The Crown

Very disappointed to discover Ben Daniels is gay.I really fancied him as Lord Snowden.

I am really enjoying it and dare I say feeling some sympathy for Charles.

I can see that OC isn't everyone's ideal Queen but I've just watched episode 4 (horses and coups) and once you suspend belief about how much physically larger than HMQ is, I think her portrayal is good.
Claire Foy played the young queen,Olivia Coleman is playing a Queen who is maturing as a woman and as a Queen.

Charles Dance as Mountbatten is another great actor well cast. The relationship between HMQ and Prince Phillip is well drawn
You can tell, I'm enjoying it.

Five minutes ago I finished that same episode washerwoman and my heart was breaking for Charles, he never stood a chance being brought up in such a cold calculating family. I particularly liked the additions to his speech and the link he made with his tutor. He was but a boy and an immature naive one at that and I too am glad that he eventually found the love of his life in Camilla. I am tending now to see Olivia queen as quite a cold hearted emotionless woman and maybe that is why she was cast in the role.

I've just watched the one about the investiture of Prince Charles and found that surprisingly moving .If only half of it is true I'm glad Charles has ended up with jolly Camilla later in life.I think Josh O'Connor is playing him very well.As are the actors playing Harold Wilson and Princess Anne.But so far I don't like OC in the role of queen.Her accent slips, and Claire Foy managed so brilliantly to capture a complex character behind the public face of duty.I just don't get any of that so far with OC.And there was a hidden warmth and humour previously,which apparently the Queen does have.

The actress playing Princess Anne is the best of the lot so far. She is capturing her mannerisms and speech perfectly.

The actress playing Princess Anne looks spot on to me. I’m actually enjoying it, though I agree Olivia Coleman looks a bit too beefy for her maj. but if you suspend belief a bit - they aren’t the real people folks! - it’s great to watch all the sets, costumes etc which are superb.

I once read a comment (no way to check its veracity of course) that Anne was the son he should have had!

I think Princess Anne takes after her father very much, no nonsense, doesn’t suffer fools gladly. I would imagine she is his favourite child.

Having watched several episodes now I have to admit that I can't warm to Olivia Coleman (although I usually like her).
She is making the Queen too miserable and too cold. And the voice isn't quite right. I think Grannyknot is correct, it's too fast.
It's very enjoyable though, and intruiging to recall some of the events which I remember so well. Aberfan was brilliantly done and very effective.

I watched the 3rd episode yesterday and I have to say I thought the subject matter was very well dealt with- extremely moving. I wont say what about in case I spoil it for you. However I think it unlikely that the Queen shared such information about herself with Harold Wilson. The actor playing HW is very good- interesting info about the pipe.

Harold Wilson was well cast. I enjoyed the Mountbatten episode. Being young and irresponsible at the time of the Wilson govt I hadn't realised how bad things were then.
It's still Olivia colman and Helena BC that ring such wrong notes for me. They just don't look right. They'd have been better to go for unknown actresses who bore even a slight resemblance to their royal highnesses.

I think Claire Foy (who I'd never seen in anything before) was very good at conveying there was something going on behind the steely expression, though we didn't always know what. Olivia Colman is more empathetic in her style of acting, so we do get more of a glimpse into the monarch's supposed feelings. It's a difference in approach which might also genuinely reflect a change in the way the Queen relates to people as she grows into the role and brings up her family.

I've been very struck by the similarity between Anne and Phillip's personalities in series 3, it had never occurred to me that she took after her father and even looked up to him as a role model!

I will also continue to watch. I enjoyed the moon landing episode, found the Aberfan one heartbreaking.

I've worked out why OC's "voice" as HM is all wrong (apart form being squeaky) - she speaks too fast. The Queen usually talks in a measured way.

I'm finding some of this series slightly pantomime, especially Helena Bonham Carter who is having so much fun as Princess Margaret.
However - it's still great tv. The episode on Aberfan was a triumph, how anyone could watch it and not weep I don't know.
Olivia Coleman isn't as perfect in the role as Claire Foy but I'll still continue to watch. I'm impressed by Harold Wilson

It doesn't get any better. I've started fast forwarding but it's quite boring now.

I watched the first episode with Olivia Coleman and am beyond disappointment.

I'm glad that most people find it a disappointment. I thought it was probably just me. I'd been looking forward to watching the new series but now find I'm not really bothered about watching any more. I abandoned the Mountbatten one half way through.

Awful casting with Olivia Coleman. And probably even worse future casting with Imelda Saunton.

I agree with the disappointing casting. Olivia Colman looks too old to play a late thirties character and she always looks miserable with a downturned mouth ☹️. Since when did the Queen wear nail polish ??. I also thought Princess Margaret’s portrayal was OTT.

Do you think any of them have seen it?

Or, to digress slightly, have any of them seen The Windsors?

But how far will they keep going? I think 20 years is much too recent. There are lots of living people who may be upset by the portrayal of their private grief and emotions as well as the inaccuracy of it all. These programmes go all over the world and I feel it's too intrusive.

I read that Chestnut and am conflicted about how far that will take us into the 21st century.

If Olivia Colman is doing the fourth series covering late seventies/early eighties then Imelda Staunton won’t even start late eighties/nineties for another two years - a lot can happen between now and then and it will still be twenty years behind!

Apparently Imelda Staunton is going to play the Queen in Series 5 onwards. It seems as though they'll keep this story going up to the present day! I have abandoned it for that reason. I just think it is disrespectful to the Queen to bring it so up to date.
If I were PM I'd bring in a law which says you cannot portray a living person in a drama (movie or TV) without their permission. I think the person deserves to have a say in it!

I hope you put your crown on before you venture outside, merlotgran

Apparently, when I put the dogs out before going to bed, instead of my usual, 'Get on with it for God's sake!' I call out, (in a sweet little voice) 'Be quick, come along now, be quick!'

He's hearing things. Must be his medication.