‘Becoming Elizabeth’ Finds a New (and Newly Disturbing) Way Into a Familiar Tudor Story: TV Review
11.06.2022 - 01:33
/ variety.com
Caroline Framke Chief TV CriticFew British dynasties have inspired as much material in recent years as that of the Tudors. From Showtime’s aptly named “The Tudors,” to Hilary Mantel’s book/play/series “Wolf Hall,” to the current Broadway musical “Six,” the turbulent reign of Henry VIII and his six equally turbulent marriages have clearly had no shortage of retellings.
At this point, those who want to tell a story about this family have to find a new way into its well-trod history.Anya Reiss’ “Becoming Elizabeth,” premiering June 12 on Starz, aims to solve this problem by picking up at a more unusual point in Henry VIII’s history — more specifically in 1547, mere minutes after his death. In so doing, Reiss gives herself the gift of untangling the uniquely messy matters of succession, self-preservation, and the escalating tensions between Protestants and Catholics.
What’s more, the series can give more consideration to Henry’s three surviving children — pious Mary (Romola Garai), restless middle child Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg), and new boy king Edward (Oliver Zetterstrom) — than those productions about the adults ruling their lives often can. As the title suggests, the new drama mostly centers Elizabeth, who was 14 years-old when her father’s death made her a pawn in several competing games at the Tudor court.
Though she would eventually become the legendary Elizabeth I, she then found herself torn between Mary, a devout Catholic, and Edward, a stubborn Protestant, as they jostled for power and influence. When she went to live with her stepmother, Catherine Parr (Jessica Raine), and Catherine’s new husband Thomas Seymour (Tom Cullen), she became an object of fascination and plaything.