Rewatching the Crown
ChickieNob and I have been busy rewatching the first two seasons of The Crown to prepare for the third season release on November 17th. I love rewatching shows because knowing what happens next frees me to notice the small details, such as the music running in the background of a scene or seeing an infrequent character — such as Porchey — as one of the guests at the dinner table.
At first, we were both upset with the idea of a different cast, but I think we’ve come to a place of peace with it. I think it was smart of Netflix to give us the heads up so we could go into the series knowing the actors would change overtime. Plus, it feels like Olivia Colman is channeling Claire Foy in the trailer, creating a bridge between the first actress and the actual person they’re both portraying. It doesn’t hurt that they’ve gotten an amazing second cast to replace the first one.
But it is bittersweet to spend time with these early versions of Queen Elizabeth or Princess Margaret. To know that in a few short weeks, new actors will slip into the roles and the story will continue.
How do you feel about television shows replacing actors for the same character?
6 comments
I had it in my head that I wouldn’t watch the new season of the crown for just that reason…I really loved the cast. Perhaps I will check out the trailer to see.
In general, while I know that it’s often necessary for shows to replace someone, I feel like it doesn’t work. In recent years there have been two prime-time shows I watched that have had to recast, and it took me out of the story because I was so focused on the differences.
I think their move was genius- not only to recast repeatedly but to lay their cards on the table from the beginning and be open about it. I know they can do lots with makeup but I do like the idea of getting actors closer to the actual ages for each chronological period, especially since good roles for older women are so rare.
I’m rewatching it too and found it dragged quite a bit in the second half of the first season in a way I didn’t remember the first time. But it’s good to get caught up. I LOVE Olivia Colman (she is so wonderful in Broadchurch) and I’m really looking forward to what she can do.
I think, for this, it’s better to get age-appropriate actors to replace rather than to try and artificially age the current actors. In most cases, you can let people age naturally, because the time goes on with them. But I think this, and they way they’ve done This Is Us with separate casts for different ages, is a good way to go.
(But maybe it’s because I really like Olivia Coleman, but am neutral on Claire Foy)
Generally, I don’t like when characters are recast in the middle of a series. My sister and I STILL refer to “old Darren” & “new Darren” on “Bewitched,” 50 years later, lol. But I think it has a chance of working here, because it’s not just one character but the entire cast (or the primary characters, at least) that’s been recast. As Turia points out, it’s a lot to ask of an actor to age convincingly over so many decades (never mind an entire cast — and some do it better than others) — and in some ways, we really do become different people as we age, don’t we?
Like you I’m glad we got a head’s up that the actors would change. Can’t wait for the new season!
I really need to watch The Crown.
How do I feel about the practice of TV shows replacing actors? Bewitched!