Wear THE CROWN Again

Article first published as TV Review: THE CROWN Season 2 on Seat42F.

Netflix’s THE CROWN has returned for a second season. The series follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and the latest batch of episodes focuses on the mid-1950s into the 1960s. This will be the last season with the original cast, as the producers have said they will be switching performers every two seasons (which cover roughly twenty years of time). In general, season two seems to have mostly maintained the good quality of season one.

Picking up near where last year left off, things have gotten more complicated for Elizabeth (Claire Foy) in both the personal and professional realms. Concerning the latter, she no longer has Winston Churchil (John Lithgow) to rely on. Difficult as he could be, the new prime minister, Anthony Eden (Jeremy Northam), doesn’t have the same wisdom or competence. This almost immediately puts Elizabeth in a complicated place as tensions erupt in Egypt.

At the same time, Elizabeth fears her husband, Philip (Matt Smith), may be cheating on her. This is not helped at all by his louse of an assistant, Mike (Daniel Ings). Their relationship has been rocky ever since she was made queen, but this concern is new. In the first hour of season two alone, we see Elizabeth and Philip at their highest and their lowest points, as they continue to try to figure out how her official role fits into their marriage.

While I like seeing the contrast, I am going to take a moment to complain about the opening scene of season two, which takes place five months after the rest of the hour. It has become a far-too-common crutch for television shows to do a flash forward to try to hook the viewers before jumping back to the more ‘mundane’ parts of the story. It’s especially bad here because I feel the narrative would be far more powerful if we saw Elizabeth start on a high note and watched things fall apart, rather than knowing with certainty (for those not super familiar with her history) where it’s going before it takes a turn.

But that is my only real gripe about what I’ve seen so far of season two. Yes, there’s a bit of a hole without Lithgow’s constant presence. However, at this point viewers should be suitably invested in Elizabeth, Philip, and Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) enough that the story remains compelling. With terrific performances and wonderful sets, props, and costumes, it’s still a very impressive production.

I am most intrigued by what role Dickie, also known as Lord Mountbatten (Greg Wise), may play in this season. The first year found him often an antagonist, though not a particularly diabolical one, while the premiere of season two already casts him in a more positive light. Complex characters like Dickie, and ones who aren’t as famous as Elizabeth and Churchill, provide a good hook to the drama.

There is a fair amount of speculation as to how accurate THE CROWN is. While the major sweeps of plot can be fact-checked, this royal family is notoriously private, and it’s hard to know for sure if, for example, Philip really did cheat on Elizabeth. I feel THE CROWN handles this delicately, though, hinting when it isn’t sure, and leaving enough open to interpretation to avoid going too far off the rails, while still preserving the drama.

I very much enjoyed THE CROWN’s first season. While I’m not far into year two yet, I can tell I am going to enjoy this run, too. It’s a feat to bring history to life so vividly and interestingly, especially when the story revolves around characters who might not scream drama themselves. The raw, layered portrait painted manages to make for a fascinating series.

THE CROWN season two is available now on Netflix.

Blu-ray Review: The Hour

     BBC's The Hour is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. The two-disc set contains all six episodes of the first series, which also recently aired in the States on BBC America. A second series has been commissioned, but this DVD does not say "Complete First Series" or anything to that effect on the packaging.

     It's 1956 when The Hour begins, and throughout series one, the story unfolds against the backdrop of the Suez Crisis. Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw, Criminal Justice, Layer Cake) and Bel Rowley (Romola Garai, The Crimson Petal and the White) are growing more and more frustrated with their jobs working on inane newsreels for BBC. A glimmer of hope shines, as they interview for Clarence Fendley (Anton Lesser, Primeval), who is putting together a more serious news program called The Hour. Bel is awarded the producer role, and Freddie is forced to settle, after much consideration, with riding the Home Affairs desk. But a chance encounter with an old friend (Vanessa Kirby, Love/Loss) draws Freddie into a much bigger story. Not to mention the whole team will soon become entangled in the Suez story.

     It's hard not to compare The Hour to Mad Men, as many have done, because of the time period. Even though The Hour takes place in 1956, it feels more like the 1960s, and some mistakes, such as 1960s telephones, contribute to that. Yet, overall, with the authentic period stage, and the manner of the performers, the effect is a good one. The tone is slower and darker than Mad Men, and the action more plot-driven than character-driven, so it's certainly not a copy. As the hours unfold, the characters, a bit thin at first, become much better defined. As they get swept up in events, they begin to show their true colors. So it does start to resemble Mad Men slightly more, but it's still its own beast, despite the surface similarities.

     Freddie is drawn into a conspiracy plot by his aforementioned friend. The first clue, involving an academic murdered by a mysterious man (Burn Gorman, Torchwood) whom the academic sought to kill is pretty interesting. But Freddie, the main character in solving the plot, is abrasive and stubborn, which make him a little hard to like. He almost passes up a job at The Hour just because he can't take the position he wants, in front of the camera. Never mind; he will get to keep working with Bel, whom he adores, and have the freedom to pursue the types of scoops he likes. Freddie is definitely his own worst enemy.

     Bel is a much better character, daresay, the best one in The Hour. She is kind and tough. It's a bit refreshing, though odd, that in 1956 Bel is treated just like any other professional, other than the fact that she isn't allowed to gather in the brandy room after lunch. The impression is quickly given that Bel can handle her job, and will prove herself without making unnecessary waves.

     Of course, this being a drama, Bel is also caught in a romantic triangle between Freddie and Hector (Dominic West, The Wire, 300). Yes, Bel has a boring banker boyfriend when The Hour begins, but only Freddie and Hector seem to actually engage her in a way that she likes.

     Hector Madden is the playful anchor hired for The Hour. Hector's first appearance on screen is loathsome in the way that he treats Bel, but once viewers realize he is simply messing with her, it's hard not to be won over. Plus he has absolutely the right look for the role. The thing about Hector is, as he grows likeable, both to viewers and Bel, he begins to cheat on his wife. His reasons are complicated, but when doing something so mean to someone, can he ever truly be considered a good man?

     Those three carry the series, but they aren't alone on screen. A smattering of colorful supporting characters raise the overall quality of the series several notched. In particular Anna Chancellor (MI-5), Joshua McGuire, and Lisa Greenwood stand out. Which is why it is nice they all get to speak in the extras. 

 

     The features on this set are sparse, but valuable. Two featurettes, comprising approximately half an hour, go into the design of the series. Specific characters are discussed, and what drives them. It's a look behind the scenes with the cast and producers that really explains just what they were trying to do. Overall, they succeed.

     The Blu-ray version of The Hour is presented in 1080i High Definition, with a 16:9 picture ratio. The audio is Stereo 2.0 LPCM. What this means is, although the series is set long ago, it looks crisp, clean, and new with a perfect picture. Heavy Blu-ray users and spoiled Americans may miss the surround sound aspect, reduced merely to a two speaker system for this series. Because this isn't a big action piece, that's fine, but one does wish the newsroom scenes were a little more complete, from an audio standpoint. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by the busy work sounds, immersed in such an otherwise rich world?

     Buy The Hour on Blu-ray today.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: The Hour on Blogcritics.

The Hour ticks away

     It's 1956 when BBC America's The Hour begins. Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw, Criminal Justice, Layer Cake) and Bel Rowley (Romola Garai, The Crimson Petal and the White) are growing more and more frustrated with their job working on inane newsreels for BBC. A glimmer of hope shines, as they interview with Clarence Fendley (Anton Lesser, Primeval), who is putting together a more serious news program called The Hour. Bel is awarded the producer role, and Freddie is forced to settle, after much consideration, with riding the Home Affairs desk. But a chance encounter with an old friend (Vanessa Kirby, Love/Loss) draws Freddie into a much bigger story.

     It's hard not to compare The Hour to Mad Men, as many have done, because of the time period. Even though The Hour takes place in 1956, it feels more like the 1960s, and some mistakes, such as 1960s telephones, contribute to that. Yet, the tone is slower and darker, the people less defined, and the action more plot-driven than character-driven, so it's certainly not a copy. Overall, the first hour is intriguing, but pacing needs to be ratcheted up, and viewers must be made to care about the characters more, if the series wants to truly succeed.

     There's nothing wrong with a conspiracy plot that will span the season, and Freddie is drawn into the plot by his friend. The first clue, involving an academic killed by a mysterious man (Burn Gorman, Torchwood) whom the academic sought to kill is pretty interesting. But Freddie, the main character in solving the plot, is abrasive and stubborn, which make him a little hard to like. He almost passes up a job at The Hour just because he can't take the position he wants, in front of the camera. Never mind; he will get to keep working with Bel, whom he adores, and have the freedom to pursue the types of scoops he likes.

     Bel is a much better character. She is kind and tough, though the series doesn't focus on how unusual it is for a woman to rise to such a high ranking position in a 1950s newsroom. Was it that different in England than in the states? Anyway, it's a bit refreshing, though odd, that in 1956 Bel is treated just like any other professional, other than the fact that she isn't allowed to gather in the brandy room after lunch. The impression is quickly given that Bel can handle her job, and will prove herself without making unnecessary waves.

     Joining Bel and Freddie is Hector Madden (Dominic West, The Wire, 300), a playful anchor. Hector's first appearance on screen is loathsome in the way that he treats Bel, but once viewers realize he is simply messing with her, it's hard not to be won over. He seems like a decent human being, if a bit ornery. He has the right look for the role, and should provide a good third angle in the Bel/Freddie love triangle. Yes, Bel has a boring banker boyfriend, but only Freddie and Hector seem to actually engage her in a way that she likes. She will dump her beau soon enough.

     With a great cast, it is up to the writers to make The Hour worth watching. The seeds are planted for a very interesting, somewhat original show. But the plant is far from sprouted.

     Watch The Hour Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on BBC America.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to watch streaming episodes or preorder The Hour on Blu-ray and DVD.

Article first published as TV Review: The Hour - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.