To find the Crown really dull?

[Tollyray]

Starting watching this series after hearing rave reviews from so many people. I’ve persevered to the beginning of series 2 thinking it would pick up, but it hasn’t.

I really wanted to enjoy it but it’s so dull & twee. Am I alone in thinking this? What am I missing that everyone else loves?

Keep going. I found the later series more interesting because the historical events were closer to my own lifetime. I also found the political aspect the most interesting part, the relationship between the royals and the government. I think if you watch it just as a story about the royal family it probably is a little dull. I think the insight into the government is fascinating

I can't wait for series 4. I'm not a fan of the royals but I guess I'm the right age to enjoy seeing all the big events of the last half a century portrayed from a different angle. Some , like the Aberfan disaster have been covered brilliantly even allowing for creative interpretation rather than cold hard facts.

I loved the first 2 but couldn't be bothered after a while with the most recent. It was so dull. YANBU

I'm no royalist, but I actually really enjoyed it. Looking forward to series 4 and beyond.

@Flatpackback oh Aberfan 😭 I have never cried so hard at an episode of anything

Also just couldn't take to Olivia Coleman as the Queen. Loved Claire Foy though

I thought it great but not because of the actresses who played the Queen, either time.

I really liked Phillip and Charles in the later one

It will be interesting when it covers more recent royal life...

Yes it's really lame, I had high expectations when I first watched series one as I'd heard so much hype, but it's basically just Eastenders with jewellery. Soap style acting and really mediocre storylines.

I liked the second series more than the first.

The queen/Phil stuff is quite soapy although I love Claire Foy and Matt Smith so that does help a lot. I also thought Vanessa Kirby was amazing and so beautiful. The look of the whole thing is glorious.

I am rewatching the third series now having really not enjoyed it first time around. As a pp says, the interaction between the queen and the state is interesting- more nuanced in this series maybe.

Olivia Coleman is growing on me actually as is the guy who plays Prince Phil. HBC seems too old for her role which takes away from it a bit - it adds a layer of desperation which isn't yet needed. Love the actress who plays Anne.

I'm not excited for season 4 but I will watch.

I am definitely not a royalist but I enjoyed The Crown and look forward to the next series.

I enjoyed the series but could not bring myself to watch the Aberfan episode. I remember it all too well.

I thought it was brilliant, though they certainly tend to show certain members of the royal family in an unrealistically positive light.

I liked the first two series best. Partly because Claire Foy was way better than Olivia Colman but also because the scripts were better and the overall storyline tighter. If you’ve got to series two and still aren’t enjoying it, OP, it’s time to move on and find something you do like.

"really mediocre storylines"

What, like actual historical events ?

Love the actress who plays Anne

Agree. I thought she was the best thing about that series, along with Princess Alice.

I love it and I am no royalist. I really enjoy historical dramas though. The Aberfan episode was heart breaking.

Agree, Princess Anne was great casting, had her down to a T.

Love the first two series, wasn't a big fan of the 3rd, I think because most of it is set in the dull dreary 70s

As others have said, I am not a Royalist but during Lockdown decided to watch
Loved it .
Looking forward to Season 4

I love it but I agree it lost something when Claire Foy was replaced. Olivia Coleman doesn’t have the same subtlety, or the same hold. You’d believe Claire Foy was actually a young QEII

Olivia gets her all wrong, Claire Foy played her perfectly as a tightly controlled person with warmth and compassion bubbling underneath. Olivia comes across as a very efficient civil servant. I want to persevere with it as I can't wait to watch the Diana years.

Olivia gets her all wrong, Claire Foy played her perfectly as a tightly controlled person with warmth and compassion bubbling underneath. Olivia comes across as a very efficient civil servant

This 100%. Claire Foy played a good person underneath the crown, Olivia Colman ... not so much.

I agree. Claire Foy was perfect. Olivia Coleman just isn't finding the range or subtlety. She's too flat and maintains the same expression for most scenes and it just become tedious.

I loved it, but not because of the stories or even the people in it, but because it’s so beautiful and mesmerising and has great actors. In fact I’d sometimes think hmm can I be arsed to watch another episode and then every time I did I’d find it compelling, even if it was also a bit boring in terms of what was happening.

The aberfan episode especially, was so powerful and moving to me because of the amazing way it was filmed. I cried buckets.

And I could watch Claire foy and Matt Smith all day - I agree it’s less good without them, but there are lots of great supporting cast still.