Have you seen the Netflix-original series The Crown yet? I started binge-watching it over the break, and I’m hooked. It’s a fascinating portrayal of the British royal family, and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who became queen at the young age of 25! For reference, she’s now 90 years old.

The Crown is a dialogue-heavy, period piece that centers around the public versus private persona of Queen Elizabeth II. Each episode is visually beautiful, with a set design that shows off the stunning interior rooms of the various homes and, of course, the palace – velvet this, tapestry that, gilded galore – and the regal taste that accompanies royalty. The acting is superb, with two standouts: John Lithgow as the formidable Winston Churchill, and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, a delight to watch as the carefree, effervescent, and ‘rebellious’ sibling living in the shadow of her sensible sister.

I love how the series juxtaposes the Queen and her obligations to the crown versus herself and family: on one hand, there is a thousand years weight that is tied up in duty, tradition, protocol and preserving the Monarchy, which overshadows the Queen’s responsibilities as wife, mother, daughter and sister. On the other hand is the Queen’s desire for her individual freedom and to enjoy and maintain some semblance of a ‘normal, simple’ life. What a tradeoff.

Anyway, it’s so good and I highly recommend if you’re in need of a new show. I can’t wait for Season 2!

Here’s the trailer in case you missed it:

*My husband says it’s slow and boring and all the actions and genuflecting and rumination’s seem absurd. Boo.

P.S. This is how much it cost to replicate Queen Elizabeth’s wedding dress for ‘The Crown.’