The Crown - Too Much, Too Soon

 

Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) scooping food with a large spoon and on the next scene, vomiting it up. Prince Charles (josh O'connor) looming on he's unhappy marriage like some royal version of Anakin Skywalker, on the verge of becoming Darth Vader. This is what Neflix's The crown was mainly focused on its fourth season. And on the fifth season it is about to give us more of it, despite of the pleads from Prince William.

In late 16^th and early 17^th century, William Shakespeare was also opening royal closets to reveal skeletons, albeit he did it with monarchs whom had reigned enough long time ago, enough water flown under Thames's bridges. He was a favourite both Elizabeth I and James I. He even flattered James I with a play that was about ancient Scottish King, Macbeth, and by including it scenes of evil witchcraft, he was coping he's majesty's religious believes. Even when watching he's father murdered on stage over and over again, was not too much, that is Hamlet's father killed by poisoned ear. James's father Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley died from infected ear, rumored to be poisoned.

There were of course plays that crossed the fine line of decency, albeit played far away from royal presence. Late 18^th century was a time of political satire both in theater and on cartoons likes of James Gilray's. The royal family got its share along with politics. What ever George III did or sometimes did not, Gilray was apt to illustrate it. George IV was nothing like modern tidy looking monarch. A Prince of Wales like him on these days would bring back ideas of the republic on every British mind, obese, red faced, sweaty and constantly drunk.

However, television and modern version of it, that is broadcast by Internet, is very wide spread and reaches hundreds of million viewers. And alas, too soon, we get to see something that we are aware to be too painful to all families it concerns, the royal. Us historians tend to study events that have ended, preferably taking regard the living persons our writings would concern.

I know Netflix is a business and it has to make interesting content to get viewers and make money, and it makes some really excellent content. I have some great idea for Netflix: Make a prequel for The Crown and start from George IV, there is stuff dirty enough, and enough water flown on Thames.