Season two left off with the Queen giving birth to Prince Edward (he was born in 1964), but in the beginning of this it said it was also 1964. This would make sense, but the Queen has aged quite a bit so it just doesn't make sense.
60 Reviews
the new faces
saadiazehra18 November 2019
After watching the first episode!
umarpakbaz17 November 2019
Why change the cast.
rajashakaziz25 November 2019
Love the show but
tladylaura15 April 2021
The ghost steps in
krovoll30 December 2020
As a Norwegian with little or no in-depth knowledge of the Royal House,
Yes I have seen ses 1 and 2 twice and kind of know a little of The Queen.
This Olding episode is a peculiar one. It is taking place in about 1979, so I am led to believe... The brown eyed ghost is having a premiere at the new stamps, in a few minutes an actress far away from Claire Foy is showing some teeth, and a grin we never have seen from QE II
Misuse of an brilliant actress. She belongs in another premier league Oh why couldnt we have Claire in sesion three? So it would have been an beliveable tale of Royal House in the 60ies! And indeed Vanessa who really portraied this era so fantastic!
This Olding episode is a peculiar one. It is taking place in about 1979, so I am led to believe... The brown eyed ghost is having a premiere at the new stamps, in a few minutes an actress far away from Claire Foy is showing some teeth, and a grin we never have seen from QE II
Misuse of an brilliant actress. She belongs in another premier league Oh why couldnt we have Claire in sesion three? So it would have been an beliveable tale of Royal House in the 60ies! And indeed Vanessa who really portraied this era so fantastic!
Finally
cesar-5174017 November 2019
Excellent start, ignore the vile reviewers on here
SJinSeaTac17 November 2019
Subtlety continues to go out the window
antony-117 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Season one was so clever and restrained. Season two less so, and this does not bode so well.
Claire Foy had quiet fragility and restraint that I felt was very beffiting the queen. Coleman while good felt a litle frantic, much more expressive and obvious.
This is perhaps not helped by the writing. The scenes with the spy were ridiculous. Not only could you see it coming she's then as subtle as a brick when doing her speech. She was seconds away from going "I spy an issue"... "sorry am I... Russian things along?"
It was just lazy.
Claire Foy had quiet fragility and restraint that I felt was very beffiting the queen. Coleman while good felt a litle frantic, much more expressive and obvious.
This is perhaps not helped by the writing. The scenes with the spy were ridiculous. Not only could you see it coming she's then as subtle as a brick when doing her speech. She was seconds away from going "I spy an issue"... "sorry am I... Russian things along?"
It was just lazy.
We are not worthy!
oliviarichardson199917 November 2019
Claire Foy and Matt Smith were the dream team
milaboersma18 November 2019
I must admit. The first two seasons of the crown were absolutely phenomenal. I was excited to hear about the casting as I love Olivia Coleman and Helena Bonham Carter. Disappointingly, I have watched the first episode and I miss Claire Foy as the Queen and Matt Smith as Philip. He was brilliant, charming and superbly reenacted and Foy perfectly represented my version of who I think the Queen is. The show is just not as enticing without the pair on screen, they had so much chemistry and reflected what I thought life was really like at the time.
Brilliantly addresses new, older cast in first scene.
niles-warren19 November 2019
I miss the old cast, but the new cast is fantastic and this change is much better than piling on the makeup to age the previous one. After just one episode I've easily adjusted to them (again, superb acting & casting). And the first scene of this first episode with the new cast addresses the change in casting/appearance with such sly wit that I have great faith in what the writers and show runners will do with this cast, and where they will take the series.
The beginning of an era
TheLittleSongbird26 October 2021
After two high quality previous seasons, expectations were very high for Season 3 of 'The Crown' despite the fact that the amazing actors that did so brilliantly in the previous two seasons were all going to be replaced. Also like many of the new cast members in other things and watched Season 3 with an open mind regardless of the many criticisms directed towards it and particularly some of the casting. It is not easy underdoing such a big change in a short space of time, and much of me appreciated Season 3 for doing what it could.
Will admit to finding myself disappointed by the opener "Olding", of the season openers for 'The Crown' it gets my vote as the worst. But not because it is bad, it isn't. It's just uneven, and, despite many good things, primarily suffers from too much change too soon. Change that didn't feel settled here in "Olding" and took time to get the head round. Although some may disagree, Season 3 actually did get better after with "Aberfan" for example being outstanding.
"Olding" does have many good things. As ever the production values are superb. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the photography that stands out in this regard. The music is not overbearing or low key. There is some thought provoking scripting and intrigue and some of the story compels.
The episode is also a case of the supporting cast being better than the leads, in fact the supporting cast were excellent. Jason Watkins and Ben Daniels are note perfect in particular and John Lithgow is very touching in his final appearance. His scene with Elizabeth, the dramatic highlight of "Olding" easily, got to me emotionally.
However, even for a purposefully deliberately paced series "Olding" can feel too slow and a bit thin on the ground. The scenes with the spy distracted, confused the story on occasion and could have been left out. The writing is soapy in parts, which was seldom the case with Seasons 1 and 2.
Count me in as another person that didn't care for Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, like them both as actresses (especially Colman, who was fantastic in 'Broadchurch') but they don't fit their roles yet. It is hard filling in giant shoes and again it is a case of too much change too soon. It is not just because of them being too old for Elizabeth and Margaret (it was like they had aged twenty years and the time gap between the events of the previous season and the ones here was not large). But also because Colman came over as too melodramatic, too firm and awkward, while Bonham Carter suffers from Margaret not being very interesting here (her character development in Season 3 was nowhere near as good or progressed as much as in Season 2), being too mature and from that it was difficult shaking off all the memorably oddball roles she was doing in the late-2000s to not too long ago so it was like she felt out of place. Colman actually got better earlier on in the season once she calmed down, Bonham Carter was not as quick to accept and had weaker material.
Summing up, not bad and has a lot of things that are noteworthy but disappointing. 6/10.
Will admit to finding myself disappointed by the opener "Olding", of the season openers for 'The Crown' it gets my vote as the worst. But not because it is bad, it isn't. It's just uneven, and, despite many good things, primarily suffers from too much change too soon. Change that didn't feel settled here in "Olding" and took time to get the head round. Although some may disagree, Season 3 actually did get better after with "Aberfan" for example being outstanding.
"Olding" does have many good things. As ever the production values are superb. The production and costume design are both classy and sumptuous, but it's the photography that stands out in this regard. The music is not overbearing or low key. There is some thought provoking scripting and intrigue and some of the story compels.
The episode is also a case of the supporting cast being better than the leads, in fact the supporting cast were excellent. Jason Watkins and Ben Daniels are note perfect in particular and John Lithgow is very touching in his final appearance. His scene with Elizabeth, the dramatic highlight of "Olding" easily, got to me emotionally.
However, even for a purposefully deliberately paced series "Olding" can feel too slow and a bit thin on the ground. The scenes with the spy distracted, confused the story on occasion and could have been left out. The writing is soapy in parts, which was seldom the case with Seasons 1 and 2.
Count me in as another person that didn't care for Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, like them both as actresses (especially Colman, who was fantastic in 'Broadchurch') but they don't fit their roles yet. It is hard filling in giant shoes and again it is a case of too much change too soon. It is not just because of them being too old for Elizabeth and Margaret (it was like they had aged twenty years and the time gap between the events of the previous season and the ones here was not large). But also because Colman came over as too melodramatic, too firm and awkward, while Bonham Carter suffers from Margaret not being very interesting here (her character development in Season 3 was nowhere near as good or progressed as much as in Season 2), being too mature and from that it was difficult shaking off all the memorably oddball roles she was doing in the late-2000s to not too long ago so it was like she felt out of place. Colman actually got better earlier on in the season once she calmed down, Bonham Carter was not as quick to accept and had weaker material.
Summing up, not bad and has a lot of things that are noteworthy but disappointing. 6/10.
wrong cast
waterblue211 June 2021
Season 3
bjodii5 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I couldn't agree more with the reviews here. After watching the opening S3E1, It's unbelievable they changed the entire cast! Who does that? Season three is an entirely different show. Princess Margaret was tall and slim, now she's short ( beautiful), but there is absolutely NO resemblance to the first cast. So strange. What if you were hooked on the show Friends, then in Season three they changed the entire cast. It would no longer be "Friends" and the show would be cancelled. Bad call Netflix.
Claire Foy & Matt Smith were born to play these roles
saradastoum-3960318 November 2019
It was a bit disappointing to see they've changed the actors. Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies were not that fit to their role , Claire was excellent also Matt Smith , I don't understand why they didn't try to use the same actors with some make ups ?!! But again I believe the series was good as expected.
Olivia Coleman!
Calicodreamin24 November 2020
Still marvellous
tureluur-9917026 February 2020
This still is an awesome show, with so much attention paid to the way everything looks in those days and palaces. The story telling is great too.
However, I do wonder why this Philip seems to speak with his teeth closed :-/
Very good start
sukiranepw17 November 2019
It is a very good start to the new season of The Crown. New cast are very much suited to the characters except, I dare say, Princess Margaret. As the season progresses I got a feeling that this season might be more politically oriented than the first one. Over all, as expected from the team they have done a very good work and can't wait to see the remaining ones.
Poor casting
adityamars6 April 2021
A great start
robandrachelw17 November 2019
To drastically change in actors
dbuckshnis5 December 2020
It's like a different show altogether
ManjeetG23 November 2019
I loved Season 1 and 2 of The Crown. Clare Foy was just amazing as the Queen. She brought such depth and nuance of character, as did Matt Smith as Prince Phillip. Just great. All the cast were brilliant. The show had a pace and flow that was effortless, with great scripts and I was invested in every word and scene. Whatever magic they managed to create in the first 2 seasons is gone. Season 3 is like a different show altogether. For me, the new cast doesn't fit - mainly Olivia Colman as the Queen and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Great actresses but they don't fit these roles. Also, how has everyone aged 10-20 years yet time has elapsed only by a year or two. No longer riveting, I find myself doing other things while the show is on. I could just stop watching but, unfortunately, I don't bail once I start something.
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