This is the 4th season of THE CROWN. The first two, of course, starred Claire Foy and, I’ll admit it: We had a hard time letting go of young Claire for a more mature Olivia Coleman. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Olivia Colman portraying the Queen of England – but we’d just come off our whirlwind binge of FLEABAG. We loved her in HOT FUZZ and, of course, THE FAVOURITE. Olivia Coleman is a comedian!
And admittedly, that’s why she is perfect to play a much more dynamic, wide-ranging character. Just as Claire Foy played the young, inexperienced, even timid monarch, Olivia Coleman gives us a middle aged sovereign who is reflective and diplomatic in her relationships, as well a fierce and confident politician. The viewer becomes lost in the character Coleman creates because she moves so easily between managing the monarchy amid the choppy waters of British parliamentary politics and balancing a life of privilege while economic and social dysfunction rage outside the castle walls.
But, frankly, this was the season I was really looking forward to because of – of course – Diana’s story. So, my attention was set for a scandalous treatment of the “People’s Princess.” Instead, we were given a much deeper look at who the child bride was before the Royals. The sensational story that we saw in the 1990s makes so much more sense.
At the end of Season 4, we know one thing for sure: Charles is a mess and will never be king. But I guess I’ve always known that.