Good news for the female gaze, The White Princess tells the tale of a fight for the throne without the gratuitous sex or violence (spoiler-free).
The White Princess has been adapted from the novels of the same name by Philippa Gregory, an English historical novelist. The series, which is set for eight episodes, follows the hostile union of Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII. With England torn between their two families, the pair are forced together to unite the country.
Fans that enjoy series like Game of Thrones and The Tudors but hate the gratuitous sex and violence will love and appreciate The White Princess. I’m guessing that we have Philippa Gregory to thank for that. It’s quite clear from the start that the series takes the female gaze into mind, but that doesn’t mean the guys should brush it off either.
There’s plenty of action, tension, and drama to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Of course, the show wouldn’t be a proper series about royal families if there wasn’t some sex. However, when it does occur, it’s for a purpose. The scenes with sexual themes feel sensual instead of raunchy, and they propel the story forward without the need to show the actresses full frontal.
Although it’s made pretty clear that the men want to think they’re in charge, The White Princess does an excellent job of showing how women ran things behind the scenes. Kings might rule, and men might fight in the armies, but it’s the women who really know how to run the country and keep the devotion of the people. There are definitely times where I felt bad for Elizabeth of York, or Lizzie as she’s often called, but her determination to help her family as they’re being belittled by the new monarchy shows her true strength.
I honestly thought there would be much more focus on Lizzie and Henry as a couple, featuring romance heavily, but the series is so much more than that. Where other series have relied heavily on sex and violence to draw viewers in, the problems and conspiracies they have to overcome does the job on its own. There’s no questioning that viewers will want to know what is going to happen between Lizzie and Henry, if there’s any chance they can become a real couple, but it’s just a part of the larger story.
There definitely is violence in the series, but again it’s always for a reason. With different royal families at odds, there’s no escaping bloodshed, but it’s not overly gory by any means. It’s realistic, but done tastefully so you can actually keep viewing the scenes without cringing and closing your eyes. The story being told is captivating enough that they don’t need to rely on extra gore just to make things more interesting.
As an added bonus, the series is beautifully shot. The cinematography is breathtaking and adds to the whole story being told. Viewers will feel as though they’re right there in England. The costume designs as well seem quite realistic (I’m no expert) and add to the beauty of the series. Overall, it’s pleasing to the eye and makes the storyline that much better.
I definitely recommend The White Princess to anyone into royal period dramas. I’ve been a fan of many similar series and this one blows them out of the park. Starz has definitely found a way to carve their own path by focusing on shows that are friendly for both the female and male fans, and I thank them for that.