The White Princess

It's 1485 England. Henry VII returns home after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. It's the last battle in the War of the Roses. Henry and his mother Margaret Beaufort are constantly fighting off nascent rebellion from the remaining House of York. He is forced to marry York princess Lizzie to combine the two houses. Lizzie's mother, the Dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, is confined but continues to ferment rebellion with the help of Lizzie's aunt Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy. Lizzie's cousin Maggie is desperate to free her mentally-handicapped brother Teddy who has a righteous claim to the throne. Prince Richard comes back from the grave to lay claim to the throne.

This is a movie of evil triumph over good. It's the slow descend of Lizzie into hell. That can be unappealing to watch. It isn't for everyone. The acting is impeccable. The issue of historical accuracy is fair but ultimately besides the point. This is fictional historical drama and quite frankly, the show posts the warning after every episode. This is a terrific character study above all.

Many reviewers here have elaborately pointed out that those other series The White Queen and The Spanish Princess, both more or less depicting the same historical characters, were either a better or a worse watch than this one. Well, if you care to judge The White Princess for it's own merits, you get to enjoy a very thrilling history-based story, full of love and hate, romance, treason, battles and executions, along with the visual splendor of sumptuous costumes and some impressive settings. The writers (basing themselves on Philippa Gregory's novels) focussed mainly on the challenges that the pretenders caused Henry VII and his queen and realm, which is more than enough to fill all 8 episodes with well paced and involving drama.

The acting of virtually all characters is spotless, up to the smallest parts. But especially Jodie Comer as the guilt-ridden queen "Lizzie" of York, torn between loyalty to her family and loyalty to her her husband, does a marvelous job. And Michelle Fairly is absolutely formidable as the manipulative and scheming Lady Margaret Beaufort.

I started watching the Spanish Princess which led me to watch the White Princess and continuing out of order on to watch the White Queen. Watching it made me read extensively about the War of the Roses and Henry VII as king. Historically, as the series states, has been changed for dramatic purposes which is a bit of a shame because history itself is very interesting. Some of the dramatizations make relative sense, while other alterations simply are unneeded. I won't give specifics so as to give spoilers, and the internet makes it easy enough to research the accurate stories. The sets, costumes, and acting are all excellent. So just accept that extensive liberties are taken, and enjoy.

I thought this was better than The White Queen. I noticed it was a Starz production and so far I've liked their work. This is a little less ambitious. This is based on a good book rather than history itself, but having said that, the show did manage to have an actor that actually resembled Henry VII, which for me was just enough to be persuaded to be embroiled. And the plot is embroiling, and, in regard to history, the plot only really takes license from those facts that even history is still wondering. That's a winner for me.

It's a lavish, intense, psychological drama with the ever present violence of the day hanging over all, brilliantly acted with perfect costumes and excellent production.

Nitpicking ...... I docked The White Princess two points for the rather sparse and cavalier manner of the street processions. In history these processions have far greater pomp and cast. Like The White Queen, both shows needed to up the grandeur. The battle scenes however were historically much better.

Thoroughly enjoyed.

I started to watch this after viewing the Spanish princess in hindsight would probably storywise been better the other way round . This is by no means a great representation of an accurate historical drama and in honesty there is a lot simlair both in production and setting as the Spanish princess to the point I must look up writers and location to see if they are the same.

The biggest difference in this production is the actors who for me are far superior and better suited than those of the Spanish princess which makes the series a lot more enjoyable a watch. Jodie Comer surprised me of how good she was in a period drama .