Buckle up, folks! The drama train’s already chugging full steam ahead for Season 5 of The Crown, dropping on November 9. The chatter’s hotter than a cup of English tea, with columnists firing off their spicy hot takes, politicians making headlines, and even award-winning actors throwing shade. The real kicker? Everyone’s asking if The Crown has taken its royal dramatization a tad too far!
Since its royal debut in November 2016, The Crown has spun a fictional web around Queen Elizabeth II’s reign—officially wrapped up on September 8, 2022. It’s not the first pop-culture offering to dip its toes in royal waters. Remember A Royal Night Out, where Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had a cheeky incognito adventure on V-E Day? Or The Queen, which tackled the whirlwind aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic passing? And don’t forget Pablo Larraín’s Spencer, which gave us a raw look at Diana’s struggles, landing Kristen Stewart her first Oscar nomination.
But here’s the twist: The Crown is entirely different. Maybe it’s the show’s marathon run over seven years, with ten episodes each season, or its star-studded cast that pulls you in like a gripping novel. It’s got that uncanny knack for weaving historical events with a sprinkle of dramatic flair. Add sky-high production values that keep rising like dough, and you have a fascinating spectacle. The monarchy’s mystery only heightens the public’s wild curiosity.
Now, enter former Prime Minister John Major, who isn’t mincing words. He recently criticized the show for implying that Prince Charles pressured him to persuade the Queen to step aside, calling it ‘a barrel-load of nonsense.’ His office emphasized that discussions between the monarch and PM are confidential, stating, ‘None of the depicted scenes are accurate. They are fiction, pure and simple.”
Major isn’t the only one voicing outrage; Dame Judi Dench expressed her concerns in a letter to The Times of London, warning that ‘many viewers, especially overseas, may see its portrayal of history as entirely true.’ She highlighted shocking claims in the new season, such as King Charles allegedly plotting for his mother to step down and insinuations about her parenting deserving a jail sentence.
While this debate isn’t new—remember when Season 2 stirred controversy over Prince Philip’s role in his sister’s death?—it has intensified as the show approaches the present day. Many earlier figures, like Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, have passed away, but now it’s personal, involving those who are still living. Prominent even called for a boycott, while Dench urged the show to slap on a disclaimer clarifying that it’s fiction.
However, not everyone is clutching their pearls. Some view the outrage as excessive, with The View co-host Joy Behar stating, ‘We’re not going to believe a conversation happening in the bedroom of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
With Queen Elizabeth’s passing in September, interest in The Crown surged like a royal wave, reigniting discussions. The question remains: Does Netflix have a responsibility to clarify its dramatized storylines out of respect for the royal family, or is it free to create its own narratives? To figure that out, you’ll have to tune in on November 9 when The Crown returns.
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