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Some viewers of The Crown are struggling with the new season because of Harry Potter.
The Netflix show is back for a fifth series, which will serve as the penultimate, and the new episodes will chronicle the events of the royal family that took place in the 1990s.
There is a new cast for the last two seasons to reflect the passage of time, but a newcomer distracts viewers in a big way.
Imelda Staunton replaces Claire Foy and Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in the new season, and while she impresses many, there is a contingent of people who can’t help but remember the character she played in Harry Potter.
You can follow live updates as the show goes live here.
Staunton appeared in the 2006 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as the villainous Dolores Umbridge, a sadistic Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who makes Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) life hell.
Umbridge’s memory is too much for some fans, who have expressed their inability to see Umbridge beyond that while watching The Crown.
“I love Imelda Staunton and she’s fine as the next queen in The Crown, but unfortunately I still only hear Umbridge from Harry Potter when she speaks!” one person wrote.
Another viewer added: “Imelda Staunton is giving real Dolores Umbridge vibes in the queen’s wig,” while one said they “can’t stop thinking of Dolores Umbridge” when they watch Staunton’s scenes.
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II or Dolores Umbridge?
(Netflix)
“It’s all I see!” another viewer lamented.
Find more reactions below.
Similarly, some people are struggling with the new season as they worry about “falling for” John Major, who is played by Jonny Lee Miller.
Meanwhile, fans of the show were delighted to see the return of an “irreplaceable” original star in the new season, while others highlighted an “emotional” scene involving Princess Diana and her young sons, Princes William and harry
The fifth season of The Crown is now available to stream on Netflix.
Find The Independent’s review here and updates on the new batch of episodes here.