November TV Reviews

November TV Reviews

Rekha Morgan, Reporter

“The Crown”

Rating: 8.5/10

“The Crown,” now back for season three, finds itself recast with older actors as Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy and Olivia Coleman) and her family grow with time. “The Crown” is a show based on the life stories of the members of the British Royal family. It focuses on Queen Elizabeth’s family and her rise to Sovereign Queen.

While this may appear boring, the drama and humor found in this production keeps the viewer wanting to see what is next. Whether it be the untimely death of the Queen’s father, extramarital affairs, British politics, or just the Corgis, “The Crown” makes sure there is something for everyone.

Season 3 focuses less on the Queen and her relationship with her husband, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh (Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies), and moves on to her son Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) and her sister Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter). The tragedy that surrounds this family and their country creates a show that will leave you in tears. I highly suggest everyone give “The Crown” a try and have a taste for themselves the complexity of what it means to be a Royal.

 

After”

Rating: 2/10

Yes, “After” is a movie based on a One-Direction (RIP) Fanfiction, and yes, it is really bad. Tessa Young (Josephine Langford) goes to college and meets a bad boy, Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin). He reads, writes poetry, and is British. These three character traits make a boring college student. Also, Tessa has a boyfriend, who everyone thinks is her brother. Tessa and Harden have a whirlwind romance that really doesn’t add up.  Intermittently, random characters who are supposed to be in the band appear (you can play a game of guess who’s-who). Hardin Scott is meant to be Harry Styles, and while he is British, and his name starts with an “H”, nothing else is similar between this knock-off and the pop icon. Don’t watch this movie, unless you would like to laugh ironically at how bad it is.

 

“Carnival Row”

Rating: 6/10

“Carnival Row” stars big names Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne in a dystopian mystical universe destroyed by war and crime. The series focuses on Vignette Stonemoss (Delevigne), a fairy refugee escaping from her home. Simultaneously, Bloom’s character Philo, a detective, is investigating a string of serial murders on the poor immigrant creature population on “Carnival Row.” Vignette and Philo’s paths cross with their unresolved love affair and passion to defend those who can’t defend themselves.

While this show was initially intriguing, mainly due to the cast, it is full of old clichés many viewers are tired of. From the weird social commentary on racism and xenophobia through mystical creatures, to the setting of a dirty industrial period Londonesque city, this show fails to keep the audience interested. While “Carnival Row” would have been a hit in 2012, its repurposing of overused tropes makes the television series boring.