The White Princess
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The White Princess is a historical drama about the rise of the Tudor dynasty. This sequel to The White Queen is based on Philippa Gregory's novel and contains lots of mature content, including simulated sex acts, threats of rape, violent battles, poisoning, and killing. Witchcraft is also shown. There's drinking (wine, ale), and occasional crude language and cursing.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Revisionist history is BS
Historical piece that is very honest and stays true to the book
The best show on Starz
What's the story?
Based on the Philippa Gregory novel of the same name, THE WHITE PRINCESS tells the story of the marriage between Elizabeth of York (Jodie Comer) and King Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy). Edward III, the last of the Plantagenet kings, has died in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth. Now the White Queen's daughter and the late King's lover, Elizabeth of York, is now forced to marry Henry VII, the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty. In doing so, she must also contend with His Majesty’s mother, Margaret Beaufort (Michelle Fairley), who was instrumental in placing Henry on the throne, and remains a powerful force at court. Meanwhile, the Dowager Queen Elizabeth (Essie Davis), works from behind the scenes to empower her daughter while secretly supporting those who may threaten Henry VII’s crown in the future.
Is it any good?
The soap opera-ish series offers a romanticized version of the relationship between the first Tudor King and Queen of England. It features all the machinations and struggles for power and influence for which the English royal court is known for, but it does so with the fictional flair of Philippa Gregory’s book series rather than with historical accuracy. However, at times it presents Elizabeth as a stronger, more empowered figure than she is in the book, allowing her character to rise above her role as a mere political pawn who settles into her role.
Although it's a follow-up to The White Queen, the cast changes and post-War of the Roses narratives of this mini-series give it a very different feel. However, the insertion of fictional characters and plots to add to the turmoil doesn't take away from the show's historical foundation, which contextualizes the difficult role Elizabeth of York had to play as a result of her noble birth. If you like British royal history dramas (and there are quite a few to choose from at this point), The White Princess will prove itself very entertaining.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about historical dramas on TV. Are they more factual or fictional? Does it matter? How true to life is The White Princess?
Marriage and mistresses form part of British monarchial history. As a result, some history-themed dramas like The White Princess contain lots of strong sexual material. Could they tell the same story without being so explicit?
TV details
- Premiere date: April 16, 2017
- Cast: Jacob Collins-Levy, Jodie Comer, Michelle Fairley
- Network: Starz
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
For kids who love historical TV
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.