The first two seasons were fantastic in the cast and in the surroundings like the places and the costuming. Claire Foy as Elizabeth was wonderful and you feel for her. Matt Smith was the personifacition of Philip, Duke of Ediburgh in both looks as mannerism. Vanessa Kirby was an exellent Margaret, she nailed it.
But the came season 3 and the change of cast due to the aging of the character in time. But they overdone it. Suddenly they aged about 15 years in a span that took about mere months (season 2 ended with the christening of Prince Edward in 1964) It would have been better to age the original cast.
The most striking discrapancies were the actresses that played Elizabeth and Margaret. Olivia Colman made for a too tall and sour brown eyed Elizabeth and Helena Bonham Carter produced a middle aged Margaret with brown eyes. Both Colman and Carter, good actresses, were utterly miscast here.
Even Tobias Menzies could not live up to expectations. His Philip was bland and the brown eyes were distracting too.
Josh O'Connor was an incredible good Charles, what a perfect casting. He was the revelation of the 3th season So was Corrin who got to play Diana in the 4th season. Gillian Anderson was the ressurection of Margaret Tatcher. The costuming kept the same high level in authenticity. But the aforementioned miscasting made seasons 3 and 4 less enjoyable.
Update: Now that season 5 of The Crown is on Netflix with a new cast, as has become customary, I like to add that Imelda Staunton is well chosen as the elderly Queen, though still as aloof as Olivia Colman portrayed her, Imelda makes her more sympathetic. Jonathan Pryce is a believable Prince Philip, though a bit too old for the timeframe of this season. Debicki is a wonderful Diana, she is absolutley spot on as the more mature Princess of Wales. The only misgiving for me is the actor that plays Charles. He neither looks the part nor has the mannerisms. Josh O'Connor is hard to defeat as he nailed Charles up to his nasal speech.
All in all I must say that season 5 is in my opinion better cast than season 3-4. What stays the same in all seasons so far is the great cinematography and setting and costuming.
But the came season 3 and the change of cast due to the aging of the character in time. But they overdone it. Suddenly they aged about 15 years in a span that took about mere months (season 2 ended with the christening of Prince Edward in 1964) It would have been better to age the original cast.
The most striking discrapancies were the actresses that played Elizabeth and Margaret. Olivia Colman made for a too tall and sour brown eyed Elizabeth and Helena Bonham Carter produced a middle aged Margaret with brown eyes. Both Colman and Carter, good actresses, were utterly miscast here.
Even Tobias Menzies could not live up to expectations. His Philip was bland and the brown eyes were distracting too.
Josh O'Connor was an incredible good Charles, what a perfect casting. He was the revelation of the 3th season So was Corrin who got to play Diana in the 4th season. Gillian Anderson was the ressurection of Margaret Tatcher. The costuming kept the same high level in authenticity. But the aforementioned miscasting made seasons 3 and 4 less enjoyable.
Update: Now that season 5 of The Crown is on Netflix with a new cast, as has become customary, I like to add that Imelda Staunton is well chosen as the elderly Queen, though still as aloof as Olivia Colman portrayed her, Imelda makes her more sympathetic. Jonathan Pryce is a believable Prince Philip, though a bit too old for the timeframe of this season. Debicki is a wonderful Diana, she is absolutley spot on as the more mature Princess of Wales. The only misgiving for me is the actor that plays Charles. He neither looks the part nor has the mannerisms. Josh O'Connor is hard to defeat as he nailed Charles up to his nasal speech.
All in all I must say that season 5 is in my opinion better cast than season 3-4. What stays the same in all seasons so far is the great cinematography and setting and costuming.