Netflix has been exceptionally busy in recent years with shows unique to their platform, known as 'Netflix Originals.' From 'Orange is the New Black' to the newer 'Stranger Things,' many hits have been released on Netflix over several past years.
One of the newer ones, however, hasn't seemed to have gained as much attention yet. 'The Crown' follows the first tremulous years of Queen Elizabeth II, delving into personal and political battles following the death of her father, King George VI.
Claire Foy stars as the young queen, and this isn't the first time she's dipped into the monarchy - she previously played the ill-fated Anne Boleyn in BBC2's 'Wolf Hall.' She has clearly been an excellent choice for the role, silently showing the strength and will of the Queen, even in the more uncertain moments.
Playing opposite Foy is Matt Smith in the role of Philip, Duke of Edinborough (not yet Prince on the show). Best known as playing the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who,' Smith shows on 'The Crown' that he's still wonderfully capable of switching from playful to deadly serious and back in a heartbeat as the young outsider in Buckingham Palace.
Victoria Hamilton, much like Foy, is also back in the royal guise - currently playing the Queen Mother on 'The Crown,' she previously starred as Queen Victoria in the 2001 show 'Victoria & Albert.' As Queen Mother, she belies her precariousness as all at once widow, mother, former queen, and worrisome attendant to matters concerning the family's public image.
After Colin Firth's stunning performance as King George VI in the 2010 film 'The King's Speech,' I was looking forward to seeing who might take up the role anew. I was very pleased with Jared Harris' (King Henry VIII, 'The Other Boleyn Girl;' Moriarty, 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows') portrayal - he kept the integrity of Firth's interpretation and mostly just aged it up. The humorous moments between him and Foy certainly made me smile, and the various flashbacks throughout the episodes after his death gave everything a much more connected feel.
Of course, many other characters keep the family on their toes; from Winston Churchill (John Lithgow), Queen Mary (Eileen Atkins), and the Duke of Windsor (Alex Jennings) to Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), her lover, Peter Townsend (Ben Miles), and the young Prince Charles (Billy Jenkins).
Currently with one full season of ten episodes, each an hour long, 'The Crown' is definitely worth watching, in my opinion. After all, Americans have always loved keeping an eye on the British monarchy, especially after that whole business with King George III.
