There are several differences between the November 9 premiere of the fifth season of ‘The Crown’ with respect to the releases of previous deliveries. To begin with, the series falls squarely in the 90s when the popularity of the British monarchy reached its lowest levels. And, without a doubt, the series is going to review complicated and painful episodes that directly affect who was then heir to the throne and who is now King Carlos III. The succession after death of Queen Elizabeth II on October 8 it is still very young and Charles of England has shown on several occasions a mood very different from that of his mother.
It is not the first time that the Crown slips its discomfort with the series that fictionalizes the history of the British monarchy since the arrival to the throne of Elizabeth II. And last month the Daily Telegraph published a report implying Buckingham’s concern about the series’ decision to show the war between Charles and Diana. The article included statements from a friend of the king who accused Netflix of being “exploitative” and having “no qualms about sullying people’s reputations.”
The reviews have response from Peter Morgan and cast members, as published by Variety. “I think we all have to accept that the 1990s were a difficult time for the royal family, and King Charles will almost certainly have some painful memories of that period,” Morgan said. And he adds that “that does not mean that, with the benefit of the passage of time, history is unkind to him, or to the monarchy. The series is not.”
Added to the nervousness surrounding the premiere of the new episodes is the fact that in parallel filming the sixth season that will reflect the tragic death of Lady Di in 1997. A team source told The Sun that “approaching Diana’s last days and hours is very uncomfortable”. The closeness of events is making it more difficult to “present a fictional version of the real story with the greatest possible sensitivity.” “It’s harder to get a balance,” the source said.
Emily Debicki, the actress who will play Diana of Wales in seasons 5 and 6, says that “the crew and the actors strive to treat everything with sensitivity, truth and complexity.” The Australian interpreter has emphasized the investigation, the care and the conversations and dialogue with which the facts are addressed”. For his part, Dominic West who plays Charles of England acknowledges the responsibility that the sixth season entails. “It is hellish because It’s about Diana’s death, about scary moments like having to break the news to your kids. I have two children that age. It’s something we take very seriously,” he said. The filming of the sixth installment was paralyzed after the death of Elizabeth IIbut Lesley Manville, who plays Princess Margaret, has said that the scripts were not rewritten after the queen’s death.
