‘The Crown’ Proves That Women Just Can’t Win

The Crown is extraordinary for many reasons; it’s beautifully shot, brilliantly written, and the performances (Claire Foy in particular) are top-notch. From depicting historical events to the interpersonal workings we’ve never quite known about until now, The Crown has consistently delivered. The latest season of the Netflix original, which dropped earlier this month, only continues the show’s winning streak – and it depicts the inherently hellish experience of being a woman in a way that few shows rarely do.

Queen Elizabeth is undoubtedly the central focus of The Crown, and while she may be the picture of regal prim and properness, the series shows us that she is scrutinized for even the smallest indiscretions, for a mild lack of warmth, for not living up to every single expectations of the millions of eyes on her at all time. Both in the public eye and behind closed doors, Elizabeth is constantly fighting battles, battles that perhaps her father King George never had to face – because he was a man. There’s something distinctly different about being a woman in the public eye; expectations are steeper, criticism is harsher, and the amount of faith in her leadership capabilities is questionable.

Queen Elizabeth faces all of these things, demonstrated unflinchingly in the fifth episode of The Crown‘s second season (albeit with a positive end result). After she gives a less-than-stellar speech at a Jaguar factory, a man named Lord Altrincham pens a scathing critique of the Queen and the monarchy’s lack of approachability in the National and English Review, and a media firestorm (and the fury of the Queen) ensues. While the monarchy evidently benefited from some loosening up, the notion that this criticism fall on Elizabeth for her manner of speaking and the dullness of the monarchy as a whole is unjust. It’s an apt metaphor for the way these things seem to weigh more heavily on women than anyone else; if a man was too cold in a speech, he likely would not receive the same scrutiny. No matter what Queen Elizabeth does, there is always some sort of backlash; whether she’s bowing to public needs, playing the villain for taking the fall for Margaret’s inability to marry Peter Townsend, or making sacrifices in her marriage because Philip is so damn miserable all the time, she just can’t have it all – but she keeps a face on anyway, because it’s her duty. Elizabeth isn’t the only one, either; the portrayal of her sister Margaret’s life is certainly no walk in the park.

While Queen Elizabeth is criticized for her lack of warmth, Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) is written off as a party girl because of her “scandalous” ways. She’s impulsive and romantic, an emotional drunk who seemingly can’t keep it together. Even when she believes she’s doing the right thing, she winds up in trouble in one way or another, either by press scrutiny or her own family’s negative opinions about her behavior. She’s too informal when she interacts with people on behalf of her sister, too spontaneous in her actions, too indecisive about her future and her relationships. If Queen Elizabeth is too tightly-wound, Margaret is entirely too loose in demeanor – and she is never allowed to forget it.

Even at moments when Margaret comes close to feeling as though she’s on the right track, she inevitably does something down the line to displease those who are tasked with looking after her. The series shows us her inner anguish at the role she’s been relegated to with her binge-drinking and emotional breakdowns, and it’s quite clear that perhaps Elizabeth and Margaret would have been better suited to switching roles – but this is the hand they’ve been dealt, and play they must.

What’s wonderful about The Crown‘s depiction of these two women is that they don’t necessarily pit them against each other in a way that claims one is in the right. They live their lives in very different ways, and fill two very different roles, and they do the best they can to get through the days. The monarchy might seem like a dreamy way to live, but the female experience is universal. If there’s one thing this portrayal of Queen Elizabeth’s and Princess Margaret’s lives shows us, it’s that women just can’t win, no matter what they do. Prim and proper or party girl, they’ll never make everyone happy – even themselves.