The White Queen [Starz/BBC]

Richard Dower

"The White Queen" is the thrilling story of the women caught up in the ongoing conflict for the throne – they are some of the most ruthless players in history and will stop at nothing to support their own causes and those of the ones they love.

It is a stunningly rich tale of love and loss, seduction and deception, betrayal and murder, vibrantly woven through the stories of three different yet equally driven women, in their quest for power as they manipulate behind the scenes of history – Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville.

The year is 1464 and England has been at war for nine years battling over who is the rightful King of England – it is a war between two sides of the same family, The House of York and The House of Lancaster.

The House of York's young and devilishly handsome Edward IV (MAX IRONS - Red Riding Hood) is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator Lord Warwick "The Kingmaker" (JAMES FRAIN - True Blood, The Tudors). But when Edward falls in love and secretly marries a beautiful young widow, the commoner Elizabeth Woodville, introducing the exciting newcomer, REBECCA FERGUSON, Warwick's plan for control over the English throne comes crashing down around him. Frustrated by the new Queen's influence he will stop at nothing to maintain his grip on the King.

The captivating and beautiful Elizabeth Woodville marries for the love of her King, with the help of her mother Jacquetta (Academy & Tony award nominee JANET MCTEER) a self proclaimed sorceress. Elizabeth's most fierce adversary is the staunchly loyal Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort (AMANDA HALE – "The Crimson Petal & The White") – a damaged and highly religious woman who would willingly lay down her life to see her young son Henry Tudor take the throne. And then there is Anne Neville (introducing FAYE MARSAY), Lord Warwick The Kingmaker's daughter - a pawn in her father's battle for control; who finds her strength and ambition when she takes control of her destiny and marries the King's younger brother Richard Duke of York (ANEURIN BERNARD - Ironclad, Spring Awakening).

The cast also includes: DAVID OAKES (George Duke of Clarence), JULIET AUBREY (Countess of Warwick), ELEANOR TOMLINSON (Isabel Neville), FRANCES TOMELTY (Lady Beauchamp), MICHAEL MALONEY (Henry Stafford), BEN LAMB (Anthony Rivers), HUGH MITCHELL (Richard Welles), SIMON GINTY (John Rivers), EVE PONSENBY (Mary Woodville) and ROBERT PUGH (Baron Rivers).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUHG6wf8GEU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5aam4MpZss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H6p5Dukq2c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtwbIzE3ptU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnIPhCW0HT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzMJPrMijc

brian_t

The White Queen starts on BBC1 at 9.00pm next Sunday June 16

JP Liz V1

brian_t wrote: »

The White Queen starts on BBC1 at 9.00pm next Sunday June 16

BBC promo trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydneyl2S30o

iguana

Unsure about this. It's a fascinating piece of history but this appears to be based off Phillipa Gregory's books and they are as dull as ditchwater. I'll watch it but if the mermaid magic crap rears it's head, I'm out.

FloatingVoter

Thought it was OK for a first episode. Look up Ms. Woodville on Wikipedia and there's definitely enough to be going on with for a season or two at least.
Only a tiny bit of magic - more the old wives tales / second sight type of nonsense that was very prevalent back then.

quickbeam

Love that era of history - so ripe with storytelling potential.

However I fairly dispose Phillippa Gregory so was torn about this.

I watched the first episode. It wasn't a total turn off, so I'll keep watching so far, but still a little sceptical about it being in any way decent. We shall see.

quickbeam

Not much action on here.

I must say that I've been pleasantly surprised over the last few episodes after feeling dubious about the series after the first episode. I've read a few of the reviews and they've not been pleasant at all, but I think it deserves better than it's getting.

One major bug bear of mine is unnecessary historical inaccuracy in a historical show, and, though I'm no expert on the era, from the little I have read about it, it seems to be doing really well in capturing all the major events and characters in a very complicated time in history.

mikemac1

I had huge hopes for this, I love any TV set in this era.

However it's no more then average. I've not read the books but I find the sorcery unnecessary and distracting.

Season started well and I'll finish out the season for sure but it's been a dissapointment. I'm hoping it'll pick up



For something far superior try World without End
It's very different to the book but the screenwriters did a fine job and introduced some twists to wrap it up. The book is over 900 pages! So a lot of rewriting to be done
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Without_End_(TV_miniseries)

dfx-

mikemac1 wrote: »

I had huge hopes for this, I love any TV set in this era.

However it's no more then average. I've not read the books but I find the sorcery unnecessary and distracting.

Unnecessary is harsh..both Elizabeth Woodville and her mother Jacquetta of Luxembourg were actually tried for witchcraft in the 15th century, it's not necessarily plucked out of thin air.

Have to say I'm enjoying the series and reading up/refreshing memory on a fascinating section of history.

FloatingVoter

This show is actually improving. Never has drinking yourself to death looked so unappealing.

Corruptedmorals

I love the books and this part of history, but why do they have to deviate even from the books, never mind history. It's not as if they are stuck for excitement in this period. I hate Margaret Beaufort/Stanley's character, she's nothing like what she should be and the acting is weak too.

JP Liz V1

Warwick was killed off too soon I don't like Elizabeth who looks way too old for Edward