Downton Abbey star’s period drama hailed ‘best series since Poldark’
The series was axed after just one season despite fans calling it ‘wildly underrated’ and comparing it to the early seasons of Game of Thrones.
Viewers were left devastated by its cancellation before a second season (Image: Channel 4)
An “outstanding” period drama is available to stream for free, and appears tailor-made for Game of Thrones enthusiasts.
It chronicles the only surviving child of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, who would eventually become Queen.
The eight-episode series opens with Alicia von Rittburg portraying Elizabeth Tudor, an orphaned teenager drawn into the treacherous political machinations of her court.
As she readies herself to assume the crown, it spans nearly the entire reign of her younger half-brother, Edward VI, reports the Mirror.
Becoming Elizabeth is available to watch on Channel 4 (Image: Channel 4)
The cast also features Emma actress Romola Garai, Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine, Downton Abbey’s Tom Cullen and Last of Us icon Bella Ramsey.
Becoming Elizabeth is now free to watch on Channel 4, with the synopsis teasing: “Gripping historical drama. A teenage Elizabeth Tudor is thrust into a dangerous world of ambition, intrigue and sex when Henry VIII’s death ignites a cutthroat fight for England’s crown.”
Viewers hailed the series as “gripping,” with one explaining how they were left “hooked” after another said, “This show is extremely well written. The dialogues, the setting, the acting, and the gritty, realistic atmosphere remind one of the early seasons of Game of Thrones. I hope that this show is renewed.”
Another called it “fantastic”, while someone else said it was an “outstanding start”.
The drama has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by fans (Image: Channel 4)
“Wildly underrated,” another fan wrote, as someone else called it a “riveting historical drama”. “Loving this show, so underrated,” another echoed.
Several others begged for a second season, as one fan wrote: “Best series I’ve seen since Poldark.”
Despite the praise from fans, it was confirmed that Becoming Elizabeth wouldn’t be returning just months after the first season aired.
According to Deadline, the period drama failed to capture audiences “meaningfully”, with its most-watched episode only reaching 158,000 total viewers.
This was despite showrunner Anya Reiss previously teasing plans for season two, saying: “We have a plan. Edward’s not even dead, so we have a lot of story, a lot of room.”
She added to TV Insider: “I’m genuinely devastated that I’ve lost some of my [characters]. I went to write a scene without Somerset, and I was like, “How?” But I’m really excited about the room that opens up for us and opening up people’s families and seeing a little bit more of their home lives.”
Reiss is now turning to the BBC for a new legal drama, echoing the likes of The Split.
Anya Reiss is also the writer behind Reputation (Image: Marc Brenner/BBC)
Reputation is set to be “an audacious and glossy new drama that shows what happens when a celebrity legal battle spirals out of control”.
The six-part series will follow Elaine, a formidable lawyer who has built a career defending free expression and is pulled into a huge case and called in to represent global pop star, Davina Knight.
The BBC goes on to tease: “After Davina releases a provocative new song accusing her ex-husband, Billy, of abusive behaviour and he retaliates in kind, their private breakdown erupts into a very public libel battle.
The series is perfect for Game of Thrones fans (Image: Channel 4)
“The case is fought far beyond the courtroom, as PR machines are deployed, laws are bent, and social media platforms become judge, jury and battleground – driving outrage for clicks and warping the truth.
“For Elaine, the case puts her own personal life in the line of fire. How far will she go to win and at what cost? And for Davina, how far will she go to protect her reputation?”
Writer Reiss said: “When I found out London was the global capital of high-stakes libel cases – where the rich, powerful and famous come to fight in public for their reputations – I was in. I’ve loved writing this world, and now I’m excited to get it off the page and onto the screen.”
Becoming Elizabeth is available to watch on Channel 4
SOURCE: EXPRESS