What I love most about The Crown, especially the early seasons, is that every shot looks like it cost a million dollars. Playwright and screenwriter Peter Morgan’s illustrious stab at the inner workings of the most famous, insular, and once-powerful family on the planet never doesn’t look like the real deal. Excellent acting aside (Olivia Coleman’s superbly taught Queen Elizabeth, Emma Corrin’s delicate Diana, Matt Smith’s callow Prince Philip, and Gillian Anderson’s decisively unflappable Margaret Thatcher remain standouts), this show’s set design, cinematography, costumes, and writing keep us hooked as we watch the mighty Royal House of Windsor slowly devolve.
Length: 6 seasons, 50 episodes
Watch it on: Netflix
Atlanta
Photo: Guy D’Alema/FX
Once a year, I’ll make Julia Child’s boeuf en daube. Essentially, it’s a richer beef stew, made in a Provençal style that involves ungodly amounts of fat and an overnight marinade in Burgundy wine. Donald Glover and Atlanta are the equivalent of this dish: every bite is rich, layered, and wholly satisfying. Following a rapper and his cousin-manager as they navigate the peaks and pitfalls of new stardom, this satire explores contemporary fame, media, and art while also offering a thorough examination of family and friendships, embracing the profound, silly, and touching in a single shot. The only issue with Atlanta as a binge-watch is that it’s almost too rich, a complaint I wish I had about more series. Whether you watch one episode or a whole season, you’ll come away satiated.
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