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. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Aug 5, 2013
    100
    Queen delivers the basic goods (intrigue, sex) , but the only vivid character is Margaret Beaufort, mom of the future Henry VII. She's played by Amanda Hale with startling neuritic fervor. [12 Aug 2013]
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  2. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    Aug 8, 2013
    88
    It’s a great tale and beautifully told with beautiful actors.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Nuzhat Naoreen
    Aug 2, 2013
    83
    Absurd but engrossing War of the Roses-era drama. [9 Aug 2013, p.73]
    All this critic's reviews
  5. Denver Post
    Reviewed by: Joanne Ostrow
    Aug 9, 2013
    80
    The Starz 10-hour miniseries is a beautiful, fun period piece populated by amazing talent.
  6. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Aug 8, 2013
    75
    It may not have the production values of those shows [The Tudors or The Borgias], but it does have an Irons, who, along with the rest of the cast, makes The White Queen an entertaining romp through a complicated and fascinating period of English history.
  7. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Aug 9, 2013
    70
    The White Queen is gauzier than “The Tudors,” and it contains more overacting; but it scratches the same itch.
  8. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Emily Yahr
    Aug 9, 2013
    70
    Though the series drags whenever it becomes bogged down in political aspects of the fight, it’s inherently entertaining to see such back-stabbing, and possibly literal stabbing, between supposed loved ones.
  9. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Aug 9, 2013
    70
    Adapted from three overlapping page-turners by the prolific Philippa Gregory, this enjoyably propulsive high melodrama replays the classic Wars of the Roses family feud (York vs. Lancaster) from the perspective of the women who are both pawns and players in a violent, turbulent game of claiming and keeping the English throne.
  10. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Aug 5, 2013
    70
    Addressing these complexities [the women hav[ing] to be more creative in their scheming], however, and incorporating the other tentacles of Gregory’s history eventually begin to dilute the story’s central thrust (and there’s a lot of thrusting) toward the end of the eight episodes previewed out of the 10-part run.

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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