Episode 2 of The White Queen (2013) begins with Elizabeth Woodville’s coronation as Queen of England. This was an historic moment, as it also represented the first time in English history where a commoner was crowned queen. In fact, Elizabeth’s coronation would go on to add legitimacy to another commoner queen, Anne Boleyn, who married Elizabeth’s great-grandson Henry VIII to much controversy and outcry.
The episode wraps up, fast-forwarding three years in the future, when Edward IV is captured by Warwick and Clarence in their attempt to depose him and reinstate Henry VI to the throne. Elizabeth vows vengeance on Edward’s treasonous cousin and brother after she learns that her father and brother have been summarily executed without charges laid against them. Overall, this episode was a little tough to follow with the time skipping ahead from 1465 to 1466 to 1469/1470. I get that they have to cram a lot of history into an hour, but it made events hard to keep track of.
As far as the costumes go, there were a lot of pretty good examples of 1460s fashion and a lot of examples where it’s clear we are not supposed to notice that there’s a 100-year difference between eras in a single scene. Sorry, it’s my job to notice these things. I give it a 4/10.
What did you think of episode two of The White Queen (2013)? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
So as far as Starz historical dramas go, The White Queen was my favorite, I rewatched it several times. I think they reused costumes from other movies etc and that’s why!
It’s sad that a 4/10 is a pretty good ranking for a Starz Philippa Gregory piece lol
That’s Philippa Fucking Gregory, thank you! (No snark intended to you, Katie, although plenty to PFG.) Gosh, those are bad crowns. Although I kind of like the gold wedding dress, especially all the texture, however inaccurate. Now if only they had cast someone convincing to play England’s greatest warrior-king.
Well OF COURSE the Burgundian is dressed to impress – they more or less dictated High Fashion for the late medieval period, so their man in Westminster would probably be condemned to something suitably gruesome were he to let the side down (Even when the rest of France doesn’t seem to have shown up to offer some properly exacting scrutiny!).😄
I’d like Margaret of York to get some small or big screen attention at some point. I know she’s a side character in ‘White Princess’ and also plays a supporting role in a French/German language series called ‘Maximilian and Marie de Bourgogne,’ a project focused on her would be great.
On it writing a book Focused on Margaret of York!
Forgive the nit-picking, but wasn’t Elizabeth Woodville Henry VIII’s grandmother?
Yes, she was! Her daughter, also named Elizabeth, married Henry Tudor (aka Henry VII). They had two sons: Arthur (who died young), and Henry, who became Henry VIII.
Thanks! :)
Bare minimum was achieved! Yay!
I’m a gemologist. I’d love to do an analysis of jewelry and/or gems used in frock flicks. The ones used in Elizabeth’s crown are so obviously costume gems it’s painful.
Margaret Beaufort trying to get her son’s land and titles back from Clarence is factual and quite understandable. The numerous Woodwille daughters snatching up all the good matches in England caused a great deal of annoyance among aristocrats with eligible daughters. Not all grooms were as resentful as Buckingham, the girls were famously beautiful and a connection to the queen was not to be sneezed at.
I am not a horse expert but to me these particular horses seem to be either pureblood arabian, or with very high percentage of arabian blood. Not very probable in late medieval England. I mean there was some import of oriental horses to England (crusades and all that jazz) but it was on a very small scale. The bridles on these horses look to my, again, unexpertly eye like they are fancy Baroque ones, few centuries to early. But, as I said, I am no expert, so I can be wrong.
I LOVED this series when it came out, and I got into historical fashion some time later, so I was kinda of expecting a lot worse for the costumes, it makes me kinda glad they are ok haha Richard’s costume in this episode always struck me as particularly good. Elizabeth always seemed well dressed to me, but the Neville sisters were wearing ALWAYS the same dresses to the point it got annoying, especially since Anne has a bigger role later. I’m curious about the crowns, what would be a good example of a crown from this period?