'The Crown' could well cure your 'Downton Abbey' nostalgia

LONDON -- Fans of Downton Abbey, rejoice: the days of The Dowager Countess and Lady Mary may be over, but something new will soon fill that void.

The new period drama The Crown, which revolves around the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and stars Claire Foy and Matt Smith, debuts on Netflix Friday. And from the looks of the first reviews, it should be a hit with Downton fans.

Here are a selection of some of the show's early reviews...

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter.

"With its literate affluence and clear-eyed treatment of the compromises and conditions of power, The Crown is positioned to appeal to fans of both Downton Abbey and House of Cards, and I was consistently impressed with how Morgan kept the story interesting even in episodes without big historical events."

Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times.

"As the success of Downton Abbey displayed, there's a global fascination with the British royal family and aristocracy. But where Downton Abbey was fiction, The Crown is based on fact, with a far weightier dose of history and politics, including nuanced issues of constitutional duty and complex political infighting.

Alan Sepinwall, Hitfix.

"Tales of the rituals and burdens of nobility usually put me to sleep (even during the brief period when I was enjoying Downton Abbey, it was entirely for the servants' stories), but this one worked its magic even on me, so I can only imagine the agony and ecstasy it will elicit from royal believers."

Maureen Ryan, Variety.

"Still, for many, The Crown will be well-nigh irresistible. Certain confrontations and realizations are written with acute perception and touching restraint, and Matt Smith, Jared Harris, and Eileen Atkins, among others, do excellent work. Fans of beautifully appointed costume drama looking for something to savor since Downton Abbey exited the television scene are this program's target audience, and those viewers are likely to be deeply hooked."

You can watch the official trailer for The Crown here:

The Crown will be available on Friday 4 November on Netflix.