Your Reviews: Episode 2
Your Reviews for Episode 2:
"Yet another fantastic display of acting."
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"Yet another fantastic display of acting. The strength of this great drama grows with each episode. I am delighted that the history of our great monarchy has been brought to life in such a clever and colourful way."
Bazzy Jeff, Bournemouth
"Anne-Marie Duff is the ideal choice to play Elizabeth I for a new generation and easily holds her own in the company of other notable actresses who have played the role including the unforgettable Glenda Jackson who many, myself included, consider to have given the definitive portrayal."
Jane Wells, Sheffield, UK
"Dull and boring. Anne-Marie Duff has nothing like the necessary intelligence, dignity or gravitas to convince us that she could have survived such dangerous times. In her big speech about marriage she came across as just stroppy and the giggling after the speech made it seem that she was just playing a game rather than trying to define her reign. Most misguided."
Roger Edwards, Buckinghamshire
"Anne-Marie Duff plays the iconic queen to perfection."
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"The story of Elizabeth I and her reign has been done to death. So I was surprised when watching The Virgin Queen, it seemed to reincarnate it.
Anne-Marie Duff – who is without doubt one of Britain's best actresses at present – plays the iconic queen to perfection (albeit with a dodgy barnet), and the number of top British thesps cropping up was quite astonishing.
However, having missed the premiere episode of The Virgin Queen, I was unsure at first what to make of Tom Hardy's performance as the complex character, Robert Dudley (played so well on screen by Joseph Fiennes). Did I like him? Did I loathe him? I settled on an answer; I loved him. He is quite simply brilliant.
But possibly the best thing about this delightful mini-series is the music. And the costumes. And well, I don't know, it just works, doesn’t it?"
Hannah Jane, Liverpool
"Absolutely fantastic. This is a most accurate and thrilling portrayal of England's favorite Queen. Anne-Marie Duff is fabulous. The costumes and props are amazing and the whole effect makes it seem real. The music is beautiful. Well done BBC, this is far better than any drama I have ever seen on ITV."
Jade Buchanan, Blackpool
"Having watched last week's episode and been singularly unimpressed, I watched again this week to see if it was any better. Unfortunately it just got worse. Elizabethan history is a hobby of mine and this is just hyped beyond reason and its accuracy leaves a lot to be desired."
J Morris, London
"One of the worst dramas on Elizabeth I've yet seen."
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"Elizabeth is my favourite historical personage and I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately it's turned out to be a real disappointment. Poor casting, historical inaccuracies and anachronisms have made this one of the worst dramas on Elizabeth I've yet seen. Anne-Marie Duff, fine actress though she is, just doesn't have the fire and authority to play the part, Dexter Fletcher's cheeky cockney persona doesn't fit, Ian Hart is too young to play Cecil, and Tom Hardy far too nondescript for Dudley.
Mary Tudor's death didn't happen in the way it was portrayed, and when Elizabeth said to Dudley in tonight's episode "To err is human, to forgive, divine," didn't writer Paula Milne realise this was written by Alexander Pope in 1711? Very lazy research on her part I think.
All in all, a disappointing production."
Pam McAllister, Stevenage
"A great serial-drama. Acting, script, costumes: 10 out of 10. Anne-Marie's performance is even better than Glenda Jackson's - and that's saying something."
Brian Lawrence, Oldham
"I thought Episode 2 was a bit fluffy - there was so much attention paid to her infatuation with Dudley and Elizabeth's Council's obsession about the succession. There was little evidence of how she was coping with affairs of state and the crucial issues at that time. Apart from this criticism, the detail of costume and setting remained excellent."
JMD, Surbiton
"So far, I feel as if I have woken up in the 1500's and am living in their 'now'- so real and exciting is this version of Elizabeth I."
Linda, Preston
"Anne-Marie Duff is playing Elizabeth as a petulant, angry young woman."
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"I hoped that Episode 2 would show the increasing assurance and deft touch with which Elizabeth I handled her courtiers and government, but instead Anne-Marie Duff is playing her as a petulant, angry young woman. I can see why that is, there is no doubt Elizabeth I was petulant, infuriating and exasperating, but there is something lacking in Duff's portrayal. Nevertheless, the series is riveting, carried along, however inaccurately, by the wonder of the story."
Lynne, Chester
"This consolidated on the excellent start to the series. It is engrossing to see the character of Elizabeth developing, played in a believably understated way by Anne-Marie Duff. In a short series I suppose some historical inaccuracy is necessary to include the pertinent events, such as the mistreatment of the death of Queen Mary in Episode 1. However, I wonder when Sir Walter Raleigh will enter the picture; as one of Elizabeth's favourites, his story is surely includable, or are the BBC going to do a series on him separately? I'd watch it if it is as good as this one!"
Marion, Rugby
"Anne-Marie Duff is doing a fantastic job in this. She is really starting to shine in the second episode - there is a real depth to her portrayal of the character. If she keeps this up when tackling Elizabeth's relationship with Mary Queen of Scots, then I suspect we could have the best exploration of that relationship yet - plus the fact it this far more historically accurate than anything done thus far."
Tony McDaid, Glasgow
Read a synopsis of Episode Two »
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Behind the Scenes
Rummage around the wardrobe department »
Preview Clip
Episodes
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