The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 2, 2018

Modern television hasn't been shy about spanning the course of history in search of a good story to tell. Shows like The Borgias, The Tudors, Marco Polo, and Da Vinci's Demons are way-back machine costume dramas. The 1980s are beginning to see a revival with shows like Stranger Things gripping the world. The post-World War II world, and on through to the end of the turbulent 1960s, has recently become a cornerstone time period for several of the best shows on television, including Mad Men, Masters of Sex, Outlander (which switches between 18th century Scotland and the post war years), and The Crown, the latter a gripping and beautifully assembled show focusing on the private, public, and political life of a younger Queen Elizabeth II. Season two spans a timeframe of several years between 1957 and 1964, a time of upheaval in the monarchy, the Kingdom, and the world.

Official synopsis: 'The Crown,' created by Peter Morgan, follows Queen Elizabeth through the late 1950s and early ‘60s as she struggles to navigate a world that’s changing around her. She must face the challenges of a new era, from the Suez Canal crisis to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, while preserving both the monarchy and her marriage.

The Crown’s first season, as well this second season, which merely continues on from the first, builds a compelling journey through the evolving national, political, and global landscape of the show’s timeframe, which is a more familiar world than the more distant historically set dramas. That means more tangible ideas, more familiar characters, and more opportunity to more firmly connect its world with the here-and-now. Season two continues core storylines but introduces new scandals, new difficulties, new enemies, and evolving world dynamics. So much of this period of history, at least from an American’s perspective, often feels enclosed within the nation’s borders, in the Cold War years and those leading to the Civil Rights era, Vietnam, the Kennedy assassination, and so many other fascinating cultural and political highlights. It’s refreshing to see the world in this era from a different perspective, across oceans, and come to not only understand things from a different perspective but to glean some insight into world affairs beyond Washington, D.C. The Crown delivers an enriching historical context, telling many congruent and complex stories of great national and global import but also deeply personal tales that season two explores with depth and finesse alike.

Like season one, season two is strikingly beautiful. It’s gorgeously photographed, characters are impeccably and resplendently costumed, and the show is home to dense and detailed period decoration. Characters are richly layered and the performances equally so. Unlike some of its contemporaries, The Crown finds drama, depth, and fulfilling character descriptions without veering into the vulgar. The cast is terrific, finding, defining, and becoming several well known historical figures. Even as they are more approachable than others in shows set centuries ago, the actors work hard to build them from the ground up, not the top down, as would be the easy approach with the historical weight they carry and name recognition they bring to the show.

The following episodes comprise season two. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• Misadventure: As Philip leaves for a long tour, Elizabeth makes an upsetting discovery. Prime Minister Eden wants to strike back after Egypt seizes the Suez Canal.
• A Company of Men: Elizabeth feels disconnected from Philip. Eden copes with international pressure and ill health. An interview stirs up harrowing memories for Philip.

Disc Two:

• Lisbon: Palace insiders try to prevent a scandal that could reflect poorly on Philip. Eden faces censure from his cabinet and the press.
• Beryl: When Elizabeth and Philip throw a grand party for their 10th anniversary, both Margaret and the new Prime Minister experience romantic tribulations.

Disc Three:

• Marionettes: After Elizabeth makes a tone-deaf speech at a Jaguar factory, she and the monarchy come under public attack from an outspoken lord.
• Matrimonium: A letter from Peter Townsend spurs Margaret to make a bold proposal. Elizabeth has good news that causes complications for Margaret.

Disc Four:

• Dear Mrs. Kennedy: Inspired by Jackie Kennedy and against her government’s wishes, Elizabeth takes an unconventional approach to resolving an issue with Ghana.
• Paterfamilias: Philip insists that Prince Charles attend his alma mater in Scotland and reminisces about the life-changing difficulties he experienced there.
• Mystery Man: A salacious government scandal hits close to home for Elizabeth and Philip. Elizabeth retreats to Scotland for rest during a difficult pregnancy.

The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Crown: Season Two's 1080p transfer approaches format royalty, particularly if considering a contemporary, digitally shot television program. The setting, the stylings, the density allow the material to shine. The clean, smooth image façade renders the show a touch flat and artificial, as was the case with season one, but it's very polished and refined within its visual constructs. Noise is visible but usually kept in check, rarely spiking to any egregious level of distraction. Banding or other source or encode artifacts are barely an issue. Detailing is superb. The clarity of period attire offers viewers a tangible insight into the styles of the day. Skin tones are near perfect, and viewers can see the fine definition on every of the queen's freckles, pores, and hairs. Environments are tack-sharp with the resplendent royal and governmental interiors a highlight. Well manicured grasses, clean city streets, and any number of external locations beyond the core set pieces deliver very impressive definition. Colors are carefully rendered. There's a very mild desaturation to the image, an extremely slight airiness to the picture. Within that context, the queen's blue eyes sparkle. Natural greens liven every shot in which they appear. Clothes are bold and precise. Black level depth is nearly flawless. Skin tones are beautiful. Sony has once again delivered a practically flawless Blu-ray image for one of the most visually arresting shows airing today.

The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Crown: Season Two's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a consistent, even listening experience that's nicely complimentary to the show's style and well-versed in the delivery of its needs. The track exudes sonic excellence without ever overplaying its hand. Musical presentation is a fine example. It's precise, wide along the front, modestly immersive, and bass never oversteps its boundaries. Atmospherics are nicely integrated. There's a fine sense of place, even with more reserved sonic characteristics in various locales throughout the season, whether light environmental supports on city streets, typewriter and telephone din in offices, machinery, automobile engines, or reverberating gunshots heard during a hunting expedition after the opening titles in the season's final episode. A few more prominent sonic elements are handled with equal care and balance, always finding the appropriate sonic posture for the scene in question and within the show's larger, arcing context. Dialogue is the primary audio propellant and delivery is without flaw. It's center positioned, perfectly prioritized alongside any competing effects, and lifelike in clarity of delivery.

The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Crown: Season Two contains supplements primarily on disc four. Sony again continues to make matters too complicated by listing all of the extras on all four discs and prompting viewers to insert disc four when selecting them on discs one, two, or three. To make matters even more complicated, the photo gallery, the final supplement in the list, is actually included on disc one. And discs two, three, and four. It's the same collection of photos on every disc. No DVD or digital copies are included. The release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Tea Time Trivia: A pop-up trivia track available with every episode. It can be toggled on and off prior to choosing individual episodes under the "Episode Selections" tab.
• Fact or Fiction with Robert Lacey (1080p, 9:08): Lacey, the author of the book The Crown: The Inside History and the show's historical consultant, announces some of the realities the show explores and some of the fictional components created for it.
• The Royal Rules of Etiquette (1080p, 5:51): A collection of show clips and stills, set to music, with text-based facts about proper decorum in the company of the queen and the royal family.
• Horses & Hounds: The Queen's Companions (1080p, 2:01): A short piece in which Robert Lacey discusses the queen's love of animals, particularly horses and Corgis.
• Photo Gallery (1080p): A few dozen photos can be found on any of the four discs.

The Crown: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Crown's second season is a natural extension from season one, continuing the story of the British royals and government through the post-war years. It's gorgeously crafted, impeccably acted, and irresistibly engaging. It's a wonderful show that blends intimate characterization with expansive historical storytelling as well as, if not better than, any other like it. Sony's Blu-ray is every bit as good, featuring top-tier 1080p video, a high end 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and a few supplements. Highly recommended.