Produced by the streaming platform Netflix, the series "The Crown", based on the current British King's House of Rusa, has gained a large number of fans since its launch in 2016; at the same time, the excellent production level and the actors in the play Its outstanding performance has also made it a regular at the Emmys and Golden Globes.

However, due to the brand name of "historical drama", and the history is not too long ago, various controversies surrounding the drama are also frequently seen in the media. The fifth season, which will be launched next month, will push the criticism of the show to a climax. Following Prince William and former British Prime Minister John Major, the famous British actor Judi Dench also recently wrote a book for The Times, arguing that the play disrespects Queen Elizabeth II, who died not long ago, and distorts history. In fact, a "purely fictional" statement should have been placed before the episode.

Actor Judi Dench arrives on the red carpet for the 94th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. People's Vision

Judi Dench's open letter can be seen as a solidarity for John Major's criticism of "The Crown". The source of the storm is also the media disclosure of part of the story of the fifth season, which will be launched on November 9.

The fifth season of The Crown takes place in the 1990s and revolves around the breakdown of Diana and Charles' marriage. To Major's dissatisfaction, the media reported that there was a segment in the play where the Crown Prince Charles (now King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales) held a secret meeting with the then Prime Minister, Major, in order to ask the latter to assist him in his thinking. A way to get his mother Queen Elizabeth II to abdicate early so that he can ascend to the throne as soon as possible. Charles even used the British Conservative Party to which Major belonged to ousted Mrs Thatcher as an example, hoping that Major would be on his side.

The Crown Season 5 Poster

John Major, through his spokesman, said it was "complete nonsense", saying, "Sir John and the Prince of Wales have not discussed anything about the possibility of the late Queen Elizabeth II abdicating, nor have they ever raised it. An impossible and inappropriate topic". Major, for his part, was also quite dissatisfied that Netflix never checked the authenticity of the plot with him, arguing that the "Crown" series "should be treated as destructive and malicious fiction."

In response to Major's criticism, Netflix responded that "The Crown" has always been a "historical series", even if it is a work of fiction, "the content has been carefully studied and analyzed by journalists, biographers and historians. detailed record".

In Judi Dench's view, Major's experience is no exception. "The closer the show's timeline is to the present, the more wanton blurring of historical truth and sensationalist fabrications." "Considering some of the things in the latest season that were clearly hurtful: King Charles plotting to abdicate his mother; or suggesting that her mother's education was inappropriate enough to get her sent to prison -- that's a huge deal for the client. It is extremely unjust, and it also hurts the mechanism they represent." She wrote in the open letter: "I believe more than anyone in the freedom of art, but such content cannot but be questioned."

"Although the producers also publicly stated this week that The Crown has always been a 'fiction show', they have been refusing to start each episode with a fictional claim. It's time for Netflix to reconsider this. — for a family and country that has just lost respect, to honor a monarch who has served his people faithfully for 70 years, and to preserve Netflix’s own image in the eyes of British subscribers.”

Full text of the open letter published by Judi Dench.

Judi Dench, 87, has been nominated for eight Oscars for films such as "Chocolate", "Notes on Scandal", "Philomena" and "Belfast". Won the Best Supporting Actress award. In 1988, she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire; in 2005, she was awarded the title of Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour.

In fact, Judi Dench isn't the first celebrity to publicly say that The Crown's opening credits should be preceded by a fictional caption. Oliver Dowden, then Britain's culture secretary, made a similar request to Netflix back in November 2020 when The Crown premiered its fourth season. However, Netflix expressly rejects it.

Before Judi Dench and John Major, a source revealed: Prince William's fifth season of "The Crown" will reproduce his mother, Princess Diana, who was tricked into accepting an interview with the BBC, revealing that there is a third party in the marriage The content is quite dissatisfied, thinking that this drama is purely profiting from his own family affairs.