The Crown was, without doubt, one of the best shows in Netflix’s short streaming history. Across six hugely successful seasons, the series documented the modern ups and downs of the British royal family, beginning just before the coronation of Elizabeth II. Winning an enormous 24 Primetime Emmys and many more awards across its run, The Crown finished in 2023, with a royal period drama-sized hole quickly opening in the viewing habits of millions.
Thankfully, many The Crown fans have been treated to the recent arrival of a perfect replacement series on Netflix this December, and it has quickly risen to the top of the streaming charts. Daisy Goodwin‘s Victoria, starring former Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman as the titular monarch, is one of the ten most-streamed series on Netflix at the time of writing. One of the most underrated historical dramas of the past ten years, Victoria flew under many people’s radars when it first debuted in the U.S., and thankfully seems to be finding success with new audiences almost a decade later. A synopsis for the series reads:
“This eight-part drama features an all-star cast including Jenna Coleman as a young Queen Victoria and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert. The monarch’s life is chronicled as the story begins with the death of King William IV in 1837, her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 and her relationships with the influential forces around her. With the advice of the prime minister Lord Melbourne, and the support of her husband Prince Albert, the young queen flourishes and establishes herself in her newfound role.”
‘Victoria’ Features Coleman’s Best Performance
Earning an 87% score from critics and 84% from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and dubbed “a serene tale of love and the monarchy” in Collider’s review of the series, Victoria was certainly a hit with critics. This success is thanks in no small part to Coleman’s elegant and emotionally poised lead performance, one that is most likely the best in her career to date.
Portraying such a famous monarch was no easy feat for Coleman, something she previously mentioned in an interview with Collider. “There wasn’t really a day on set that wasn’t huge. You’ve got these journals that she’s written in, that tell you how she felt on the day,” she said, adding, “There is so much detail and you move through it all so fast. There’s so much wealth in all of the moment and you want to capture that.”
Victoria is streaming on Netflix. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
