By: Elena Donatone
After a year-long wait, the historical drama The Crown is finally back on Netflix with a much anticipated new season.
And it was 100% worth the wait!
While season three was still very much focused on another era and the old ways the Royal family were set in, with season four we can definitely witness the show entering modern times.
The brand new season starts in the late 70s and explores the history and the always present drama that comes with the British Royal family all the way up to 1990.
Queen Elizabeth II, played by the amazingly talented Olivia Coleman, is once again balancing her role as monarch for the country and her role as a mother and a wife for her complicated to say the least family.
In this new season, we can see heir to the throne Charles (Josh O’Connor) struggling to let go of his everlasting love for Camilla (Emerald Fennel) as he meets and is forced to marry the young Diana (Emma Corrin).
"Charles loves someone else. How many times can this family make the same mistake? Forbidding marriages that should be allowed. Forcing others that shouldn’t. Paying the consequences each time."
And the British political scene is just as troubled and dramatic with the rise to power and consequent divisive government of Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson), the so called Iron Lady.
Although this season tends to focus more on private matters related to the Queen and her relatives rather than political and historical factors, it is still just as addicting and charming as the previous three.
And while the Queen is always meant to be the centre of the story and Olivia Coleman is surely just as astounding as in the past seasons, the spotlight is easily stolen from her by the much anticipated new entries Princess of Wales Diana and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Their characters are not only among the most fascinating of the season, but of the show as a whole.
"People do the strangest things when they’re unhappy."
Diana is surely the centre of the attention in the season just as much as she was in real life and Emma Corrin is simply splendid in portraying the charming and fragile Princess of Wales.
Emma Corrin doesn’t only look much like her, but she moves and speaks like the much beloved Princess of Wales.
The season almost seems an homage to Lady Diana, the adoration England and the world alike had for her when she was still alive and the unfair treatment she constantly received from the Royal family .
"I don’t think of myself as royalty. First and foremost, I am a wife and a mother. That’s what’s most important to me."
Prime Minister Margret Thatcher is just as captivating of a character.
As much as she was despised in real life as a very confrontational and heartless politician, Thatcher is painted as a more humane Prime Minister in the show. While many may think that is wrong, especially because of all the lives she ruined while she was in power, I suppose it was a good choice to dramatise her character for the sake of the story.
As we all need to remember, The Crown is based on real facts, but it still takes artistic liberties as any other drama.
And Gillian Anderson as the Prime Minister will make you forget any complaint you may have about her character, as the American actress is magnificent in her role.
"No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions. You see, he had money as well."
While every episode is very interesting, among the most well-written and produced is for sure the second episode of the season “The Balmoral Test”.
The episode follows the first official weekend of Margaret Thatcher as a guest at the Royal family Balmoral castle in Scotland. In the episode, we can witness the differences between the family and the Prime Minister’s life style and beliefs. While Thatcher can’t seem to fit in in the Royals’ eyes, who think she is quite awkward and against traditions, we can see Diana passing the test in the same episode. From the moment Lady Di arrives at the Balmoral castle, she is praised and adored by every single member of the Royal family.
"They aren't sophisticated, or cultured, or elegant, or anything close to an ideal. They're boorish, snobbish and rude."
As season five of The Crown won’t be released until 2022, we unfortunately have a long wait ahead of us once again, but this brand-new season has already received many praises both by fans and critics alike. So, if you haven’t watched it already, what are you waiting for?
Binge season 4 of The Crown on Netflix!
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