Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moody Queen Elizabeth I melodrama; violence and nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Becoming Elizabeth
What's the Story?
In BECOMING ELIZABETH, Elizabeth Tudor, a teenager orphaned after the death of King Henry VIII, becomes embroiled in the political and sexual politics of the English court on her journey to secure the crown.
Is It Any Good?
Aiming for sexy political intrigue, this latest re-telling of the rise of Queen Elizabeth I lands closer to soapy melodrama. Centered partly around an underaged girl being groomed by an older man and a 10-year-old boy-king screaming profanities at his underlings, Becoming Elizabeth leaves the viewer with a vague feeling of what can only be described as ickiness. Adding to the cheap feel is the overdone mood lighting and nearly dizzying camera work, both of which fail to create the dramatic tension mastered by superior periods pieces such as Game of Thrones and The Great. It's historical drama hovering just above the level of something the CW network might produce (if they were allowed to use profanity and show nudity). The costumes are beautiful, though often hidden in the dark. The dialogue is simplistic, and the scenes are fast paced and brief. Which isn't all bad if something easy to follow and mildly entertaining is all you're after. But this isn't a show people will be buzzing about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about historical content. What's appealing about costume dramas? What would be a different way of telling a familiar historical tale like this one?
Are there any similarities between today's politics and those of Britain in the 1500s? How accurate do you think the show is, from a historical perspective? Was there really this much constant sex and violence?
Did anything you saw surprise you? How could you find out more about the period if you wanted to? What are the benefits and drawbacks about learning history through TV shows and movies?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 12, 2022
- Cast : Alicia Von Rittberg , Romola Garai , Jessica Raine
- Network : Starz
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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