This is an engaging look at the experience of the young Elizabeth Tudor as she tried to navigate the dangers of life after the death of her father Henry VIII. Some liberties are taken with history (eg a prominent role for Stephen Gardiner, the pro-Catholic Bishop of Winchester who was actually imprisoned the whole time, but none at all for the father of the English reformation Archbishop Thomas Cranmer; and there is also some compression of timelines), but on the whole it is much more careful about facts than, say, 'The Tudors'.
Costuming and scene design are very good, and there is generous use of candle-lit scenes, emphasising how dark it would often have been at the time.
The performamces are good. Alicia von Rittberg, who played the lead role in the Netflix series Charite, has been de-glamorised and makes an unusual, intense Elizabeth, sometimes almost surprising herself with the way she twists and turns to respond to danger whether it is the sexual advances of her stepmother's new husband or attempts to get her support for the latest conspuiracy. If at times she seems rather mature for a 15 year old, it must be remembered that Elizabeth was one of the most highly educated females in England, and had had to live on her wits since her mother was executed. There is strong competition in the acting stakes from Romola Garai, who plays Elizabeth's older sister Mary, fierce and upright but far from one-dimensional. In fact, at times the series is in danger of turning into 'Becoming Mary'. Perhaps the most surprising success however is Oliver Zetterstrom as the young Edward VI. A far from easy role: vulnerable but priggish and tending to fanaticism, having to fight his own battles against an adult woirld which bowed to him but controlled him. The supporting cast are also generally good.
The story only goes up to a point before the death of Edward VI, presumably with an intention of a second series.
