The Crown: Season Five

Netflix’s multi-award-winning drama returns for its highly anticipated fifth season with a brand new cast as it enters the new era of the 1990s. Beginning with an episode in which the royal family embark on holiday on the yacht Elizabeth II (played wonderfully by Imelda Staunton) launched when she first became monarch, writer and producer Peter Morgan wastes no time in laying the themes of this season on the table. Much like the boat has become obsolete in the decades since its launch, the growing public sentiment is that the royal family have come to represent a bygone age. Whereas the Queen is seen as symbolic of the traditional values of the past, Diana (Elizabeth Debicki), in contrast, is seen as the face of a modern monarchy.

Despite the show’s glowing reputation, the latest season has been marked with controversy due to its focus on the collapse of Diana and Charles’s (Dominic West) marriage and his affair with Camilla (Olivia Wiliams). Though viewers won’t find much scandalous drama in the first two episodes, heated confrontations and foreboding lines lay the ground for the “all-out war” that’s to come.

Even if viewers have no prior knowledge of these figures, the outstanding performances and lavish productions instantly captivate and bring audiences into the heart of the drama. Morgan’s knack for humanising each character on a profoundly intimate level creates strong connections between viewers and performers. While the showrunners have been open about the fictitious and romanticised nature of the series, Debicki’s disheartened but determined glances as Philip (Jonathan Pryce) chides her bring these situations to life in relatable fashion.

How far this season of The Crown will dare to go with its version of events remains to be seen, as will be the direction of discussion it will inevitably draw. Whatever the case, though, it’s certain that the combination of Morgan’s thoughtful writing and the tremendous ensemble cast will make the basis for captivating viewing.

Andrew Murray

The Crown: Season Five is released on Netflix on 9^th November 2022.

Watch the trailer for The Crown: Season Five here: