A Tale of Two Queens: The Crown Episodes 1-3 (with Commentary from Victoria Seasons 1 and 2)

     I have finally taken the opportunity  to watch The Crown, a show which I have had recommended to me even before I had Netflix. Watching it, I was struck by how similar to ITV's Victoria (viewable to us Americans on PBS). Both are about  the early reigns of young British queens and their relationships with those around them. The cast are even similar, with Doctor Who alums in leading roles (Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman as Prince Philip and Victoria respectively) and Alex Jennings playing an uncle for each of the young monarchs. However, there are some differences and I feel I can analyze The Crown better by bringing in comparison to Victoria.
     On of the most striking differences is that of the main couples. While Victoria is about a newly established queen finding domestic bliss, The Crown is about an established family finding a way to be happy in their new position. This difference in when the queen gets married drastically changes the dynamic between the couples. Since Victoria has established herself as a leader before her marriage, Albert must shape his role in Victoria’s life around that. Phillip, in contrast is already the head of the house before Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne, he takes a diminished leadership role within the family poorly. This can make Phillip seem like a complete jerk at times for insisting things should go his way more often. However, if the viewers remember that Phillip is adjusting to his role just as much as Elizabeth, his character becomes much more likeable. One point also in Phillip’s favor is the fact that when Victoria goes into confinement, Albert takes on more powers, more powers that he is reluctant to give up. This does change eventually, but it is worth noting that Albert had less time to get used to this new position while Phillip had been man on top for his entire marriage.
    Another comparison point is the focus. The focus of The Crown is much more targeted towards the political side of life, with some look at family life. This helps further enforce the idea that this is unfamiliar territory for our new queen. Elizabeth is used to being a wife and a mother and is unsure in her new role. This adjustment is shown best is outlined in her unease at being told by he grandmother that she must wear a mask.  Likewise, in Victoria, the titular leader is unsure in matters of love and family, but she knows how to treat her subjects, something we see during the second season in her dealings with the Irish potato famine.
     This shows that Elizabeth and Victoria are very different women, with Elizabeth being a better family woman and Victoria being somewhat more state-savvy. This makes the shows good companion pieces; in a lot of scenarios, such as child rearing or dealing with prime ministers, you can see how a different attitude and skill set affects a person’s reaction to the situation. However, many fans of each series can get somewhat heated in their debates on which series is better. I, for one, remain non-committal. I like Elizabeth as a leader better, but Albert makes a better companion. I like Victoria’s supporting cast better, but The Crown does have more challenging themes, like colonialism. In the end, I recommend The Crown, but maybe watch Victoria afterwards.