Parents' Guide to The Crown

TV Netflix Drama 2016
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Common Sense Media Review

Kari Croop By Kari Croop , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Exquisite bio-series is complex and compelling.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 15+

Based on 14 parent reviews

age 12+

Based on 50 kid reviews

Kids say this show provides a compelling and educational insight into the life of Queen Elizabeth II, though it contains some mature content such as smoking, drinking, and occasional sexual situations that may require parental guidance for younger viewers. Overall, while it can be slow-paced and may bore very young children, it offers a rich narrative that appeals to older kids and teens interested in history and drama.

  • educational content
  • mature themes
  • slow-moving plot
  • parental guidance suggested
  • suitable for older teens
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

Charting the personal life and highly publicized reign of British monarch Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy), THE CROWN traces her rise from a young, newly married royal in 1947 to one of the most recognizable and iconic rulers in the world, carrying out her duties amid a climate of continual social change and political upheaval.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 14 ):
Kids say ( 50 ):

Netflix's most expensive series to date pays off with a beautifully acted and impeccably designed drama that's also one of its very best -- and not because it's been engineered for binging. Quite the opposite, as each episode is structured to not necessarily blend into the next but to stand satisfyingly on its own, like an artfully wrapped package that's waiting to be opened when you're ready. It's a novel approach for a streaming television series that makes The Crown and its noticeable lack of cliffhangers feel revolutionary compared to some of its peers.

Those looking for an escape, whether from one's daily drudgeries or the uncertainties of modern politics, will likely find The Crown a welcome refuge. But it serves up more than dazzling visual extravagances. It also delivers thoughtful and complex messages about power, corruption, gender, and leadership that, for a period piece, have surprising relevance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Crown's depiction of royal life and the demands of being a public figure. To what extent must those who reign sacrifice their personal lives for the sake of public service? What everyday "luxuries" do royals have to give up that we might take for granted?

  • How does The Crown handle issues of gender, power, and sexism? Is there a double standard when women rise to positions of authority?

  • How does The Crown compare to other streaming series in terms of budget and overall production values? How much is too much to spend on the creation of a television series, and does it pay off for studios willing to spend the cash?

TV Details

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