It’s back, and we’re happy to seek out those calmer seas, gorgeous settings and new handsome royals from the past. Well, it’s back, but the wrinkles and sags are showing. It happens to the best of us.

“The Crown,” with its four seasons of civility, gorgeous cinematography, splendid words and fussy decor are there, but looking more like sets.

The deep, hidden conflicts in the royal family are now in the hands of a brand new cast, and we wish them well.

Oh well, keep calm and carry on.

As you read this, you’ve already tuned in, dialed up and met the new family. They’re all there, the entire royal bunch waiting to greet us. Wait, who are these people?

The casting office must have hired some new, younger, “woke” apprentices this year, and you may find yourself disappointed, as this reviewer was, with their choices.

Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake, Dolores Umbridge in the “Harry Potter” movies) is the new Elizabeth II. Staunton is a wonderful actress, but for me, she’s brought a little too much of her Umbridge to Elizabeth.

Lesley Manville (“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”) is a perfect Princess Margaret with a sexuality grown stale and tiresome.

Jonathan Pryce (amazing in the “Two Popes” as he has been in everything and one of my favorite Brits) is here as Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh. His advice speech to Diana is wonderful, but something’s missing. As the great Gertrude Stein once said, “There’s no there there.” But he does do a charming turn as the “carriage master.”

Dominic West (“The Wire,” “The Affair”) is the biggest casting mistake of all. West brings the same masculine heat he displayed in those shows. That’s way too “hot” for our cool British Charles to carry around. They say West is Irish, what does that mean?

West is a fine actor, but he’s just not Charles. Couldn’t they have just aged up Josh O’Connor? Just asking.

And then there is Elizabeth Debicki (“Tenet”) as a towering, seemingly 6 foot tall Princess Diana, who makes all the guys look like royal munchkins. Debicki works with two looks, a coquettish, eye-batting glance, and a simpering “poor me” weepy whine.

She gives it a good try, but it appears that this whole season is way too centered on her, and that’s not going to float.

It’s still early.

“The Crown” Season 5 streams on Netflix.

J.P. Devine of Waterville is a former stage and screen actor.

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