Premiered: November 17, 2019

On: Netflix

Starring: Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Daniels, Jason Watkins, Marion Bailey, Erin Doherty, Charles Dance, Josh O’Connor, John Lithgow, Clancy Brown, Jane Lapotaire, Mark Lewis Jones, Tim McMullan, Derek Jacobi, Geraldine Chaplin, Michael Maloney, Emerald Fennell, Andrew Buchan & Harry Treadaway

Jumping a few years into the future, The Crown’s third season introduces us to an older queen who’s had a lot of life thrown at her with plenty more still ahead.

Leading up to the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman), she reigns through the death of Winston Churchill (John Lithgow), the Apollo moon landing and the Aberfan disaster. Her sister Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter) and son Charles (Josh O’Connor) both struggle in love.

Colman’s version of Elizabeth is more subdued than Claire Foy’s in the first two seasons. O’Connor’s Prince Charles steals the season as you watch how controlled his life became in his younger years.

The episode about Aberfan is the best of the season and shows a lesser-known disaster and how the town and the Queen handled it.

Final say: Still reigning strong. ★★★★☆