New Netflix obsession: The Crown. The leader in online streaming has hit the jackpot again with this big-budget, hugely relevant, period drama, detailing the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II.
Last year saw the Queen’s 90th birthday spark celebrations across the British Isles, with documentaries devoted to her reign popping up all over British television. This adaptation, which hones in on a specific part of the longest monarchial reign in Britain’s history, is especially significant now however. The programme outlines Queen Elizabeth’s difficulty in negotiating the country’s transition from King to Queen, male to female monarch.
The task is not incomparable to that which Hillary Clinton faced in her candidacy for President. Queen Elizabeth worked alongside and had to prove her worth to scores of old men in the cabinet, no less Winston Churchill himself, and the series underlines their at times significantly fraught relationship. Clinton arguably has had to do the same for years in her role as Secretary of State, and ultimately to the commentators and political dinosaurs who doubted her abilities as the Democratic nominee. Elizabeth’s constant tension between her role as a monarch of one of the oldest establishments in European history, versus aligning herself with her youth, and the changing dynamism of 1950s Britain is much like Hillary’s own difficulties encountered as a result of her belonging to “the establishment” (those which labelled her this obviously took no account of her unique position as a woman in this estimation…) and a political dynasty which many feel has failed them time and time again.
Moreover, the necessity to constantly answer for the actions of one’s spouse is another commonality between the two matriarchs, as the Netflix original shows, with Prince Phillip’s clashing with government and no holds barred approach to his duties, as with Bill Clinton’s past affairs and relationships which were used against Hillary’s campaign.
The more I think about it, the more I see that the show and Clinton’s campaign – in all its theatrics – are no more similar than the lives of basically every woman striving for more. The difference between those women, including Hillary, and the queen is that she was afforded her position by blood, and as a birthright, something arguably unbeknownst to the majority of female powerhouses who had to fight their way to the top, or even just to the equal playing field.
As a result, things often go against them, as last week’s awful result for women (and any minority group I can think of!), and Hillary Clinton specifically, has shown. Even her place in a political dynasty could not make up for the glaringly obvious, thick pane of glass we women continue to knock our heads against. But it’s depictions like that of Queen Elizabeth which pinpoint exactly what we’ve been trying to prove for decades; a woman’s place is everywhere, even in the highest office of political power. The wait, for America, continues.
Snack of Choice: I feel like since the election result last week, the general consensus of most disappointed Americans has been to binge drink like a Brit post-Brexit. So copious amounts of Bud and Fries, tequila if you’re feeling worried about the possible price hike you’ll be seeing post-wall. However, if it was up to Queen E, we’d probably be talking it over with a pot of tea and definitely some biccies.
Munchies & Movies 