Historical dramas can be so fascinating to watch because you know the events that unfolded are factual. If the story is one you’re already familiar with, a series like this can give you a behind-the-scenes look at what transpired. Or if you’re too young to have lived through that particular time frame, a show can bring new awareness to a specific era in history. Either way, these types of programming, such as Band of Brothers, Narcos, and Chernobyl, are all completely compelling looks at real events. But perhaps the best of all these series is a critically-acclaimed Netflix drama that aired from 2016 to 2023, and is still earning praise to this day.

What Is ‘The Crown’ About?

When The Crown first premiered, it quickly drew attention because of its subject matter. Created by Peter Morgan, the epic drama consists of six seasons, depicting events spanning more than 60 years. The subject matter is Queen Elizabeth II and her reign over the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022. The first season begins with the aftermath of World War II in 1947, the young Queen’s marriage to Philip Mountbatten, and her coronation in 1952, and concludes with the 2005 wedding of her son, Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Each episode portrays the intense complications of ruling from within a monarchy, and the pressure felt by each member of the royal family. The illustration of the Queen’s life certainly proves the adage, “heavy is the head that wears the crown,” to be true. The series changes casts every two seasons, which means that the main characters are portrayed by different actors as they age. This creates an inventive authenticity lacking in other real-life dramas and ensures that The Crown is a gripping story from start to finish.

‘The Crown’ Features Plenty of Captivating Drama and Tour de Force Performances

The Crown runs for 60 episodes, but each hour will have you glued to the screen. The brilliant, dramatized recounting of some of the UK’s most famous events, including wartime Britain, several prime ministers’ reigns, and lots of royal family drama, is a peek into a world that most of us have no clue about. Whether you’re seeing depictions of Princess Margaret‘s many tragic love affairs or the tumultuous marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the series never fails to dive into the emotional heart of each scene. Although some of the storytelling regarding personal relationships has been criticized for being a tad too fictional, The Crown leans into the complexities of the monarchy. The series has been praised for its attention to historical accuracy during these time periods. From the very first scene, the producers implemented a rule that no more than one-third of any shot could be created digitally. This meant that many sets were created for the series, including a life-size replica of the part of Buckingham Palace where the Queen lived. Between incredibly authentic props and costumes, it’s easy to see why The Crown became one of the most expensive shows to produce ever. But every detail is worth it when you feel like you’re actually part of the Queen’s world.

Every single season features an impressive cast, with stand-out performances by Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville as the charismatic Princess Margaret, and Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, and Jonathan Pryce as the stoic Prince Philip. The series truly comes alive with portrayals of Princess Diana by Emma Corrin and Elizabeth Debicki and iconic historical figures like Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) and Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson). But, of course, no praise of The Crown would be complete without accolades for the Queen herself. Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton each bring Elizabeth to life with layered and vulnerable performances. Many of these actors were recognized by the Emmys for their work, including wins for Josh O’Connor, Foy, Colman, Corrin, Anderson, and Debicki.

It wasn’t just the actors who got appreciation from the Emmys. In fact, during its entire run, The Crown nabbed a wildly impressive 87 Emmy nominations and 24 wins. If you have a long weekend with some time to spare, the historical drama will easily draw you in with its incredible cinematography, sumptuous sets and production design, and realistic depictions of famous British figures. Even if the writers decided to take a few liberties with accuracy, this masterpiece is riveting enough that you’ll want to speed through each episode until you reach the very end. The British monarchy is already interesting, but The Crown will leave you downright obsessed with this complex family.