The second season of the Netflix original drama about the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) covers the 1960s, a time that sees—among the crises and historical challenges—strains in her marriage to Prince Philip (Matt Smith). The veteran naval officer feels sidelined and powerless (his son outranks him) as husband to the Queen and leaves for a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, where he thrives being on a ship again and in the company of military men. Creator Peter Morgan takes on major historical events, from meeting President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy and learning the truth about the Duke of Windsor's shameful actions during World War II, to the salacious Profumo scandal that took down the British government and threatened to embarrass Philip and, by extension, the Crown. The series showcases the sacrifices that Elizabeth, guided by the example of her father, made when she stepped up to become the Queen, and contrasts her dedication with the behavior of both her sister, Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), who revels in the attention of being royalty without accepting any of the responsibility, and Philip, who is presented as a self-centered, self-pitying husband who is constantly abandoning his wife. It remains a superb show, with excellent performances, sophisticated writing, and lavish production values, and will definitely appeal to fans of British drama. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2017 second season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery (the Blu-ray edition includes an additional featurette and trivia on each episode). Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
The Crown: The Complete Second Season
Sony, 4 discs, 607 min., not rated, DVD: $45.99, Blu-ray: $55.99 Volume 34, Issue 2
The Crown: The Complete Second Season
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