The Crown: How Is This Latest British Emmy Bait?

The British are coming! The British are coming! 

Let's face it, the British have once again invaded entertainment.

Ever since our fair shores were graced with Harry Potter in the late 90s, our colonial forebears have seen a resurgence in the world of filmed entertainment.

Lady Mary and the brood at "Downton Abbey" became a major hit in the states, our "inner Anglophile" bubbled to the surface, and studios have decided to infuse entertainment with a healthy dose of Britannia...

PBS has increased its profile -- and lowered its average viewer age -- with ample helpings of new shows co-produced with the BBC and ITV.

The two latest "Star Wars" films feature plucky, young, brunette protagonists -- both Brits, and both with smokin' hot accents.

Superman is played by a British guy.

Batman used to be played by a British guy.

And streaming services have long attracted subscribers with cult British faves like "Doctor Who" (a show Bridget and I grew up watching on our PBS affiliate weekday afternoons).

It's a wonder we haven't traded in "My Country 'Tis of Thee" for "God Save the Queen"...

Netflix is certainly paying honor to the queen with its ambitious new series "The Crown" which debuted this month on the streaming giant (a co-production with Sony Pictures).

This stands as Netflix's most ambitious drama to date. The budget for the 10-episode first season is a reported ~$150 million, and you can see every penny dripping in muted majesty on screen.

The first season is centered in the 1950s, and focuses on the rise of Queen Elizabeth II, after the death of her father, King George IV.

Claire Foy plays Elizabeth, and does a wonderful job navigating the treacherous world of a staid monarchy struggling to stay relevant in a changing world. Foy provides a pitch-perfect performance as a young monarch struggling to realize her idealist views as they are tamped down by long-held traditions and laws put in place by parliament and the Church of England.

Matt Smith (best known for his gangly portrayal of the titular character on "Doctor Who") plays Elizabeth's husband Lord Philip Mountbatten -- who is seen as both an ardent supporter and perpetual skeptic of the royal way.

The production is lavish and compelling. Each episode (roughly 58-minutes each) is as much it's own mini-movie as it is a chapter in this serialized series.

The sets and scenery are gorgeous, as are the costumes featured.

This featurette illustrates the care and detail that went into the costumes employed in the series: 

There is a melancholy tone to the post-World War II Britain seen in "The Crown." And while that makes this period drama less frothy than an offering like "Downton Abbey," it is an imminently binge-worthy drama with its own driving pace and structure.

Pieces of history are woven throughout the show. While this could have been heavy-handed and trite, the filmmakers had a deft touch with the material, and each instance is used to further the subtle character development.

"The Crown" was created by Peter Morgan, and is based on his stage play titled "The Audience." Morgan also wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for the movie "The Queen," which focuses on an older Elizabeth.

You can tell throughout the 10-episode run of "The Crown" that Morgan knows this territory well. His scripts are razor sharp, and the large cast avoids coming across as caricatures during the unfolding narrative -- which is a danger with this sort of material.

I don't want to give away too many plot points. I'd rather let you watch the show without any major spoilers.

The rumbling pulse of "The Crown" is provided by Winston Churchill, played in all his gruff, curmudgeonly glory by John Lithgow. The tired old war horse -- who likes to remind those he encounters that he saved the world from fascism -- serves as sort of an odd, arms-length mentor to Elizabeth. He provides the most lively performance in the production.

As the show delves into the drama surrounding the royal family in the 1950s, it is made all the more fascinating with the knowledge that Elizabeth is still the queen, and her husband Philip is still alive in "Merrie Olde England." In fact, the couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary two days ago.

It is with a certain amount of regret that I tore through "The Crown" so quickly. It will be another year before a new season is available.

"The Crown" is definitely worth your time -- elegantly drawn and crafted with care. 

Long live our noble queen...

Where to Watch: Netflix (Streaming Subscriptions)
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 10
Rating: TV-MA