The first season of The Crown begins not when Elizabeth (Claire Foy) becomes queen, but shortly before — when she becomes a wife. While many disapprove of her choice of Philip Mountbatten (Matt Smith), formerly Prince of Greece and Denmark, she’s in love and resolute. The newlyweds move to Malta after their 1947 wedding, and a few years later, due to the ailing health of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI (Jared Harris), the couple embark on a tour of the Commonwealth in his place. During that tour, on Feb. 6, 1952, George dies and Elizabeth and Philip must return to England. Long live the (25-year-old) queen.

Throughout the season, Elizabeth works hard to adjust to the loneliness and sheer enormity of her role as sovereign — and to adjust the ancient role itself to a rapidly changing world. Her guide to the intricacies of life as the monarch is her private secretary, Tommy Lascelles (Pip Torrens), who’s not a person to be trifled with. Philip struggles, too, to accept how his wife’s unique position undermines the kind of authority he expects to possess as a husband (it’s the 1950s, lest we forget), creating tension in their marriage. 

Elizabeth’s new job causes friction not only with her husband, but also with her younger sister, Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby). A natural star, the impulsive and vivacious Margaret envies the attention heaped upon Elizabeth and resents her careful perfection. She comes to her sister and sovereign, though, with a request: that she be allowed to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend (Ben Miles), their father’s former equerry, with whom she’s fallen in love. Elizabeth hopes to help the couple, despite Townsend being divorced. 

Hanging over the action like a shadow is the abdication of Elizabeth’s uncle, David (Alex Jennings), the Duke of Windsor — previously King Edward VIII, until he stepped down in order to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson (Lia Williams), making Elizabeth’s father the king. The abdication haunts Elizabeth’s family not only because it forced them into a global spotlight that they never wanted, but also because the scandal threatened the very existence of the monarchy. Tommy and his successor, Michael Adeane (Will Keen), are quick to cite that institutional catastrophe whenever Elizabeth suggests something unconventional — like her wish to help her sister. Upon hearing their advice, Elizabeth is torn between love and duty, family and crown. In the end, she realizes she has no choice: Margaret and Peter must not be allowed to wed. 

Finally, as Elizabeth’s reign takes off, another career of service winds down. Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) is reelected prime minister as the season begins, and he suffers from poor health throughout but stubbornly clings to his position despite his colleagues’ attempts to make him step down. Finally the revered statesman resigns, to be succeeded by Anthony Eden (Jeremy Northam). Once in office, Eden finds himself clashing with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (Amir Boutrous) over control of the Suez Canal. Will that become a full-blown crisis in Season 2? Absolutely. 

QUEEN ELIZABETH RULES: When she calls Churchill out for lying to her about his health (Episode 7, “Scientia Potentia Est”)

BEST ONE-LINER: “We’re all dying. That’s what defines the condition of living.” — Churchill to his wife, Clementine (Episode 1, “Wolferton Splash”) 

PRIME PRIME-MINISTER MOMENT: Churchill’s conversations with artist Graham Sutherland (Stephen Dillane) while sitting for his 80th-birthday portrait (Episode 9, “Assassins”)

QUEEN OF RELATABILITY: When Elizabeth hires a private tutor to learn about history and science and philosophy so she can keep up with all the politicians she’s constantly forced to hang out with (Episode 7, “Scientia Potentia Est”)

SINGLE-EPISODE STANDOUT EVENT: The Great Smog of 1952 (Episode 4, “Act of God”) 

AMERICAN SIGHTING! Look, it’s John Foster Dulles! (Episode 7, “Scientia Potentia Est”)

POWER PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Tommy Lascelles, pulling all the strings!