Following Henry VI’s downfall, England's 15th century Wars of the Roses have resulted in Yorkists overcoming the Plantagenets, with the young Edward IV (Max Irons) now on the throne. He and his influential Earl of Warwick (James Frain) are traveling through the countryside when they come across Lady Elizabeth Grey (Rebecca Ferguson), who asks him to restore her deceased husband’s lands. Captivated by her beauty and struck by her bravery, he begins a relationship with her, despite reservations from the Earl, ultimately leading to her becoming Queen. However, her position doesn't guarantee acceptance from the nobility or her new family, which becomes apparent through the hostility of her mother-in-law, the Duchess Cecily (Caroline Goodall), and his brother George, Duke of Clarence (David Oakes). This sets off a chain of deceptive political maneuvers involving Warwick, her husband, and various foreign powers from France, Normandy, and Burgundy. The era is full of deception and broken promises, where loyalty is fleeting when the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. Ferguson delivers a strong performance, and there’s a noticeable connection between her characters with both Max Irons and Janet McTeer, who portrays her mother Jacquetta and adds an element of superstition to the schemes. The choices for Oakes and Aneurin Barnard as the brothers aren't quite as successful; Oakes especially is underwhelming in his depiction of the scheming Clarence. Still, since this story mainly focuses on women wielding influence during that time, it’s somewhat made up for by performances like Amanda Hale’s Lady Margaret Beaufort, Veerie Baetens’s rather threatening Margaret of Anjou (wife of the former king), and Eleanor Tomlinson and Faye Marsay as the daughters of Warwick, drawn into his increasingly manipulative plans. The production values are high, with a clear emphasis on historical accuracy in the details. While it takes liberties and questions more traditional interpretations of what actually happened with these people and events, it’s an excellent fictionalized account based on real history that explores a love story fighting to endure.

Source on TMDB