The upper lips remain admirably stiff in "The Crown," but Season 2 takes what was a fine Netflix drama and polishes it to a high gloss -- presenting its stories more crisply, while providing a stronger showcase for its regal core cast.
Chalk it up, perhaps, to the period and stories that series creator Peter Morgan has at his disposal, picking up the 10-episode run in 1956, with an hour that chronicles the strained relationship between Queen Elizabeth II (played by Claire Foy) and her husband Philip (played by Matt Smith).