9 Years Later, Netflix’s 92% RT Political Thriller Still Has No Equal

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Around a decade ago, Netflix launched The Crown, starring Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Matt Smith as Prince Philip. This show uniquely blends historical drama with political intrigue, offering viewers a detailed glimpse into the lives of the British royal family. The Crown remains one of Netflix’s biggest hits, and no other show has quite matched its success.

I’m completely captivated by The Crown. It beautifully tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign, and what really strikes me is how incredibly accurate it is. The creators have painstakingly recreated everything – the clothes, famous photos, the royal homes, even the smallest details – it’s astonishing! It’s funny, though, because the show’s greatest achievement is that you almost don’t notice all the work that went into it. It just feels real, like you’re truly stepping back in time. As a political drama, it’s brilliant at exploring big ideas about power and society, but it does so by focusing on the very personal struggles of the characters, which makes the story so compelling.

The Crown Takes a Different Approach to Storytelling Than Typical Political Thrillers

The new season of The Crown has quickly become popular, taking the place of shows like those featuring Queen Elizabeth. While it depicts real places like the royal yacht Britannia and Buckingham Palace, the series also feels fantastical at times. Shows that blend fantasy and politics need to create believable worlds, and The Crown does this by presenting a familiar reality that’s subtly altered. It feels slightly off-kilter, offering viewers a fresh and unique perspective on this world.

This isn’t accidental, but a conscious decision. People in Britain, and to some extent, viewers worldwide, already feel a connection to figures like the Queen and Princess Diana. Years of being in the public eye, and even through sensationalized media coverage, have made these real people seem like characters in a story.

What The Crown does brilliantly is humanize the Royal Family, challenging our existing perceptions and presenting them as relatable people. Their dedication to duty is complex and goes much deeper than what the public usually sees. For example, in the first season, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth sometimes act like a newly married couple, and at other times, they fiercely support or question the very foundations of the monarchy.

Surprisingly, The Crown remains compelling even though viewers generally know the historical outcomes. Elizabeth unexpectedly becomes the leader of the British Empire, a role she and her father never sought. Throughout the show’s six seasons, she’s unable to stop the empire from gradually declining as times change.

Interestingly, nearly every attempt the characters make to uphold the monarchy actually backfires. While many stories focus on dismantling broken systems or enacting change, The Crown highlights the characters’ inability to maintain the existing order.

In the Crown, the ‘Imperials’ Are Powerless and Prisoners of Their Positions

While often portraying controversial figures, The Crown doesn’t simply present them as villains or heroes. Instead, it reimagines historical royals – those known for being eccentric, admirable, or problematic – as individuals trapped by tradition. The series depicts every member of the Royal Family as flawed, emotionally complex, and often overwhelmed by their circumstances. The Crown transforms public figures often seen as caricatures into relatable people, prompting viewers to feel empathy for them.

As a film buff, I think one of the most fascinating things about The Crown is how it manages to make you care about the royals while so many people are just trying to get by. But honestly, its real genius lies in how it flips the usual political thriller on its head. Most shows in that genre keep you guessing about what characters are really thinking and feeling, building suspense through secrets. The Crown does the opposite – it lays everything bare, and I think that’s its biggest departure from reality, even more so than the lavish sets and costumes.

During the first season, the Queen is shown unable to overrule Tommy Lascelles, a palace official obsessed with rules. The series highlights that neither Diana nor Charles could freely choose who to love or marry, and it strongly portrays both of them as suffering because of the constraints of the royal family and its traditions.

As a film and TV buff, I always appreciate a good twist, and The Crown does something really clever. It doesn’t try to surprise you with history, it uses your existing knowledge. When the series begins, the British Empire is this massive, global force. But as you watch, you see it slowly unravel, becoming less of a powerful empire and more of a group of countries simply sharing the Queen’s image on their currency. It’s fascinating to witness how even the Royal Family starts to question whether the monarchy still has a place in the modern world, especially considering it was once such a central part of British identity.

The Crown Humanizes the Royals and Shows a Side of Their Story Never Seen Before

One of the most enjoyable aspects of watching The Crown is seeing famous historical events brought to life through drama. The show offers thrilling moments, like the story of a revealing photograph taken of Princess Margaret by her future husband and used for her official birthday portrait. It also portrays heartbreaking tragedies, including the Aberfan disaster and, famously, the death of Princess Diana.

Look, I’ve seen a lot of historical dramas, and what really grabbed me about this Netflix series wasn’t the history itself – you can find plenty of that on YouTube, honestly. It’s not like it’s breaking new ground with the facts. While they definitely took some creative liberties with certain details, that’s not where the appeal lies.

Many stories depict ordinary people rising to become leaders or heroes, but The Crown takes a different approach. It humanizes well-known figures like Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana by showing their vulnerabilities and imperfections. The show’s strong writing and talented actors help viewers see beyond their preconceived notions of the Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth’s dedication to the monarchy is portrayed not as arrogance, but as a personal cost. Princess Diana isn’t presented as a perfect role model, but as someone affected by forces beyond her control. And Prince Charles isn’t a villain, but a man longing for genuine connection.

The Crown excels at portraying the personal side of even well-known public events. The series particularly shines in its depiction of the complex relationship between Charles and Diana, but also adds emotional depth to stories about figures like Princess Margaret and Prince Harry, making their experiences feel relatable and human.

Even characters who are difficult to like, such as Margaret Thatcher or King Edward VIII, can evoke sympathy from audiences. When public figures like Queen Elizabeth experience setbacks, they’re often presented not as personal failings, but as consequences of poor guidance or well-meaning mistakes.

Both the fall of the British Empire and the monarchy in the fictional world of Westeros share a common thread: rulers consumed by their own power. While The Crown offers a sympathetic portrayal of the Royal Family, it ultimately shows how little actual power they wield. Unlike stories where a monarchy is overthrown by outside forces, The Crown suggests that a monarchy simply can’t last – it’s an inherently unstable system. The drama comes from the fact that the Royal Family themselves don’t seem to realize this.

All six seasons of The Crown are currently streaming on Netflix.

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2025-12-04 21:10