The White Queen

Well world, I am almost finished packing for my half-year journey to the U.K. Of course, getting ready has used up all of my non-work hours, and I've filled every other minute with books. Unfortunately, this means I haven't done much blogging (and the last Sunday Sayings failed to post).

Today, however, I would like to take a bit of time to tell you all about one of my recent obsessions: The White Queen. I'm talking about the British TV series following Elizabeth of Woodeville during her time as Queen of England, and wife to King Edward IV. This dramatic, scandalous, well-acted portrayal of the Wars of the Roses had me more passionate to learn about English history than I had been in a long time. I did a lot of unnecessary research (mostly on Wikipedia) to understand every bit of the history and what parts were truth versus creative liberties. I am in awe of Philippa Greggory, the author of the books which inspired the show, and I want to read the whole series now.

When I was home alone and there was nothing on TV, this was a great little show to binge. I was so passionate about the story, but my allegiance was constantly changing. The characters were never straight forward, they were immensley complex.

I have to admit to feeling a little guilty watching this. It is R-rated for a reason...it is somewhat similar to Game of Thrones. And that's no surprise since Game of Thrones is largely based on the Wars of the Roses. However, it felt, at times, inappropriate. Especially for a Christian such as myself. Let's just say it is the kind of show best watched alone, and that some people may not be comfortable with it. I know that this show changed me, and I'm not always proud of it. But God helps me to overcome that struggle more and more every day. I think that we have to be very careful watching things like this, as Christians, but each person must search his or her own heart to decide whether they are taking it too far. Sorry for the mini-sermon, but I want others out there to know they aren't alone.

Let's just get back to talking about the show. I love how possible theories and mindsets of the time are represented in the way the story is written. People though that Jacquetta, Elizabeth's mother, might be a witch, and sometimes noticed "unnatural" or "fortuitous" weather conditions that changed the tide in the wars, so Jacquetta and Elizabeth are portrayed practicing witchcraft. Whether the magic works or is just mere coincidence, is for the skeptics and believers to decide. Who really killed Edward V and his (possibly fake) brother is never explicitly stated, but it leaves some interesting options open for viewers to consider. Popular opinion blames Richard, but the show seems to imply that it was Anne Neville who did them in, though she feels constantly guilty because she didn't want their deaths to be her fault. And seriously, you know how I work: with history, there are no spoilers. Read a book if you want to be more well-informed on the topic. Seriously, this stuff is so interesting!

And if you think it's tour thing, you should give this show a try. 10 episodes, less than 2 hours each. But moderate your watching, it can be too overwhelming to watch in large doses. I did a lot of screaming, sobbing, gushing, and smiling. And I loved every minute of it.