The White Queen

:

Season 1
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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Critic Reviews

  1. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Aug 12, 2013
    60
    Each of them [actresses Rebecca Ferguson, Faye Marsay and Amanda Hale] stabs backs and pops bodice buttons with the necessary élan while keeping a straight face at The White Queen’s putative moral, which is that arranged marriages are corrupt and evil, while those born of attempted rape, self-mutilation and suicide are sacred and empowering.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Aug 9, 2013
    60
    This may be a case where a little more violence would help make the stakes seem more real. The main issues for these royals and would-be royals are when to bow and to whom.
  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: David Hiltbrand
    Aug 8, 2013
    60
    Its success is due largely to the costumes, set dressing, and comeliness of the two leads, a smoldering Max Irons (son of Jeremy) and radiant Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson.... The problem with The White Queen is its pace, slowed by ponderous exposition and arcane bloodline conspiracies.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Aug 12, 2013
    50
    There are many powerful scenes in The White Queen, moments that illustrate time and again how a woman's body was both her greatest tool and her inevitable prison; a man could control his fate by mind or sword, a woman can do it only by proxy. Unfortunately, they are surrounded by the misty, swampy lands of generic medievalness.
  6. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Aug 5, 2013
    50
    The good news: The White Queen gets off to an entertaining start. The bad news: In subsequent episodes it gets bogged down in then-this-happened, then-that-happened jumps through history.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best TV Season of 2013
49
#49 Most Shared TV Season of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 52
  3. Negative: 3 out of 52
  1. Jmyers078
    Nov 5, 2013
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. This overly and unnecessarily melodramatic treatment of the compelling history of the War of the Roses is watchable, but choppy. It forces acceleration through critical historical events with little or no consideration of their worth simply to drive the characters through the plot, and it frequently suggests facts as true that are in fact based on conjuncture and myth. For example, the ludicrous contention that Elizabeth Woodville's youngest son Richard was NOT in the tower with his brother ("The Princes in the Tower") is pure myth and widely regarded as scandalously bad history. Yet this anachronism is boldly pursued to set up a later claim that the younger Richard is the rightful king during a plot against Henry Tudor. Also, the unseemly forthcoming suggestion that Elizabeth of York is pregnant with Richard III's child (thus suggesting that King Henry VIII is Richard III's heir) is preposterous. So don't rely on this presentation as a substitute for your history class paper.

    It is also terribly over stylized. If you want a less melodramatic, literarily accomplished, equally liberal ahistorical treatment of the War of the Roses, get it from a better source: Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, & 3, and Richard III by William Shakespeare.    … Full Review »
  2. oakridge
    Aug 6, 2013
    8
    Very pleasant history lesson about the cousins war. The series is far better than 'The Tudors' and doesn't rely on pretty faces and excessiveVery pleasant history lesson about the cousins war. The series is far better than 'The Tudors' and doesn't rely on pretty faces and excessive sex for its impact. Instead we have complex history made simple for mass consumption. It has everything from battles, witchcraft, romance and intrigue. The production looks great and performances are solid with Janet McTeer standing out. I have read the history of this period and it is good to see people like author Phillipa Gregory challenging the old myths about characters like Richard the third and the princes in the tower. This is solid and captivating high quality entertainment.… Full Review »
  3. Loutampa
    Oct 22, 2013
    10
    History portrayed in a wonderful way. Just as good as the Tudors and very enjoyable. The acting was great and you couldn't wait for the nextHistory portrayed in a wonderful way. Just as good as the Tudors and very enjoyable. The acting was great and you couldn't wait for the next episode to reveal its history.… Full Review »
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