The Crown Review: Where Are My Ladies At? (Season 2 Episodes 1 – 5)

Perhaps my expectations were too high, but the first half of Netflix’s The Crown Season 2 is quite the let-down from the show’s enjoyable first season.

Starting with The Crown Season 2 Episode 1, “Misadventure,” each of the first five episodes switches its main focus among the various characters. Unfortunately, this approach means the bulk of The Crown Season 2 Episode 2, “A Company of Men” is mostly about philandering Prince Philip and there is not much of Princess Margaret until The Crown Season 2 Episode 4, “Beryl.”

Some of the most interesting aspects of The Crown Season 1, namely the relationship between Elizabeth and Margaret and the in-depth exploration of Elizabeth’s experiences as a new Queen, are absent in Season 2. Not to worry, though! We do get to see lots of Prince Philip. Ugh.

One of the most frustrating aspects of Philip’s storyline so far is the writers’ attempts to coyly allude to his cheating instead of being up-front about it. They use the character of Philip’s equerry, Mike Parker, as a surrogate for Philip’s bad behavior. The lurid details of their five-month tour are told through Parker’s voice and it is Parker we see sneaking off to dark corners with various women, not Philip.

Maybe this approach is a way to keep Philip a somewhat sympathetic character. After all, it would be difficult to feel sorry for a husband shown boinking his way across the Pacific while his family waits at home, even if he seems to be feeling some level of guilt over his actions.

The amount of focus on Philip is annoying, but most of my disappointment in the first half of The Crown Season 2 rests with the disservice it does to its female characters. Elizabeth’s storyline is almost entirely tied up with her concerns over her marriage and cheating husband, despite very important historical events, such as the Suez Canal Crisis, happening at the same time.

Margaret is off bemoaning her non-existent love life, breaking off an engagement and then having a dangerous flirtation with photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, or Tony as he insists Margaret call him.

The tension between Tony and Margaret is palpable, although there are a few moments during Episode 4, “Beryl,” where his character comes off a bit like a creeper. This may simply be a side effect of the writing and direction trying to make Tony seem edgy, while also playing up the voyeuristic nature of his profession.

Many of their scenes leave me with the feeling Tony is considering making Margaret his next victim, instead of his love interest. Although I do appreciate how quickly Margaret catches on to and then rebuffs Tony’s initial seduction attempt.

Perhaps better times are ahead, however, as The Crown Season 2 Episode 5, “Marionettes,” seems to turn a corner. Elizabeth and Philip’s marriage woes are put to rest and we get to explore how the rigidity of the old-fashioned monarchy is being challenged by rapid changes in culture and world politics.

Seeing Elizabeth trying to navigate the criticisms Lord Altrincham levels her way, while still firmly maintaining her place and authority as Queen, is fascinating. This is where I feel The Crown really succeeds when it focuses on Elizabeth as she grows into her position as Queen.

The way she subtly dresses down both Prime Minister Eden and his successor Macmillan is also brilliant. After Eden’s disastrous choices during the Suez Canal Crisis and MacMillan’s attempt to pin the blame solely on him, Elizabeth taking them to task is a welcome demonstration of how much she has grown into her role since Season 1.

During the first half of The Crown Season 2 we see Philip and Mike Parker bro-ing their way across the ocean, Prime Minister Eden damaging the reputation of the entire country, the Queen’s secretaries writing a speech that opens her up to significant criticism and Margaret’s fiance cheating on her and then getting into a duel.

And it is mostly the women we see suffering from these actions and who are often left to clean up after. Basically, ‘men are trash’ is the message I’m getting so far.

If this is the writers’ intent, I say, “Well, done!” If not, I am left to wonder what they are trying to accomplish.

What did you think of this episode of The Crown? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Crown is now streaming on Netflix.

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