Not having Netflix, I have finally been able to see The Crown on DVD.
Considering it's an American production*, I thought they did exceptionally well; I'm not worried about the little inconsistencies. It's drama, after all, not a documentary. I liked the containment of subject matter within each episode, e.g. the fog episode. I had never heard of that tragedy.
Being an artist myself, i enjoyed watching both Winston and his portraitist paint.
I did think that the jewels did not sparkle as much as they should, having seen gifs where the Royal tiaras just sparkle and sparkle, though I thought the pearls gleamed very nicely.
The children playing young Elizabeth and Margaret were very well-matched to the actresses playing the older versions – though i found it hard to get over a very tall Princess Margaret!
I thought Matt Smith excellent; i could see him still in Seasons 3 and 4 easily, he hasn't got a 'young' face, and then Charles Dance can take over; there, that's sorted!
I felt Claire Foy looked a bit schoolgirlish, but then I recall that the young QEII was sometimes referred to that in that way.
The titles seemed a bit Game of Thronish in the slow graphic movement and music.
The only true similarities from the actors to their subject were the Duke of Windsor and the corgis, otherwise you had to take it with a grain of salt, especially the Queen Mother.
All in all, i enjoyed it; I thought even with the drama added, it was respectful and worth watching, quality drama. I'll definitely watch season 2 this time next year. Sigh. I do like a good binge watch –but is it a binge watch if the seasons are a year apart?
* Reading back, I could see this sentence could be read the wrong way; what I meant was that not being English, they wouldn't automatically know the little details that the English would; it's certainly not meant to be a putdown on American TV, which can be brilliant.
