For the second half of the 2010s, The Crown was Netflix’s flagship drama series, serving up the ultimate royal rendering of modern Britain through an attractive blend of historical realism and dazzling star power. Charting the indefatigable reign of Queen Elizabeth II in distinctly personal terms, the show scarcely put a foot wrong in its initial seasons. However, 10 years on from the moment it first arrived on Netflix to rapturous acclaim and captivated global audiences, Peter Morgan’s richly textured palace soap opera is more difficult to reckon with. It might be among the best historical TV shows ever produced,...