The Crown - season 6

[1975wasthebest]

Is anyone else looking forward to this? The first part of the final season is on Netflix from 16th November (four episodes), and the second part (six episodes) from 14th December.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/the-crown-season-6

I thought the previous series was a bit boring so I'm hoping for more drama this time round.

@LoreleiG - Along with the official podcast I've listened to The Crown, post show recaps and The Crown Fact or Fiction.

Be warned The Crown fact or fiction is a Daily Mail one (I know) but it's interesting because there's one of the royal correspondents at the time who has knowledge of timelines and the facts of who was where and when etc

I think it is interesting that Camilla had ended up with a situation where she actually is queen, she has since her youth been part of the royal circle, and so are her children in terms of socialising. However, her own children and grandchildren are not lumbered with royal duties and press intrusion, even though they doubtless get invited to many of the parties etc and have excellent contacts. Not a bad way - for them - for things to have worked out, to be in a position of some privilege, but not actually inside the goldfish bowl

Thank you! I will check those out

The book ‘Lady in Waiting’ by Anne Glenconner is a real eye opener on Princess Margaret.

She clearly adored her and is terribly respectful of her in the book, but doesn’t manage to gloss over the fact she was arrogant and petulant in the extreme. She had a pretty miserable life, which may explain in part why she was known to be unpleasant.

It’s great. For a different angle, Ma’am Darling by Craig Brown is a good read too.

Gosh. That last scene in the final episode made me reach for the Kleenex. A real tear jerker.

I watched the last 3 episodes of The Crown last night. Really enjoyed it. The Princess Margaret episode was very moving and Lesley Manville was mesmerising.

There was a LOT of artistic license. I don’t believe for one moment that the Queen considered abdicating in favour of Charles. The tone of it was very kind to most of them to be honest. Despite the romanticism and the odd ludicrous moment (Diana’s ghost, the younger queens appearing and chatting to the old one), it was a good watch.

Me too

This is great! Makes it easy to identify favourite episodes to rewatch.

My favourite episode was Bubbikins (featuring Prince P’s mother) so it’s good to see it towards the top. I also very much enjoyed the one examining the Nazi connections, and the one where the fabulous Tommy Lascelles banishes Peter Townsend.

The stand-out episode for me was Aberfan but I couldn’t watch it again, I felt very distressed by it. It was an extraordinary piece of television though. Hats off to everyone involved.

@TheKnittedCharacter

The Crown Fact or Fiction podcast is worth a listen. One of the presenters is a Royal Correspondent and talks about all of the events, if they actually happened, inaccurate/accurate timelines and if decisions were in keeping with the royals involved.

He definitely felt the whole 'Queen considered abdicating' was a load of rubbish. He points out that her decision to abdicate in the wedding speech was ludicrous.

She would have had to discuss it with parliament, Charles, the PM, the Church etc etc.

It's an interesting listen for all the epy

I’ll look that up, thanks kenyaswhiterefrigerator.

Just catching up on this. Blown away by 'The Ritz' Lesley Manville is extraordinary as Margaret. I've joy been as impressed since the first couple of seasons.

I agree. I've only just got Netflix back so just watched that episode. I thought it really was well shot, and the relationship between the characters really touching. Reading here, I wonder if I can be bothered with all of them though. I might skip to the good episodes!

I finished this today. I really enjoyed the last few episodes.

On the whole I think it was well done, with a mostly excellent cast; I found each set grew on me as each series progressed.

I didn’t like the portrayal of Carole Middleton or of the Queen Mother, and the writers were harsh on Prince Harry (I haven’t read “Spare” and probably won’t).

I was surprised at the announcement of the date of Charles and Camilla’s wedding. The wedding was originally planned for Friday 8 April, but was postponed by a day at fairly short notice to avoid a clash with the Pope’s funeral and allow Charles (and others) to attend.

This did serve as a reminder that the series is fiction about real events and real people. I might watch the podcasts mentioned by @kenyaswhiterefrigerator - think you for suggesting them.

I haven't watched it all, so haven't read the previous posts to avoid spoilers, but it does seem like with every Crown series they decide that one character is going to have the best lines, the charisma. Matt Smith playing the DofE , whereas later he is more staid.

This series its Diana, she seems v different in character from the Emma Corrin Diana.

I got a bit bored during the Wills and Kate episode, so skipped yo the next epidode. I may go back to it. 'The Ritz' was so beautiful, poignant and well done. The girls who played E &M were uncanny.

I’ve just watched the Ritz episode and it was very well done. You very rarely see the slow decline of someone depicted properly on tv and you could feel how hard it must have been for someone who had been so glamorous. I’m also not a fan of the harry casting and also agree they screwed Carole a bit. They made her sound like a complete lunatic.

I've finally watched season 6.
To be honest after watching The Post Office versus Mr Bates I didn't feel like watching about a family of privilege in the same period.
But we put it on and I've enjoyed it more than expected. I felt it was as well written/acted as the other seasons maybe the storylines more in memory made it less gripping.
I haven't minded William but thought the Harry was awful but suited him😄.
I've really liked the Mohammed Al Fayed character he's made me feel quite sad at his treatment. I'm sure others would point out a different man but I feel he tried to be part of British Society. I rather admire him and felt saddened by his passing.
I thought the Carole Middleton portrayal was pretty awful and not really fair.
I wonder what it had been like to watch had The Queen and DofE still been alive.
Overall a lot more enjoyable than expected and I loved the Claire Foy appearance in the final episode.
I don't think QE2 deliberated about abdicating that much and I'm glad if she did that she didn't! I'm really not a fan of Charles and Dominic West's portrayal wasn't wishy washy spoilt manchild enough for me!

I thought it was an interesting study of a long marriage too. Seeing the clips of Matt Smith and Claire Foy being back, when they were playing the young Liz and Phil, they were like fire together. They played it as a young couple who couldn't get enough of each other, particularly in season 1. Then, in these last episodes, they had mellowed into companionship. I thought Johnathon Pryce played a blinder in the long lingering looks department as an old man wanting to get that intimacy back but also being a bit staid and maybe distant as life got in the way, which started in season 2. Great show and brilliant actors on their A-game on the whole.

That’s interesting bc I interpreted it differently!

< not saying my interpretation is right mind>

I thought Prince Philip was depicted as someone who was supportive, but was always either coming back in late or rushing to go out, especially in the latter years. He was always someone there but fleetingly and not a main central player in the Queen’s life later in, not to the sale degree as her sister was for example. I think the whole of the Crown emphasised what a lonely position the job of monarch is.

I've really liked the Mohammed Al Fayed character he's made me feel quite sad at his treatment
@Luddite26 I agree with this, I had no idea!

Mohamed Al Fayed was a wily old fox but likeable. He was well portrayed in The Crown. I too felt sorry for him, people seem to forget that he lost a son and no doubt he felt guilty, when he allowed himself, because he engineered the unlikely relationship.

I think Prince Phillip was portrayed a lot kinder and wiser than he possibly was! At the time. he was still infamous for his rudeness and gaffes and downright racist comments.

I think that's kind of what I mean. I thought they both played it as a couple who remembered their past and wanted it back but were just too distant. The episode where Porchy died and Margaret's birthday party does go to your interpretation more, though! As he buggered off to live with another woman a few years later I suspect that's the truth of it.

Instead of moaning g about The Crown, they should be eternally grateful that they were all portrayed so generously and sensitively imo! Philip especially!