The Crown's Emotionally Impactful Conclusion: Season 6 Part 2 Review

The Crown's six-year examination of Queen Elizabeth II's reign comes to an emotionally impactful close with Season 6 Part 2. The director, Peter Morgan, has made sure that The Crown is a memorable and perceptive critique of the British monarchy by skillfully navigating the complexities of historical events and personal relationships.

It was a wise choice to divide the last season into two halves, as this has allowed for a more in-depth examination of a variety of subjects and characters. The first part focused on what happened after Princess Diana and Prince Charles split up, leading to her untimely demise. But things take a darker turn in Part 2, with the Queen's last days hanging over everything.

Prince William struggles with the spotlight.

Following the disastrous events of Season 6's first half involving Princess Diana, attention turns to her older son, Prince William (Ed McVey). Along with dealing with his mother's fame, the grieving prince also has to deal with the attention of women who are infatuated with him, and his tense relationship with his father, Prince Charles (Dominic West).

With the promise of William and Kate's (Meg Bellamy) love story, Netflix had teased viewers, but what they showed fell short of the emotional impact that one might have anticipated. However, the screenplay does make references to interesting historical events, like Carole Middleton's (Eve Best) purported involvement in setting up meetings between her daughter Kate and Prince William.

The joy of brotherly love

A new dynamic is introduced in the latter part of Season 6 with Luther Ford's introduction as Prince Harry. In a memorable scene, Harry expresses his annoyance at being the "spare" in a fight with William, demonstrating his rebellious nature and refusal to follow the rules of royal customs.

William and Harry's brotherly relationship is contrasted with the long-lasting sisterhood of Princess Margaret (Lesley Manville) and Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton). The sequences showing Margaret's final days reveal the sisters' strong bond, underscoring a relationship that is valued rather than merely imposed by birth.

The Queen takes back the limelight

The Queen Elizabeth II is squarely in the center of attention in the last chapter of The Crown. Particularly in the final episodes, Imelda Staunton gives a powerful performance as the head of the royal family tasked with fending off challenges from Bertie Carvel's Tony Blair, the new prime minister. The Queen's internal conflict is depicted in a montage of cameos by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, who portray Elizabeth at different points in her life, as she muses over the monarchy's future and struggles between tradition and modernity.

The declining significance of the royal lineage

This season, Morgan and the filmmakers have subtly acknowledged the royal family's waning influence. A crammed living room serves as the setting for scenes that depict the domestic humor of the royal family. A striking tableau of courtly mannerisms is created by Jonathan Pryce's portrayal of Prince Philip's entertaining outbursts, Claudia Harrison's harrumphing Princess Anne, Marcia Warren's dithering Queen Mother, and the nervous stances of Princes Andrew and Edward.

Although Princess Diana's magnetism is difficult to match, Olivia Williams's Camilla Parker Bowles is portrayed as a calming presence who helps Prince Charles become a better father and gently works through the difficulties of joining the royal family.

The last goodbye

After six captivating seasons, the show comes to a fitting conclusion with its final episode, Sleep, Dearie Sleep. Returning to the central theme of the show, this episode takes viewers back to the amazing journey Queen Elizabeth II took to become the head of the British royal family, from her personal sacrifices to her ascent to the throne at the age of 25.

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