'Becoming Elizabeth' Episode 2 Review: Elizabeth learns to stand on her own feet in riveting piece of drama
During the premiere of ‘Becoming Elizabeth’, the show made it clear that it won’t be your usual period drama and we saw how makers have tried defying the odds by bringing something new into this genre. However, episode two of the STARZ period drama takes the show to a whole new level. In the first episode, we saw everyone trying their best to claim their spot on the throne, even though Edward has already been named the new King of England after Henry VIII’s demise.
The most exciting part of this drama is that everyone has their own ambitions and they are ready to do anything for being successful in manipulating others. Episode 2 sees The Chelsea Household arriving at the court and getting entertained by a suggestive performance mocking Catholicism and the Pope. Mary (Romola Garai) is appalled by what she sees and leaves the court, forcing Edward to leave as well and ask if she’s feeling hurt by the performance. However, things take an erratic turn when everyone in the household tries to use Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg) for their own use.
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Elizabeth, who still doesn’t consider herself worthy of sitting on the throne, is torn between who to choose: her sister Mary or Catherine. The reason why she must choose sides is that each side needs more and more people in support so that they can rule England. Mary feels that Elizabeth should join her and live with her because Catherine and her new husband Thomas Seymour just want to use her. On the other hand, Catherine tells Elizabeth that Mary is just using her so that she can complete her own ambitions of ruling the country.
The young princess is forced to make a choice and that’s where the show excels. It shows how women of that era were also ambitious and wanted to rule the country so that they can set an example. It’s all about mind games and Elizabeth needs to understand how everyone is using her to make their way to the top.
The episode is all about manipulation and how Elizabeth learns that she needs to make her own decisions if she wants to survive in this political mayhem. With accurate costuming and an extraordinary cast, the STARZ drama manages to explore the Tudor Era with a very accurate timeline of events in Elizabeth’s life.
So far, the show has been riveting and gives us a new perspective on how women became key players after King Henry VIII’s death. Alicia von Rittberg as Elizabeth is brilliant and looks like this role was made just for her. Meanwhile, Romola Garai and Jessica Raine are as fierce as Queen Mary and Catherine Parr.
Viewers should be ready to witness more dramatic events in the future and it’ll be interesting to see how the show manages to bring all those moments to life. As of now, the show seems to have nailed this historical drama and Episode 2 just takes the show to a whole new level.
'Becoming Elizabeth' returns to STARZ with a new episode every Sunday at 9 pm EST.