Historians have questioned how much the villainous and ambitious person shown here truly resembled Richard III, but there’s no denying William Shakespeare's view—or Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal. Following the unexpected death of his brother Edward IV and reports that another brother, Clarence, was drowned in wine, the young Edward V is set to inherit. However, his uncle has other intentions; while appearing friendly, he devises a cunning scheme to cast doubt on the legitimacy of this boy (Caspar Morley) by suggesting his mother (Keeley Hawes) wasn't properly married. He skillfully makes it seem like he’s acting in response to a public request as he overthrows his nephew, seizes the throne, and thus creates the enduring enigma surrounding the princes in the Tower. Even his own mother (Dame Judi Dench) is shocked by this act, though not as much as Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and a claimant through Edward III (Luke Treadaway), who gathers an army to return the crown to the Lancastrians. It's a familiar story, and this adaptation from Dominic Cooke and Ben Power remains largely true to Shakespeare’s depiction of Richard’s character—and that’s what Benedict Cumberbatch delivers so impressively. From the beginning, he has a sinister look in his eyes, consistently portraying a distasteful and deceptive personality. The playwright often employed ghostly figures or psychological manipulation to represent guilt, and here those techniques are used to torment the king's conscience as his transgressions accumulate rapidly. Even places of refuge aren’t safe. There is a strong supporting cast, although this play doesn’t provide substantial roles for Ben Daniels, Keeley Hawes, James Fleet, or the scarcely seen Treadaway. This isn’t truly an issue though, since it's essentially a showcase for one performer, and it’s presented with considerable skill. With well-staged battle sequences and striking visuals of dark castles and excellent costumes, this serves as a suitable end to this exceptional seven-part history series about a period when neither divine favor nor lineage ensured that a king would retain his position.

Source on TMDB