AIBU To Be Disappointed With The Crown (Season 5)

[TheShellBeach]

I've enjoyed all the episodes of The Crown so far and was really looking forward to the start of Season 5.
We started watching it last night and we were terribly disappointed.
Imelda Staunton is wonderful as the Queen but she seems to have a very small role in the proceedings so far.
AIBU to wish they'd left it at the end of Season 4? Or is there a reason why Season 5 is just a bit "meh"?

I didn’t love it either but only watched episode one so far. I didn’t think the actor playing Charles had it right at all. Imelda Staunton didn’t quite get the mannerisms either. I’ve also read some negative reviews of this series which is putting a dampener on it before watching!

I've not started it yet but read a review saying the first 3 episodes are v slow but then it gets going.

She seems exactly like how I know the queen to be from the time. I think the queen was quite withheld for a period before she became a bit more IDGAF

I do think that Elizabeth Debicki is very good as Diana, Princess of Wales.
She looks like her so much and is a great improvement on Emma Corrin IMO.
I agree that Dominic West isn't quite right as Prince Charles.

I love it btw, oddly I thought some of the casting choices were odd but I've always been pleasantly surprised.
I'm really pleased with it so far and can't wait for S6!

staunton is wonderful I think.

I agree. We watched the first three episodes which were very slow - then it did seem to pick up during Episode 4.

Manville as Margaret, though, - not sure about that. She seems to be in everything at the moment.

I watched episode 1 last night and didn't love it. I can't see Staunton as anyone other than Dolores Umbridge and I thought Pryce was far too short to play Philip. I also found the episode very slow moving but I'm hoping it'll pick up

I wish I'd left it at the end of season 2. I though the last series was more like Dallas than the quality drama it started off as. That said I have signed up to Netflix again for series 5. I can't help myself...

I watched all of it yesterday and it wasnt as good as the previous ones, I dont want to spoil it for anyone so will leave it there unless anyone wants to know?!

Agree on all counts. I think in terms of 'art' they should have finished with series 2. It was more of a historical drama then. All those beautiful costumes and settings, and a period most of us don't remember. It was also kind of a 'coming of age' piece, with a rather reserved young woman becoming The Crown much sooner than she had expected, and the effect that had on her and those around her.

Now, it's kind of like a soap opera, and many of us can remember the period very well. That seems the case with this series in particular. None of the actors look or sound anything like the real people they are portraying, with the exception of Elizabeth Debicki whose acting is a bit caricaturish. Then of course there's the ethics, or lack thereof, of a heavily fictionalised portrayal of living, high profile people.

All that being said, like you I am definitely going to watch series 5. And no doubt it will top Netflix's viewing figures so I guess there's our answer as to why they made a 5th series.

@IcedPurple absolutely. I thought 5 had started when I signed up at the weekend so been filling in rewatching 1. I felt quite emotional with the wedding, accession and coronation episodes looking back from the beginning to the recent end. And yes, the frocks!

The only good casting IMO is John Major and Diana.

Charles and Princess Anne are dreadful likenesses. Prince Philip has nothing of the real D of E about him.

I mean... we kind of already know what happens. Since it's based on real life events.

Thought it was great!

Eh? Nothing even vaguely offensive there MNHQ…

That’s hilarious, Prince Philip and Jonathan Pryce are exactly the same height.

Dominic West as Charles is woeful casting! He's too good looking & charismatic & so far there's none of Charles' petulance & nerdiness evident

He's also been made the Villian so far (compared to Diana)

I watched it all. Thought it was a bit of a mess compared to previous series. Imelda Staunton is much better than Olivia Colman though who seems to play Olivia Colman in every role and Staunton's performance was closer to Claire Foy's so it was a shame she was under utilised somewhat.

Preferred the actor who played Charles before to Dominic West who didn't seem to have any of the mannerisms or speech patterns of Charles. Elizabeth Debicki was phenomenal as Di though, but it seemed like they couldn't decide which bits of her life to put in, so her story ended up being a bit humdrum.

I also kept wondering why Charles was dirty talking to Audrey Roberts. That wig was quite distracting. And not sure we needed a whole episode dedicated to a certain someone. I'd rather have seen that through the eyes of the servant (sorry, I don't want to spoil if people haven't watched it all yet).

On episode 3 and not enjoying any of S5 so far. Hoping it gets better. Not keen on any of the actors either this time 😒

I haven't seen any of 5 yet but watched all previous seasons. I think it's been best when it has gone off (orf?) at slightly unexpected tangents, like the ep about Philip's early life and "Bubbikins" with Jane Lapotaire (which didn't actually go far enough in showing what a truly amazing woman Princess Alice was)

Loved Josh O'Connor as Charles and Tobias Menzies as Philip, not sure about Dominic West and Jonathan Pryce.

I'm finding the performance as Diana very annoying- It's more of a caricature/impression than an acting performance, I think. Her Diana-ish mannerisms are magnified and not true to life (she didn't CONSTANTLY do that doe-eyed thing, and her voice wasn't always whispery and weak.) I found the same with Thatcher in S4- her voice was like a pantomime dame doing an impression of Maggie.

Charles is far too attractive and charming in S5 too. But otherwise, I'm enjoying it. It's skilled storytelling.

Diana is growing on me as series goes on

Dominic west has some brilliant moments but he's not quite there. Makes me realise how brilliant josh o'connor was.

Jonathan pryce is nothing like Phileeeeep

I cant see imeleda staunton as queen

If they could just get the voices. Queen and Charles are in their own league of
Posh