bitch that he was. Lithgow was amazing as Churchill, maybe if it was done 50 years ago Arthur Brough could have done better. I was surprised Elizabethā€™s mother apparently wasnā€™t as warm as I thought she was. Finally, Elizabeth was amazing. It will be interesting to see if they get someone else to play her in succeeding decades or if they can make Claire Foy up to look old. Creepy moment of the series- Philip suggesting that the Queen get on her knees for him. Ewwww! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042/40 "2016-12-02T17:51:19Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > That basically defines Prince Philip to a T. Yeah, I went in knowing that, a little. Doesnā€™t mean I enjoy watching it :). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflixs-the-crown/771042.md?page=3)