Release Date: November 4, 2016

Number of Seasons: 2

Created by: Peter Morgan

Starring: Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II), Matt Smith (Prince Philip), Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret), John Lithgow (Winston Churchill)

MPAA Rating: TV-MA

Our Rating: A

“The Crown” may not be the most talked about series at school, but it is certainly one of the most critically acclaimed shows on Netflix. It is a common misconception that “The Crown” is boring, undoubtedly because it has to do with British history and the royal family. However, since the first episode, “The Crown” proves that it is much more than that. “The Crown” incorporates the prevalent themes of modern-day TV shows and intertwines it with the story of the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

Considering their budget of £100 million, the sets, costumes and actors are of the highest quality. When watching “The Crown,” it is hard to miss the historical references that are executed with elaborate detail, such as the replication of Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace as well as the dresses that Claire Foy wears. Even John Lithgow was hired to play Winston Churchill, which definitely cost the show a pretty penny.

“I really enjoy the series. As the longest-reigning British monarch, I think seeing the genesis of her reign is fascinating as she navigates the path between wife, mother and monarch,” AP European History teacher Mrs. Landsea said.

“The Crown” is definitely of great help for students who are studying either late European History or Contemporary History, seeing as it provides a “look” into 20th century society.

The show begins with the end of the reign of King George IV, while Elizabeth is nervous about inheriting the throne after her father passes. She takes on the responsibilities of addressing the public, making political decisions and working with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Seasons one and two of “The Crown” show the important events that occurred throughout Elizabeth’s early reign. For example, it talks about the abdication of former King Edward VIII, the televising of the queen’s coronation and the Suez Crisis, just to name a few.

In every TV show, there is drama. “The Crown” gives a glimpse of what supposedly occurred in the royal family at the time of the queen’s reign. The first scandal that led to Elizabeth being the queen in the first place is that Edward VIII abdicated because he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. “The Crown” shows the perspectives of both the royal family and Edward’s wife’s family. The show also develops the tension between Queen Elizabeth I and Prince Philip as she takes the duty of being sovereign.

Finally, the most prominent scandal is that of Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend. The romance was in every newspaper at the time period, making it a big issue in the royal family. “The Crown” does a great job of putting the image of how the royal family works and the etiquette that comes with the job.

“I watched the first season of ‘The Crown’ and I thought it was interesting to see the life of a monarch. It put’s my history lessons into perspective,” sophomore Lia Rodriguez said.

There is a lot of history within the brief hour that is an episode, but it is definitely worth the watch. When browsing Netflix and conflicted on what to watch, “The Crown” is the way to go. Catch up while it’s still only two seasons long and before they change the whole cast for the third season.