The Crown: Season 1

Pre-COVID, I had tried to get into The Crown and couldn’t get past the second episode. Something about it didn’t speak to me or wow me at all.

During COVID I decided to give the show another shot and I’m so glad I did!

The first season of the show walks the audience through the transitional period for Queen Elizabeth as she moves from heir-to-the-throne to actually becoming Queen of England. The show is tastefully done as it portrays the difficulties each family member, Elizabeth and Philip in particular, have to deal with as the transition occurs.

I’ve always been fascinated by European history, but primarily during the time period of the 1400s-1700s. It didn’t immediately appeal to me to watch a show that covered the reign of a queen that is still living, but the more I watch the show, the more I appreciate the idea of centering a memoir-esque type show around a living monarch.

As an American, I’m not terribly familiar with the government in the UK, and this show has captured my attention in such a way that I find myself Googling and researching different topics to understand the workings of the UK government, the impact different historical figures have had on the running of the country, and how Queen Elizabeth has become such an icon across the world.

It’s been fascinating and I highly recommend sticking around through the first few episodes if the show doesn’t immediately capture your interest!