The Crown’s third season premieres November 17 on Netflix.
By Ariba Bhuvad
It took a while for us to get here, but Netflix’s The Crown is back with its third season, and what a season it is! With it, the show is ushering new faces to replace the ones we grew extremely fond of over two seasons. But fear not, because not only did the replacements carry on the mantle effortlessly, they were the perfect choice in every manner. Did you ever wonder what Claire Foy could look like as she ages? Olivia Colman. What about Matt Smith? Yup, Tobias Menzies. That is how good The Crown is with their new casting as the series carries on to a different time during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Season 3 focuses less on the drama that was Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s marriage, and more on the social and political climate of England, as well as around the world. In fact, there is an entire episode dedicated to the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. After two seasons and a cast change, a series can easily fail to carry on as they did before. However, The Crown excels in its third season, more than it ever has before. The shift in mood, age, and climate of the world is intricately embedded in the storyline. Rather than simply focusing on the tumultuous nature of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s relationship, we are finally getting to see how they improve as the years go by. They’re more of each other’s allies, and that makes for some amazing storytelling in season 3.
The third season does, however, focus on one relationship during the course of the ten episodes–Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. The series does a phenomenal job highlighting the events that took place between them, and how that went on to affect the Royal Family. Helena Bonham Carter is a treat to watch as Princess Margaret and truly carries on the same persona and essence that Vanessa Kirby did in the first two seasons.
The third season also brings in members of the Royal Family that today’s generation knows more about. We see Prince Charles as an adult, being groomed to take over as King one day, but his heart is seeped in romantic escapades. One of which is Camilla Parker Bowles, who is also a part of the third season. If you know their actual history, then you know what’s coming up–and season 3 just scratches the surface of it in the best way possible.
Enough praise cannot be given to the new cast of The Crown, namely Tobias Menzies and Olivia Colman. They embody their real-life counterparts so well, and put everything they’ve got to make it as authentic as possible. It’s quite remarkable! And come award season, it’s pretty clear who will be joining the ranks of nominees.
Between the cast, the historical accuracy, and the mood of season 3, The Crown has elevated its storytelling by ten-fold (if not more). It gives us insight into the Royal Family in a way we never have before. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s everything you’d want as the story progresses. The best part? The absence of Claire Foy and Matt Smith is felt but not overwhelming, because that is how good Colman and Menzies are
I give The Crown Season 3 an A.
TV and City 