Series 6 of ‘The Crown’. 👑 A turkey for Christmas?

Sorry - should have proofread the above before posting. There are typos all over, but I hope the gist is clear.

I understand that point of view, but mine is that they don't have to watch it, and it's nothing that they haven't seen or read before. It goes with the territory, and the Royals use the media as much as are used by them.

You may just as well say that all the Royal threads on GN and elsewhere will be distressing to the living Royals, but people still post on those judging on what they believe they know the workings of the minds of people they've never met, and it's often the more prolific posters who object to programmes like The Crown, whether they've watched them or not. I'm not having a go at anyone on her by saying that, as I don't read the Royal threads unless by accident (eg if a title on Active Topics doesn't make it obvious that that's what it is about). I've wandered in before now and rushed out again because of the sheer venom, and as far as I can see The Crown pales into insignificance next to that when it comes to what must be distressing for those concerned.

Doodledog I haven’t watched it since the first two seasons, so perhaps mawkish is the wrong word, and perhaps I shouldn’t judge. But I’ve seen trailers and read about it and it seems to be complete fiction (of course). The problem is, particularly around Diana, that people believe it is factual, no matter how many disclaimers are put out by Netflix.

I just find it so distasteful to continue to pick over, and even sensationalise, those events that we can all remember. I stand by my earlier belief that this is cruel to the living, particularly her sons, who had such a momentous loss at such a vulnerable age and who cannot and will not comment on this portrayal. I feel that they have enough difficulties in their relationship, and that with their father, without an entertainment channel putting out material that can only be painful for them.

eazybee

I have never watched a minute of it and never will.

I'm the same never watched and after all the inaccuracies that were pointed out in the Times which I half-read, it's a load of made-up stories. As for Olivia Coleman to me, she plays all her parts whether film or TV if she is the raving Miss Haversham.

Like this

Just started to watch this but absolutely stunned that for all it's cost £225,000 per episode the costume dept has got the Queen's pearls wrong again. Don't they ever look at pictures of her? Always, always three strands of pearls and not tightly round her neck either.

Which bits did you find mawkish, nightowl? I've just started watching this series and haven't found it so.

Her sons were children and deserve to have their loss and their grief shown respect. It’s unbelievable cruel to turn these events into a mawkish misrepresentation in the name of entertainment.

I have enjoyed The Crown up to now (less so the last series) and am looking forward to this one. I think it's been very well done up to now. I understand concern for the living, but so much has been (and still is) written about the Royals, and both Charles and Diana courted the media for their own ends that I'm not sure how far usual constraints apply in their case. I don't follow their comings and goings on a day to day level, but recognise that without the media the chances are that the RF would be long gone - they use the media to sell themselves as relevant, and that is a two way street.

Regarding the 'ghost' - I haven't seen it yet, so don't know how well it was done, but I see ghosts as representing the way memories haunt people after loved ones (or not so loved ones) have died. It's maybe an unusual way to dramatise events, but I think it's an interesting one.

On another note, why is Netflix holding back the last episode? I find that sort of thing annoying. As we have the technology to choose how we consume media I wish the providers would let us decide how we like to do it. I feel the same with series that only show one episode a week. These days I am much less likely to watch them than if it's all there to view when it's convenient. Nobody would be forced to see things all at once - those who prefer weekly episodes could still choose to do it that way.

Well said A.N. Wilson.

I have never watched it and don’t intend to.

Im part through watching at the moment. Agree the earlier episodes were much better but I will propably see it through til the end. I dont take it any more seriously than I did the Tudors!

I didn't really look on it as the ghost of Diana. I thought of how when someone died you can sometimes think of the things they would have said to you during the day. The inner voice of someone you loved comes back to you in grief. Not a scary ghost.

Quote from a piece by A N Wilson in today’s Times:

“Clearly the most pathetic and tragic story in recent royal history is the unhappy marriage and gruesome death of Diana. All those close to her - her brother and sisters, her sons, her ex husband - are still alive. All are manifestly traumatised by it to this hour. If some cruel writer felt it necessary to cash in on their sorrow, they surely owed it to these people not to invent hurtful lies. In this tasteless sixth series, we even have Diana appearing as a ghost to the Queen.

Drama, however bad, gets into your head and you sort of believe it. Thousands around the world probably will actually believe this trash. But the pointless cruelty is what really offends.”

Nuff sed, I think.

I don't really understand how people criticise the Crown when they have never watched it. They may be surprised by the way some of the royal family are sympathetically portrayed. King Charles is seen in a very positive way in the 4 episodes of season 6 which I have just binge watched. He is seen to be very kind and thoughtful of his sons and respectful of the public's reaction to Diana's death. Of course we never will know if this was his real feelings or not.
I think that it is perfectly reasonable to dramatize the events surrounding Diana's death . It was a strange time to live through a country in collective grief. I can still remember in London people stopping in the streets and sobbing.Real life can sometimes be stranger than fiction.

I’ve enjoyed it and will watch it til the end.
We all know not everything is accurate and of course dramatised.
Back in September, I went with a friend to Buckingham Palace and while having a coffee in the garden, a young American couple joined us. They were so excited to be there and had watched all of The Crown. We had to put them right on a few matters, however. 😉

👍 Witzend I'm with you.

I have never watched a minute of it and never will.

I don't always agree with Lucy Mangan and saw nothing in the first episode to justify her judgement. We shall see.

I enjoyed the early series, didn’t think the last one was that good.

Will I watch this series, probably.

I'm with Witzend too.

Blimey Urmstongran were you binge-watching over breakfast? I enjoyed Episode 1, though mainly for the fabulous South of France set.

I’ve never watched it and have no intention of doing so.

Disrespectful of the Queen, sensationalist nonsense about Diana and potentially hurtful and harmful to the current generation - I’m sure it can only add to the rift between Charles, Harry and William when mostly speculation is portrayed as fact. I think it has become quite cruel to the living.

I loved the early seasons but stopped watching when Claire Foy was replaced by Olivia Colman - she was all wrong to me, both physically and emotionally.

I'm with Witzend.