The Crown--Season Two: A Review

The Royal Family at the end of Season Two

Season Two of The Crown does not quite measure up to Season One. Perhaps it is because I miss Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) or because this season requires viewers to deal with the continuing affairs of Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) and the boyish adventures of Prince Phillip (Matt Smith), but a handful of episodes are memorable. Even so, Netflix’s The Crown is the still the best television series available. Two of the best episodes of the season show the grit of the heroine and both involve Americans.

In “Vergangenheit,” Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy) is brought to a crisis of faith when her uncle, the Duke of Windsor (Alex Jennings), seeks a return to Great Britain and restoration to a place of influence. Past events are disclosed that indicate that the former king once plotted with the Nazi High Command to become a puppet ruler if the nation were conquered by Germany. There are reliable historical sources that David (or Edward) was indeed a Nazi sympathizer who sought approval and favor from Hitler’s regime.

This betrayal comes to light while Billy Graham (Paul Sparks) is preaching his first London Crusade. Elizabeth is taken with the evangelist and is depicted as seeking his counsel on the nature of forgiveness as she considers how to handle her uncle’s treachery. In the series, Elizabeth is shown as a faithful believer who takes her role as the titular head of the Church of England very seriously. In one scene, she asks Graham, “Can a person be a good Christian and not forgive?” Graham’s response is, “One prays for those one cannot forgive.” She is shown taking that advice literally, but it does not preclude her rejecting David’s efforts to find favor in her eyes and vindication for past sins. Although her faith calls her to forgive, her role as Queen requires that justice be done.

The episode raises questions for us as believers about how far we can and must go to offer forgiveness to others. Since the former king never acknowledges either his political treachery or family betrayal, forgiveness in this case does not seem to be an option.

Another outstanding episode is “Dear Mrs. Kennedy.” When Jackie Kennedy (Jodi Balfour) and President Kennedy (Michael C. Hall) visit Britain, Elizabeth finds herself uncomfortable in comparison to the charismatic First Lady but also offended when she learns that Jackie criticized her privately. Her response is a bold move to travel to Ghana, despite lukewarm support from Prime Minister Harold McMillan (Anton Lesser), and launch a charm offensive with Kwame Nkrumah, who is aligning his country with the USSR. When she seeks out the African ruler to dance the foxtrot, she is asserting a personal power and prestige that many have underestimated. She becomes comfortable in her own personae.

Throughout the second season, Elizabeth is shown as a person of faith who must assume the moral high ground especially when surrounded by men who lack the commitment and conviction needed to do the right thing. In so doing, Claire Foy is able to capture both the vulnerability and the tenaciousness of the young queen.

The season ends with a family photo. Phillip and Elizabeth have a full house of children and have come to respect and support one another. Elizabeth has established herself as a power that cannot be disregarded. With season three, we will see a new cast of actors in the lead roles. One hopes that they can continue the momentum of the first two seasons.

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