The Crown web series review chronicles Netflix’s lavish historical drama tracing Queen Elizabeth II’s reign from 1947 wedding through 2005 Golden Jubilee, blending royal duty with personal scandals across six seasons (2016-2023, 60 episodes). Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton portray Elizabeth at different ages, with Jared Harris as Philip and Emma Corrin as Diana in Peter Morgan’s Emmy-winning saga of palace intrigue, prime ministers, and family fractures.
Quick Stats Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 6 (60 episodes) |
| Platform | Netflix |
| RT Score | 86-95% per season |
| Emmy Wins | 21 (acting, writing) |
Detailed Plot Summary: Season-by-Season
The Crown web series review spans decades of Windsors from post-WWII ascension to Diana’s death.
Seasons 1-2: Young Elizabeth (1947-1964)
Accession after George VI death. Churchill clashes. Margaret/Townsend forbidden love. Suez Crisis. Profumo affair.
Short paragraph: Foy’s Elizabeth navigates Philip tensions, Eden resigns post-Suez, Macmillan falls amid scandal, Andrew/Edward births frame early reign pressures.
Early Icons
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Coronation spectacle
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Margaret heartbreak
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Churchill portraits
Seasons 3-4: Middle Reign (1964-1990)
Moon landing. Aberfan disaster. Charles/Camilla. Thatcher era. Diana wedding/divorce. Annus horribilis.
Short paragraph: Colman’s Elizabeth faces Welsh mine tragedy, Charles loves Camilla, Thatcher’s Balmoral clashes, Diana fairy tale sours into Panorama interview.
Seasons 5-6: Modern Monarchy (1991-2005)
Major premiership. Diana death. Blair/Dodi. Golden Jubilee. William/Kate spark. Charles/Camilla wedding.
Short paragraph: Staunton’s Queen weathers divorce wars, Diana Paris crash, public backlash, Margaret/Queen Mother deaths bookend Jubilee triumph.
Character Rankings: Best to Worst
The Crown web series review royals balance duty and desire.
#1 Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy/Olivia Colman/Imelda Staunton)
Stoic sovereign. Reign anchor.
Strengths
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Duty evolution
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Family mediator
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Historical gravitas
Quotes: “I am not a person, I am The Crown.”
#2 Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby/Helena Bonham Carter/Lesley Manville)
Rebellious sister. Scandal magnet.
#3 Princess Diana (Emma Corrin/Elizabeth Debicki)
People’s princess. Media tragedy.
#4 Prince Philip (Matt Smith/Jonathan Pryce)
Restless consort. Modernizer.
#5 Winston Churchill (John Lithgow)
Wartime icon. Early foil.
Character Table
| Rank | Character | Actor(s) | Reign Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth | Foy/Colman/Staunton | Sovereign core |
| 2 | Margaret | Kirby/B Carter/Manville | Royal rebel |
| 3 | Diana | Corrin/Debicki | Public heart |
| 4 | Philip | Smith/Pryce | Consort tension |
| 5 | Churchill | Lithgow | Political mentor |
Major Themes Breakdown
The Crown Netflix series probes monarchy’s burdens.
Duty vs Desire
Crown demands personal sacrifice.
Examples
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Margaret/Townsend
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Charles/Camilla
Tradition vs Modernity
Palace resists change.
Public vs Private
Scandals test institution.
Themes Table
| Theme | Crisis Peak | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Duty | Diana divorce | Firmness |
| Tradition | Thatcher clashes | Adaptation |
| Public | Annus horribilis | Jubilee revival |
Royal realism.
The Crown Viewership Success & Awards
Netflix prestige pinnacle. 73 Emmys noms.
Viewership Table
| Season | Episodes | RT Score | Emmy Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 88% | 6 |
| 4 | 10 | 95% | 11 |
| 6 | 10 | 86% | 4 |
Award magnet.
Top 10 Shows Like The Crown
Royal intrigue cravings?
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The Windsors (Netflix): Satirical royals.
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Victoria (Prime): Young queen.
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The Tudors (Netflix): Henry VIII.
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Wolf Hall (Prime): Cromwell intrigue.
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Succession (Max): Media dynasty.
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Downton Abbey (Peacock): Aristocracy.
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The Great (Hulu): Catherine satire.
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Becoming Elizabeth (Starz): Young Bess.
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Versailles (Netflix): Sun King.
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Catherine the Great (Hulu): Russian empress.
Comparison Table
| Show | Platform | Crown Vibe | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Prime | Victorian drama | 8.5/10 |
| Tudors | Netflix | Scandal politics | 8.8/10 |
| Succession | Max | Family power | 9.5/10 |
Why Watch The Crown Web Series in 2025: 12 Reasons
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Triple Elizabeth: Acting mastery.
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60 Ep Epic: Reign chronicle.
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Diana Seasons: Corrin/Debicki peak.
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Margaret Tragedy: Kirby steals.
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Churchill Foil: Lithgow transforms.
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Netflix Classic: 4K palace.
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Thatcher Clashes: Political fire.
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Annus Horribilis: 1992 chaos.
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Golden Jubilee: Triumphant close.
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Costume Glory: Emmy wardrobe.
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Philip Tension: Smith menace.
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Modern Relevance: Post-Charles era.
Monarchy essential.
Production Secrets & Easter Eggs
Aging makeup revolutionary. Real jewels loaned. Diana recreations debated.
Short paragraph: Seasons recast every 2 reigns seamlessly, Buckingham Palace interiors built full-scale, Corrin studied Diana tapes obsessively, Staunton mirrored walk perfectly.
Secrets Table
| Secret | Season | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recasting | 3,5 | Seamless aging |
| Real Jewels | All | Crown loaned |
| Diana Tapes | 4-6 | Voice/manner study |
The Crown Cultural Impact
Revived historical drama. Diana portrayals controversial. Emmy record-breaker.
Impact Stats
| Metric | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Emmys | 21 wins |
| Seasons | 6 decades |
| Influence | Royal TV template |
Final Verdict: The Crown Web Series Review Score
The Crown web series review: 9.3/10. Prestige television peak. Acting perfection.
FAQs
Most accurate season?
3-4 Thatcher/Diana consensus.
Diana portrayal fair?
Emotional truth debated.
Charles sympathetic?
Season 6 balanced.
Margaret arc real?
Townsend accurate.
Philip villainized?
Duty conflicts shown.
S7 possible?
Creator Morgan ended at 2005.
Best performance?
Foy young Elizabeth.
Costume accuracy?
Oscar-level research.
Political bias?
Multiple PMs balanced.
Rewatch value?
Details endless.