This four-part Elizabethan documentary series tells history on a grand scale, chronicling Queen Elizabeth I’s triumphs and tribulations with extraordinary flair and insight. Elizabeth came to the throne in 1559 at the age of 25. Their rise was fraught with unspeakable tragedy and fierce opposition.
Titled “From Prison to Palace,” the first part of the film charts her tumultuous rise to power. She is a child prodigy and has shown amazing willpower since she was a child. But despite her obvious gifts, her fate is not entrusted to her like the other heirs to the throne; their path is fraught with great resistance. Her father, King Henry VIII, ordered her mother’s execution, her love affair was damaged by an incident of sexual abuse, and she was even briefly and unjustly imprisoned. The film shows how these difficult early experiences shaped her determination and ultimately the way she led during her reign.
Her position in the male-dominated hierarchy also shapes her leadership style. As mentioned in the second episode of the series titled “The Virgin Queen,” she seems determined to rule as a “royal androgynous.” She turned down many potential suitors and was childless throughout her life.
Elizabeth may have eschewed the feminine traditions of the day, but that may have been due to her dual roles as king and queen of the country. When war broke out against Spain in 1588, she proved herself in a landslide victory, mainly fighting and winning at sea. Episode 3 – titled “King’s Heart” – commemorates this dramatic moment in their monarchy.
The final section, titled Gloriana, describes the golden age after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. While the country’s pride and prestige on the global stage were secured, the last 15 years of her rule were marked by ongoing conflict and instability, squabbling within the government and deep depression.
Elizabeth’s complex narrative is exhaustive, but far from exhaustive. It’s packed with enough drama, intrigue, and colorful characters to keep even the most passive follower of British history sane and entertained.
Directed by: Mark Fielder
