Sleep, Dearie Sleep

I must admit I wasn't too fond of season 5, with little dialogue and Imelda playing a somewhat insensitive queen. What a turn in season 6!!!! Imelda is perfect and the last episode was done beautifully :) I still wish it had more dialogues, more reaction from everyone, more emotion as the Queen is left alone by her loved ones, but they keep short sentences and looks, leaving you wondering instead of knowing the director's intention... But thats just my opinion... Most of the cast was perfect, Leslie Manville, Imelda Staunton, even Camilla and Charles and the boys.. Just a plaesure to see... Emmys for everyone!!!

The Crown has been a favourite of my mine since it started. To me Claire Foy is the definitive Queen Elizabeth and she and Matt Smith set some solid foundations for this show. The Crown always depicted its historical events with such flair, it was always captivating.

This final episode nicely focuses on Elizabeth's mortality, without stating the obvious, we know its about the end of such an incredible life. The final scenes show us it is sometimes more about what's unsaid and symbolised than explicitly telling the audience. There is also a great tribute to the previous versions of the Queen, by showing both Olivia Coleman and Claire Foy, that we enjoyed seeing on screen. I am sad to see a show of such a caliber come to an end but it's been a great journey.

I imagine that even viewers who have a staunch dislike of the royals might be able to appreciate what they did in this episode and the ones leading up to it; making use in a very clever way of using different actors (m/f) during the seasons. It is one of the ways how series that take time to let a story unfold can trump movies that have to squash everything in 2-3 hours.

The way how expectations, assumptions, snippets of facts and a good sense of what makes good television are merged is superb.

Also, I am not in agreement with critical reviews that wanted to stretch the whole period for another 1,5 decade just to touch current events. Why? That's another genre altogether. Nor with criticisms (like from a former PM) who somehow interpreted the final episodes as too discreditable to the royals.

So even if brought down by hating-filled emotions, please manage to appreciate how well the whole story line was played out entertainment wise.

Fitting end that the finale focused almost entirely on the Queen. Terrific and superb performances from the entire cast though the standouts for the season were West and Staunton ( if they both don't at least get nominated then there is no justice ). I will admit that I was rather bored with the Diana storyline since I've never understood her popularity. The season was not as good as the first four but stuck the landing in the finale ( especially with Staunton's subtle, magnificent performance). The final five minutes were sublime; especially the beautiful music. The final scene also, was perfect. The Crown will be missed.

The focus of this series was the queen upon which head the crown landed so unexpectedly and it is fitting that the last episode is about her confronting the past, but especially the future.

The queen must revise the plan for her funeral since she'll be 80 soon and this makes her think about "retiring", also because Charles wants to marry Camilla and once he's settled and his situation "regular" he could get the crown without sullying it because of his past misdemeanours.

However, the queen is undecided, because she knows she's the last real "royal". Her family is disappointing and the monarchy itself on the way out. A peaceful way out, for lack of need of such aloof symbols, but way out nonetheless.

The queen's choice of music was quite moving and so was the last scene, very well done.

After Elizabeth, Charles will take the crown on his way out, followed by "approachable" William, with his ordinary wife and his family squabbles with his brother who makes everything public. Goodbye aloofness, but also dignity. Enter the social media era, it's not just a queen who dies, is royalty that vanishes.. and I'm not even a monarchist.