What Millennials can learn from the Crown
We live in, or at least lived in a world, where, until a few months ago, there was no looking back. All eyes were looking ahead, especially for us millennials. In fact, we have become so engulfed in the rat race of our ever-evolving times that we often forget our past, our history.
It is important to know why history is taught, primarily for us to understand the mistakes of our past and not repeat them. However, sometimes a web-series drops that is far more impactful than a history class and opens our eyes to a more humane but equally important part of history, like The Crown, Peter Morgan’s brilliant show directed by an ensemble of directors spanning three seasons so far.
The Crown, having covered from 1947 to 1977 of the Queen’s life, is a sharp, impactful and oh-so-engaging look at the British Royal Family - who are as enigmatic as they are in your face, and while other members of the family are very vocal and in present in the media, one member is omnipresent and yet we actually know so little about her story and who she is.
She has been reigning since 1952, 68 years! Apart from being one of the longest reigning monarchs, Queen Elizabeth is one of the few popular personalities who has never given an interview in her entire life, spanning 94 years. The show makes you appreciate a woman who’s been battered by the media but loved by an entire country and someone who has seen the world modernize but also seen the fall of the monarch’s power.
Claire Foy, who plays Queen Elizabeth in the first two seasons, beautifully encapsulates what the monarchy represents - stability. She talks about longing for a normal life and about history not being made by those who did nothing. Her resemblance to the young queen is uncanny, and her brilliant performance won her an emmy.
Although a highly dramatized account, The Crown, through it’s terrific performances by it’s leading ladies - Claire Foy in the first two seasons and Olivia Colman in the third (who is equally fantastic) shows millennials the impact of a monarchy in a leading country like the United Kingdom. It reflects stability, something lacking in today’s world. It tells you about acceptance, about love and most importantly about compromising; sacrificing. It makes you empathize with a woman who has lived in the spotlight and yet in the shadows, and sacrificed her individuality for the sake of her nation.
Whatever Queen Elizabeth is, her sister and husband aren’t. Princess Margaret and Prince Philip are shown to be moody and imbalanced, but their portrayal never veers close to caricature. Another strength of the show.
However close or far the show might be from reality, it has the power to make millennials reflect and think - even imbibe values from history. Shows like these restore my faith in history and its purpose, of learning to not repeat mistakes and appreciating our icons. It makes you understand the value of looking back, which can, at times be more helpful than looking ahead.
Every performance, every episode is flawless, and having watched the entire show thrice, it is the perfect balance of art and commercial. Right from the terrific leading ladies to Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies playing Prince Philip and the wonderful Vannesa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter playing the “other woman”, her sister in the shadows, Margaret. These compelling actors, complemented by an astounding set and exceptional cinematography create a series that can be compared to a work of art, and appreciated by everyone.
The show yet has two seasons left which will take ahead the story of the Queen.
However close or far the show might be from reality, it has the power to make millennials reflect and think - even imbibe values from history. Shows like these restore my faith in history and its purpose, of learning to not repeat mistakes and appreciating our icons. It makes you understand the value of looking back, which can, at times be more helpful than looking ahead.
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