The Crown Season 3: A Review

Now that the long-anticipated 3rd season of one of Netflix’s most popular T.V. shows is back, fans of the series might be wondering how Netflix has handled both the cast and storyline transition in season 3. Luckily for you, I binge watched the entire season and can sum it up for you.

The change in The Crown’s cast had been announced a while back and Netflix certainly took care in searching for actors to fill the shoes of Queen Elizabeth and the royal family. Once again, the casting directors have delivered and found incredible talents that have some uncanny likenesses.

Firstly, about the cast:

Taking over the helm as Queen of England this season is Olivia Colman. Starting out her acting career in comedy, Colman has proven since then that her acting extends beyond comedy in range. Notably, she is the recipient of an Academy award, three Golden Globe awards (one of them recently for her acting in The Crown), and four BAFTA awards. She is no stranger to portraying British royals and powerful women on screen either; in 2012 she portrayed Queen Elizabeth in Hyde Park on Hudson, she portrayed Carol Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011), and took on the role of Anne, Queen of Great Britain in The Favourite (2018).

Tobias Menzies takes on Matt Smith’s role as the Duke of Edinburgh. Previously, he has portrayed Brutus in HBO’s Rome and Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones. Season 3 of The Crown sees his character develop further, with several episodes specifically following his struggles with religion, a midlife crisis, the perception of the royal family in the press, and a fraught relationship with his mother.

Helena Bonham Carter steps into season 3 as an incredibly powerful choice for Margaret. You may recognize this powerhouse actress as Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter or maybe the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. She is no stranger to the big screen and, interestingly enough, has also portrayed Queen Elizabeth before in The King’s Speech (2010). Bonham Carter has worked closely with Tim Burton as well, lending her talents to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Corpse Bride among other films. Her work in the arts has been recognized, including by the Queen herself: Bonham Carter is a Commander of the British Empire for her acting contributions.

Season 3 also sees the introduction of some new faces. Prince Charles and Princess Anne, now all grown up, are portrayed by Josh O’Connor and Erin Doherty, respectively. Both young actors are active in theater, but their casting in The Crown marks a big step for them in their acting careers. Jason Watkins is also a notable addition to the cast of Season 3 for his portrayal of Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Finally, a review of season 3:

The first episode of the season, “Olding,” confronts the change in cast head on by incorporating it skillfully into the plot. Much of season 3 focuses on times changing and royal family members aging or growing up. Unlike seasons 1 and 2 where it seemed like each episode dealt with the royal family covering up another one of a seemingly infinite supply of scandals, season 3 follows the members of the royal family closer on a more personal level. Queen Elizabeth’s survey of her changed profile and her somewhat dissatisfied comment on the passage of time is what initially sets up this theme for the season. The dissatisfaction with aging is not limited to the Queen, however, but also manifests itself in Prince Philip’s sudden interest in athletics and cars and Margaret’s struggle to determine whether or not she has actually grown up from her unhappy habits of drinking and smoking herself into unconsciousness in previous seasons. But this is not to say that season 3 only follows the midlife crises of the central family members (although there is plenty of that), but it also gives us a glimpse into what’s coming in the future in the form of introducing Prince Charles and Princess Anne into the family dynamic. The stories and episodes authored specifically for them show a new glimpse into their strong characters and create an undercurrent of something that appears more fresh than the onslaught of press scandals caused by younger family members in past seasons.

Keeping to the spirit of modernity and changing times in this season, the creators of season 3 don’t fail to include the adjustment the world is undergoing to new technologies and new times. While the radio was included as a supporting detail in previous seasons, the television, aviation, the advancement of visual media, and even man’s first trip to the Moon is documented now as passing detail, but is at the forefront of demonstrating the way the world is changing. The setting of the 1960s-1970s also introduces 70s fashion and patterns, which are best sported by Anne and the ever-fashionable Margaret in this season. Margaret and Anthony make a splash in America in this season, on a trip that sees many headlines and many 70s outfit choices by Margaret. Margaret’s spotlight culminates in a rowdy quasi-diplomatic dinner with Lyndon B. Johnson, a huge departure from the way the Kennedy’s were received by the royal family in previous seasons.

All in all, season 3, despite how different it is in its approach to the dramatized series on the royal family, has managed to pull off the casting overhaul and the shift in plot scope very well. Looking forward, the cast is locked in for season 4 of The Crown, the release date of which has not been announced yet. The biggest questions left for fans of this binge-worthy series are: Where is Princess Diana??? And how much more of the timeline of the British royal family will this show plan to cover?

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