Becoming Elizabeth, an eight-part historical drama on Channel 4, is being hailed by viewers as superior to Wolf Hall in pacing, performances and dramatic tension. Some fans have even drawn parallels with Game of Thrones.
A Tudor tale of a young queen
The series, created by British playwright Anya Reiss with an all-female writing team including Emily Ballou, Anna Jordan and Suhayla El-Bushra, dramatises the formative years of Queen Elizabeth I. The official synopsis reads: "Elizabeth Tudor, an orphaned teenager who becomes embroiled in the political and sexual politics of the English court on her journey to secure the crown."
It debuted on Channel 4 on 15 June 2022, starring Alicia von Rittberg as Elizabeth, with Romola Garai, Bella Ramsey, Jessica Raine and Tom Cullen among the cast.
Filming locations and critical praise
Shot between September 2020 and January 2021 in Wales, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire, the series features locations such as Wells Cathedral, Cardiff Castle and Berkeley Castle. Despite its quality, it was cancelled after one series due to low ratings.
Critics have praised the show, with one writing: "Tells the story well, thanks to a script that sees complexity in every action and amazing performances." Another called it "A smartly crafted portrait of royal intrigue."
Fan comparisons and reactions
One IMDB user said: "I think the pace, acting and drama was better than Wolf Hall... Such a shame we won't be able to see the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary played out further." Another compared it to Game of Thrones, calling it "A well written political drama."
Becoming Elizabeth is available to stream free on Channel 4.
