The Crown recently debuted its highly anticipated fourth season on Netflix, and fans and critics alike have had mostly positive sentiments about the show’s latest stretch of episodes. However, the hit drama has also been caused a bit of controversy, as some who are close to the Royal Family claim that the show is conveying misinformation about certain events. The latest statements against the show come from Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who would like the streaming service to add a warning in front of the show.
Oliver Dowden believes that a disclaimer should be added in front of episodes in order to convey to viewers that the events being portrayed are not “fact.” He fears that many will get the wrong idea about what they’re seeing on The Crown:
It's a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that. Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.
According to Daily Mail, Oliver Dowden is expected to write a formal letter to Netflix to request that the streamer add some sort of cautionary message. What royal officials appear to be most concerned about are the scenes that involve Prince Charles, particularly the depiction of his relationship with Princess Diana. Friends of the Prince have previously spoken out against the show’s interpretation of the relationship, but one has now alleged to the trade that The Crown writer Peter Morgan is manipulating events in a “sinister” way:
It is quite sinister the way that Morgan is clearly using light entertainment to drive a very overt republican agenda and people just don't see it. They have been lured in over the first few series until they can't see how they are being manipulated. It is highly sophisticated propaganda.
The relationship between Princess Diana and Prince Charles was a major part of this past season of The Crown, and the show really didn’t hold back when it came to their story. The season devotes a considerable amount of time to exploring their romance and the eventual problems they experienced.
With so much controversy surrounding the latest season, some may be wondering how the show plans to approach future seasons. As of this writing, Netflix has been relatively quiet regarding the comments from Britain, though there have been rumors regarding the streamer’s plans. One such report claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are now Netflix collaborators, want the show to end before it can reach their relationship.
As stated, reports like these are only hearsay at this point, and it’ll be interesting to see how Netflix responds to the request from Oliver Dowden. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more updates on the situation and for more news from the worlds of TV and film.
