Rebecca Ferguson’s The White Queen compressed 30 years into ten episodes

Collider notes that Rebecca Ferguson’s historical drama The White Queen, which dropped in 2013, ran just ten episodes and compressed decades of history into that short run.

The piece describes the show as an ambitious retelling of the War of the Roses, packing sex, political intrigue and dynastic rot — public executions by wine drownings, secret marriages and incestuous affairs — into a story told from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville, a social‑climbing widow rumored to practice witchcraft. Critics pointed to the pacing trade‑offs of condensing thirty years into a handful of episodes; the LA Times called it “a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative,” and reviewers also criticized its glossy set dressings, ageing choices and narrative short‑cutting. Ferguson’s performance is highlighted as subtle and magnetic, and she is surrounded by an ensemble that includes Amanda Hale as Margaret Beaufort, Faye Marsay as Anne Neville, Eleanor Tomlinson as Isabel Warwick and Janet McTeer as Lady Woodville.

The article says the show’s compressed timeline left viewers wanting more space to watch Ferguson’s character fully evolve and that the series never fully explores the mysticism tied to Elizabeth. It frames The White Queen as an early showcase for Ferguson’s presence before her later film roles and suggests revisiting the series for her performance despite its condensed scope.

Key Topics

Culture, Rebecca Ferguson, Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, Anne Neville