Dame Judi Dench has recently taken jabs at the series dubbing it “crude and cruel” whilst also dismissing the storylines as “inaccurate and hurtful.” The bond actress wrote these words in her open letter in newspaper ‘The Times’ where she put ‘The Crown’ on blast. However, stars of ‘The Crown’ have fought back with Jonathan Pryce – who plays Prince Phillip – expressing his “huge disappointment in fellow artists.”
Such high-profile discussion has only re-emerged and amplified the ongoing conversation into how appropriate the series truly is, and whether it is time for a content warning. For me, it isn’t. I personally find 'The Crown’s' current clarification of fictional content to be more than sufficient, their Instagram biography summarises it perfectly stating to be “inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II.” To completely wipe out the entire series with a fiction disclaimer would discredit the excessive amount of time and resources funded into research for the series. Looking through the Instagram page’s highlights, they inform viewers of how they obtain their information and show their extensive research.
Critics are now questioning the validity behind the drama
Now, it must be noted that this is not to say that 'The Crown' is a documentary – and nor should it be cited as evidence in a discussion about real affairs. However, it is an outstandingly presented piece of television, that has encouraged thousands more Brits to delve further into their country's history and opened viewers' minds to events they may have felt disconnected from. Fact and fiction is blurred in 'The Crown', they do not claim to be wholeheartedly accurate, and neither a piece of complete fiction – it is this blurred line that makes it such compelling television.
