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 think that probably is part of it, but not all - I've only seen the first episode so far which isn't quite in memory for me (I was four at the time) and I did still find it a very slow episode. It will be interesting to see how I feel when we get to what I do remember first-hand.

This could be right, I’m 32 so whilst I have a vague memory of the day Diana died I don’t remember the royals at this time or politics so I find the historical aspect really interesting still. I am not sure when they will stop making it but if it goes up to 2005 (I think each series is a decade?) it will probably get less interesting for me.

Terrible casting apart from Diana.

Who on earth thought Dominic West would be good as Charles?! Ridiculous

I would have said the Crown was my favourite programme before this latest season. It’s just so bloody boring! It’s like they’re so scared of offending anyone they’ve watered it down too much. I’m on episode 4 so just hoping it gets better. For me season 3 was amazing - Josh O Connor was simply wonderful as Charles and I’m so disappointed by Dominic West. He doesn’t have the fragility and vulnerability that Josh OC portrayed.

Exactly. Terrible, terrible choice.

I was really looking forward to it, but after watching 2 episodes I am disappointed. I think the casting apart from Diana is poor and it is very slow.

Yes, I completely agree. From period drama to oddly-casted soap opera.

I’m struggling with Elizabeth and can just see Umbridge from Harry Potter. I guess this is the point when the queen wasn’t as popular so maybe they does work for that reason but I’ve loved the previous ones. Casting isn’t right for Philip or Charles for me but I am still enjoying it. Only 2 episodes in.

I’m enjoying it hugely . The history around the Al fated family is interesting as was the Morton Book.
The Queen did go through a phase of being remote and stuffy .
c/m Not sure about Dominic West as Charles

I think we're 4 episodes in, and I'm not enjoying like the previous ones. I keep wondering who Charles and Philip are for a second then i remember 😂 I think they're not well cast at all. Also, the queen mother is nothing like her - she's more like the mad elderly auntie who's escaped from wherever they keep her hidden away, and wanders around in a nightie with her hair all over the place! Not that she IS wandering around in a nightie, she just looks as if she might do that!

Diana is good but over does the eyes and the tilted head. I said to my husband that the actress must get some stiff, sore necks and headaches after a day of filming! Diana didn't do that 100% of the time.

Watching it now and it's so disappointing compared to previous series. Very dull and don't like any of the casting.

I also don't get the dislike for Olivia Coleman. I much preferred her eposides.

I've enjoyed it once I got over the casting looking completely different from the parts they are supposed to be playing.

Dominic West is Noah Solloway and I cant see him as anyone else now.

Diana, I can't put my finger on it. She always seemed to be towering above him and although I know they were similar height, it's seems so noticeable on the show

I love imelda as queen. And Johnathan price as Philip tho again he's too short.

Some others, Queen mother, Margaret and Anne are terrible.

Camilla is good though.

I don't really remember Major as PM either, but did they make him more likeable for the series?

I am watching it for the second time and am currently on episode 5. I am riveted and impressed by the depth of many characters.

Major was just grey and totally lacking charisma in real life, the actor who played him is far too good looking and has more personality.

I've just finished episode 5 and the whole thing has been a bit meh up until now.

I'm really struggling to get into it too 😫

I feel like the casting of Charles, the queen and Philip was off. They also made John Major hot and that’s definitely not right.

I'm really enjoying it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Historically accurate it may not be but it's beautifully acted, written and filmed. The music is very moving.

I think it's incredibly well made.

He was just a dull grey man as far as I remember. And then there was the Edwina Curry stuff 😑

I thought as much!

I felt uncomfortable liking his character, like I wasn't supposed to but he seemed lovely 😅

I also loved the Al Fayid’s ep

I’m enjoying it. I don’t really want them to be exactly like the people they’re playing - crosses the line into impersonation rather than acting.

It feels a bit odd watching events I remember from childhood. Also feels odd seeing things with the benefit of hindsight - John major seems very very different now we know about his affair.

I've just started Ep.6. This series isn't as good as the previous ones, that's for sure, but I do remember this all happening, so it's interesting to see it portrayed in a fictional way. I enjoyed the Al Fayid episode, as there was some background there that I was unaware of and I especially liked the story of the valet (true, as it turns out, I've just looked it up).

I cant see imeleda staunton as queen

Nor can I. I initially thought she was Queen mother, which I could have swallowed because Queen Mum was a bit dumpy. The Queen was short but never dumpy. But the actor who played Queen Mother was tall and slight and slim, and also has taken comedic parts in the past so I couldn't get past that. The real Queen Mother was short and squat. It was too far away from the appearance of the actual Queen Mother for me to suspend my disbelief. Actor who plays Charles is way too attractive.

Lesley Manville and Helena Bonham Carter have both been excellent in taking on the role of Princess Margaret, with Helena having the edge because I think she looks most like her.

The actor who currently plays Diana has her off to a t. Her way of speaking and the doe eyes. She must have studied that very closely. But I think what has helped us all to suspend our disbelief is that it is all filmed in such a gloomy light. In such dim lighting you see what you want to see. What you expect to see.

Dim lighting allows us to let our brain fill in some gaps. So it sounds like Diana, and really, really looks like Diana. And with that, and the voice, we are completely convinced.

Out on the boat, we are not convinced that a very good looking Dominic West is anywhere near hacking it as Prince Charles. Dominic West is very attractive. Too good looking and attractive to play that part. It might be argued that attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder and we should all just go along with the idea that Diana thinks he's the bees knees.

I've just got up to Episode 4. Quite convinced by the Dodi actor.
Not so much his Dad.

I'm enjoying it, I think the actress playing Diana is very good. Lesley Manville is a brilliant actress too.

If anything I feel that it seems to move too fast, I feel that there were lots of events and they are zipping through them.

I love the royals though and hope they'll do another season.

Up to episode 3 and not sure how interested I am in the Al Fayeds, but hoping it’ll all make sense soon.
Agree with PP about Diana being a bit of a caricature with the constant simpering. Felt similarly about Thatcher in series 4.