Any person under the age of 70 years old has only known a world where Elizabeth II was the Queen of England. The term "historic figure" doesn't seem to do her justice. On one hand she seemed like this funny old lady, and on the other she represents the latest face of a monarchy that forcibly colonized the vast majority of the planet. The Netflix series The Crown, one of the most expensive on the streamer, tries to put her reign into context, just a more emotional than historical one.

There is no doubt The Crown is a very sympathetic look at the life of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor or "Lilibet" to her loved ones. As one of (at least) three works by writer Peter Morgan dealing with the Queen as a central character, The Crown tries to imagine the woman behind the symbol. As with all historical fiction, it plays a little fast-and-loose with timing of events and characterization. Fiction is, ideally, a lie that tells the truth. So, it's not historical accuracy that matters. How those events live in relation to the emotional lives of the characters, especially Queen Elizabeth, is what this story is interested in. Entire libraries' worth of factual, historical analysis of the Queen's reign and the entirety of the British monarchy have been written. It makes sense filming on Season 6 shut down, because The Crown imagines how the people behind that history might have felt, so they'd be sensitive to the Royal Family's feelings at this time.

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Olivia Coleman as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown

Critique of The Crown ranges from calling it monarchy apologism to being outwardly anti-monarchy in later seasons. Yet, if looked at as simply a character study, the monarchy is almost a character of its own on the show. It's unseen, but it inflicts its will on every character on the series. Characters, shown to not be terrible people, do terrible things because the institution demands it. In reality, these are just choices these characters make based on their interpretation of what that means. Nonetheless, this nebulous notion of the monarchy itself hangs like a heavy crown over everyone.

Whether played by Claire Foy or Olivia Coleman, the "real" Elizabeth is always present and sometimes indistinguishable from the Queen. They are two distinct characterizations. Neither, however, are powerful women who can do whatever they want. In fact, much of the first season of the series shows how, even as queen, Elizabeth has to navigate 1950s-era sexism. Prince Phillip is played by House of the Dragon's Matt Smith, exploring early rifts in the couple's marriage. For example, she gets to keep her own family name over her husband's, Mountbatten. Yet, this is not a progressive choice on her part, but rather a way to ensure that her own late father's line continues to be the only family in the royal succession. It's as if they are as trapped by the institution of the monarchy as anyone, though their cells are lavish castles teeming with dedicated servants.

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Imelda Staunton in The Crown.

After a 70-year reign, the historical and political legacy of Queen Elizabeth II should be left to the journalists, historians and people directly affected. Because the woman herself was such an institution, it can be easy to forget that she was only human. Not only that, she was 26 when she assumed the throne. The Crown, whether monarchy critique or apologia, is one of the most humanizing series based on the royals. Whereas most biopics focus on the tabloid scandals, The Crown instead lingers on the quiet, emotional moments of the people behind these caricatures.

Fiction is great because storytellers can create wholly good or evil characters for fans to root for or against. Historical fiction is great because storytellers can imagine the emotional lives of these figures, which often say less about the subject and more about how they are (or are not) considered by the public.

The first four seasons of The Crown are currently streaming on Netflix, with Season 5 expected in Fall 2022.