The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


CultureShows & On demand

The Crown 2

The Crown 2 | Show review
4 December 2017
Lindsay Bellinger
Avatar
Lindsay Bellinger
4 December 2017

Movie and show review

Lindsay Bellinger

The Crown 2

★★★★★

Release date

8th December 2017

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

There are a lot of expectations going into the second season of a critically acclaimed series. Clearly Netflix continues to spare no expense for The Crown writer/creator Peter Morgan’s ode to the British royal family. The extravagant costumes and sets, smooth camerawork and various shooting locations (South Africa, UK, Australia, Papa New Guinea) are quite exquisite.

This new season, much like the first, opens with episodes that take little notice of Elizabeth (Claire Foy) and shifts focus onto others near her, mostly men. Philip’s (Matt Smith) insecurities and party boy tendencies are on display. Morgan establishes him as a fully fleshed-out character, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes not; it is a shame that Elizabeth is not given the same courtesy. Even the episode about the young Charles is a means to reveal more about Philip. One must wonder, had more female writers been on staff would this have made a difference. Morgan with Amy Jenkins co-wrote episode four, Beryl, which focuses on Margaret (the dynamic and gorgeously costumed Vanessa Kirby), and it is a season standout.

Although marriage difficulties and Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh’s playful banter are often on display, the more engaging storylines are those that revolve around the Duke of Windsor (Alex Jennings), Philip and Margaret. The various connections to Nazi figures – Philip’s family and the Queen’s uncle – are intriguing. Margaret’s romance with charming photographer Tony (the superb Matthew Goode) introduces a modern soundtrack from the 60s and gives some new life to the series. It’s quite fun watching Margaret’s friends mingle with the royals.

Once Elizabeth stands up to a family member in the episode Vergangenheit (meaning past in German) she starts to wield some power. Foy is finally given some meaty lines and once again when she meets Jackie Kennedy. The use of real photos and footage in both chapters are a nice touch. These two history lessons go down easily.

Some episodes might deserve great applause, but as a series The Crown 2 is scattered and uneven. Multiple directors (Benjamin Caron, Stephen Daldry, Philippa Lowthorpe, Philip Martin) are responsible for this season, and it shows. The choice to shoot actors straight-on while bright sunlight shines through the drapes behind them can be off-putting. The drab and muted colour palettes (beige, yellow, grey) of Elizabeth’s clothing practically blends her into the furniture. Later, to symbolise her greater confidence, her clothing becomes bolder.  

Foy shines brightly when given the chance. Let’s hope that when Olivia Colman takes over the role of the Queen, her storylines are complex enough to keep her front and centre rather than waiting on the sidelines.

★★★★★

Lindsay Bellinger

The Crown 2 is released on Netflix on 8th December 2017. 

Watch the trailer for The Crown 2 here:

Related Itemsreview

More in Culture

Tobacco Road

★★★★★
Daniel McLeod
Read More

The American Clock at the Old Vic

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

Edward II at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

Babylon Beyond Borders at the Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Marissa Khaos
Read More

Can-Can! at Union Theatre

★★★★★
Sophia Moss
Read More

Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

Rip It Up: The 60s at Garrick Theatre

★★★★★
Ezelle Alblas
Read More

Happy Death Day 2U

★★★★★
Musanna Ahmed
Read More

Pinter Seven at the Harold Pinter Theatre

★★★★★
Rosamund Kelby
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Lindsay Bellinger

The Crown 2

★★★★★

Release date

8th December 2017

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • The Kid Who Would Be King
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Rip It Up: The 60s at Garrick Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Mr Jones
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Bastille at Brixton Academy
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Riona Treacy autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Idol (Woo Sang)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Johan Ku autumn/winter 2019 collection catwalk show for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Reconstructing Utøya (Rekonstruktion Utøya)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • ISOSCELES Lingerie autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Idol (Woo Sang)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Reconstructing Utøya (Rekonstruktion Utøya)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Tobacco Road
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • So Long, My Son (Di jiu tian chang): Wang Xiaoshuai’s expertly sprawling yet personal examination of three decades of life in China
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • So Long, My Son (Di jiu tian chang) press conference with Wang Xiaoshuai, Du Jiang, Ai Liya, Yong Mei, Wang Jingchun, Qi Xi, Zhao Yanguozhang and Liu Xuan
    Berlinale

Instagram

Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Menashe | Movie review
Stronger | Movie review