The Crown (Season 6 on Netflix) * * 1/2

Starring:  Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West, Lesley Manville

The final season of The Crown operates wondrously in the initial episodes leading to the death of Princess Diana.   The Crown and 2006's The Queen, starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, were both written by Peter Morgan, and it is refreshing that although the weeks and months following Diana's passing are covered, they are not simply repeated in the series.  Once Diana leaves the scene, the remaining episodes fail to find consistent footing.  We are left with Prince Charles finally marrying Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William's troubles in college before meeting Kate Middleton, Prince Harry simmering in his envy of his older brother, and other less interesting subplots which feel more like playing out the string.

The Crown contains not one, but two meddling parents who want to be part of the royal family, even on the outskirts, so desperately that they nudge their reluctant children into pursuing relationships with Princess Diana (Debicki) and Prince William.   Mohamed Al-Fayed relentlessly harasses his son Dodi to go after Diana even though he is engaged to another woman.   Kate Middleton's mother is more subtle, and finds Kate is at least more willing to be pushed into a life with William.  Dodi likes Diana enough and vice versa,  but on the night of their deaths, it is speculated that their relationship was headed straight into the friend zone.  Then, the horrific accident came in Paris. 

As the series and the monarchy headed uneasily into the 21st Century, there is also the popularity of Tony Blair which eclipsed that of the monarchy for a time.   However, as Queen Elizabeth's reign reached record-length, The Crown begins to repeat previous themes, such as the relevance of a sovereign and how the institution can modernize.  The performances are uniformly excellent, even if the pacing is uneven.  

Season six says farewell to Queen Elizabeth and with cameos from previous queens Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.    Previous seasons were more deeply felt or dramatically more efficient, but season six works well enough as a finale.