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The Crown (Netflix)


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Old 06-11-2016, 22:24
sqwerty505
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Just finished the whole of series one in a just over a day marathon.
Great show, wonderfully cast, and as already mentioned, great production values.
Just wish the proposed sixty episodes had already been filmed so I could continue watching.
I can understand that, a sign of something truly absorbing and a treat to watch. You really want to move onto the next chapter, to see how they show it, even though you know the story.
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Old 06-11-2016, 22:26
Inkblot
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The titles and the music are very Game of Thrones. Not sure about the script - was "snagaholic" a thing in the 40s? Or ever, amongst the Royal Family?

It's atmospheric and well-paced and of course the acting is top-notch. Having watched the first two episodes I'll happily stick with the rest of the series.
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Old 06-11-2016, 22:31
sqwerty505
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I've just watched the first two episodes and, I must say, they were excellent. The whole thing is just stunning to nwatch, it is absolutely beautiful! The end of episode two, with Queen Mary arriving (adorned with a flowing black veil) and delivering that solemn bow to the daunted new Queen, was very powerful and quite moving I thought.

I can't wait to watch the rest!
Loved that ending, Queen Mary was almost frightening!
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Old 06-11-2016, 23:15
STUFFY
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Loved that ending, Queen Mary was almost frightening!
I think in reality Queen Mary was frightening! She knew what she wanted and went for it.
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Old 07-11-2016, 09:39
sebanelli
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We've just watched the complete 1st series over the weekend. Overall a steady 7 out of 10. Its pretty atmospheric and beautifully shot - 50s Britain really comes across in all its austerity, very drab and bleak. A couple of major gripes though, some of the actors playing the main characters look absolutely nothing like them and made it very hard to recognise/relate to eg The Queen Mother, King George VI and Wallis Simpson. That plus all the smoking - every 5 minutes saw somebody lighting up! No wonder all the rooms and internal shots looked as if a bonfire had just been extinguished. I suspect the producers went slightly overboard and ruined the effect in the process. Everything has obviously been set up for another series but I for one won't be waiting with baited breath til next autumn.
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Old 07-11-2016, 09:42
little-monster
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I am hoping to watch it soon. I have been looking forward to it since they announced it last year.

There is a six season plan. Season 2 is apparently already began production. And every two seasons, they will change the cast. Because realistically, Claire Foy and Matt Smith obviously can't portray the older versions of their characters.
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Old 07-11-2016, 10:44
derek500
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There's a code in this week's Radio Times for Netflix free for a month or up to £7.49 discount for existing subscribers.
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Old 07-11-2016, 10:59
David_Flett1
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It's made by a UK production company, Left Bank, with a mainly UK cast, crew and locations and our UK subs would have used for funding it.
Americans love our Royalty. Hats off to Netflix though, they are using local native production companies, talent and sets not just in the UK but throughout Europe making more local content which will grow their worldwide subscription base and deliver us more content. As someone who loves foreign films and drama that is a bonus as I am sure most of it will be shown across Netflix regions.
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:03
The_don1
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Not sure why it was difficult to recognize some members of the cast I thought they was pretty spot on even with very little knowledge of the characters, Of course with people like the Queen Mother most people remember her towards the end of her life and think of her as the lovable old dear but she would have been a very different person during the time frame of the current season. It is very difficult to relate to people of that time and in that position (one that they was never meant to be put in).
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:09
hobbes
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We did episode 1 and 2 yesterday. What a shame its not on mainstream channels so more people can watch it- brilliant Sunday night viewing.

I thought it was beautifully shot - the smoky rooms felt authentic for the period. I remember my childhood when almost everyone smoked. Plus the location shots in Malta and Africa were gorgeous.

I thought the characters were easily identifiable- loved Princess Margaret although Matt Smith looked scarily like Gordon Ramsey!
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Old 07-11-2016, 11:54
Johnny_Sinclair
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Enjoying it so far and I do agree that the level of smoking is phenomenal, Buck House must have stank like an ashtray. I'm enjoying John Lithgow's portrayal as the irascible Churchill although I do expect him to go into his character from Third Rock from the Sun at any moment!!
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Old 07-11-2016, 12:41
waz101
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We did episode 1 and 2 yesterday. What a shame its not on mainstream channels so more people can watch it- brilliant Sunday night viewing.

I thought it was beautifully shot - the smoky rooms felt authentic for the period. I remember my childhood when almost everyone smoked. Plus the location shots in Malta and Africa were gorgeous.

I thought the characters were easily identifiable- loved Princess Margaret although Matt Smith looked scarily like Gordon Ramsey!
I don't think that any of it was shot in Malta though? The Queen's house The villa guardamangia is pretty much a ruin now. They also didn't include the Iconic shots of Grand Harbor or the magnificent views from Mdina.

It looked to me like pretty much all of the 'foreign' parts were filmed in South Africa. I could be wrong I suppose?

It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the series though, can't wait for the next one
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Old 07-11-2016, 12:50
MR_Pitkin
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Official thread here:-

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2187317
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Old 07-11-2016, 13:15
dollymix53
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I can understand that, a sign of something truly absorbing and a treat to watch. You really want to move onto the next chapter, to see how they show it, even though you know the story.
Exactly, I had quite a late night last night after the first 2 episodes I thought shall I watch another one! Ended up watching 2 more & will carry on again tonight. I'm really enjoying it.
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Old 07-11-2016, 18:20
derek500
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Personally I think it's better here!!! Comments on Sky originals don't go in the Sky forum.

It's a TV programme we're discussing not a provider.
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Old 08-11-2016, 08:24
Marmite Baby
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Never been a royalist but tuned into this out of curiosity expecting the worst ie some type of hagiography. However, I have found this series superb, totally absorbing and brilliantly acted. My only very minor quibble is why did they cast a 6' 4" American actor to play Winston Churchill who at the most generous estimate was 5'8"? Already up to episode 7.
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Old 08-11-2016, 09:51
hobbes
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We did episode 1 and 2 yesterday. What a shame its not on mainstream channels so more people can watch it- brilliant Sunday night viewing.

I thought it was beautifully shot - the smoky rooms felt authentic for the period. I remember my childhood when almost everyone smoked. Plus the location shots in Malta and Africa were gorgeous.

I thought the characters were easily identifiable- loved Princess Margaret although Matt Smith looked scarily like Gordon Ramsey!
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Old 08-11-2016, 11:18
David_Flett1
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We did episode 1 and 2 yesterday. What a shame its not on mainstream channels so more people can watch it- brilliant Sunday night viewing.

I thought it was beautifully shot - the smoky rooms felt authentic for the period. I remember my childhood when almost everyone smoked. Plus the location shots in Malta and Africa were gorgeous.

I thought the characters were easily identifiable- loved Princess Margaret although Matt Smith looked scarily like Gordon Ramsey!
Mainstream channels are finding it more difficult to even contemplate making a series such as this with especially with production costs running at £5 million per episode, nearly 5 times the budget for drama on BBC and ITV. TV also has to make a lot of programmes to fill a daily schedule something streaming services don't have to do.

However the advantage is that with Netflix you can opt in and out when a series such as this appeals to you and enjoy some other stuff too therefore it is easier on your wallet than a contract with SKY, BT, Virgin etc although SKY now offer NOW TV as a non contract option of doing the same as Netflix.

Sky broke the mould of linear TV, it took time for them to build a substantial subscription base but is well established. Netflix are building a substantial subscription base in a fraction of the time and will become part of mainstream viewing for many. Traditional TV will be around for a long time yet but we should enjoy the opportunity of having access to a diverse range of content on one hand a historical drama such as The Crown and the complete opposite The Marvel series of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. I have just finished watching Goliath with Billy Bob Thornton on Amazon which will be one of my favourite series of the year and again like Netflix I can opt in and out catching a few series over a month or two and switching back and forth.
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Old 08-11-2016, 12:55
little-monster
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It's a few years yet but i can't wait to see who they cast as Princess Diana. Those seasons will be very interesting.
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Old 08-11-2016, 21:00
MR_Pitkin
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Anyone know how they got The Mall to look like the 1950's, was this all cgi?
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Old 11-11-2016, 11:59
dreadnought
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Alex Jennings does a great job as the Duke of Windsor, wonderfully bitchy
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Old 11-11-2016, 16:40
louise1966
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Americans love our Royalty. Hats off to Netflix though, they are using local native production companies, talent and sets not just in the UK but throughout Europe making more local content which will grow their worldwide subscription base and deliver us more content. As someone who loves foreign films and drama that is a bonus as I am sure most of it will be shown across Netflix regions.
And we love their President elect - not!
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Old 12-11-2016, 10:44
Inkblot
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Personally I think it's better here!!! Comments on Sky originals don't go in the Sky forum.

It's a TV programme we're discussing not a provider.
Fair enough, but then why put it in US TV when it's a British production with a British cast and British characters?

Anyway... after three episodes I'm beginning to think Claire Foy is miscast. She's usually a good actor but I just don't see the Queen when I look at her.
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Old 12-11-2016, 10:56
little-monster
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Without sounding picky, this show is actually a British-American production. So i suppose you can discuss it in either.
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Old 12-11-2016, 12:01
MoreTears
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Fair enough, but then why put it in US TV when it's a British production with a British cast and British characters?
It counts as an American show because it is commissioned/100% funded by an American company, Netflix.
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