The story of two stubborn women , fighting each other in a man's world : Elizabeth I and Mary , Queen of Scots . This is a sweeping chronicle of 16th-century English Queens from their splendor years . She's the Protestant Elizabeth (Rebecca Scott) , a brilliant stateswoman who managed to restore England to power and glory amidst public and private confusion . Mary Queen of Scots (Olivia Chenery) and her cousin Elizabeth were rivals for power in Tudor England . The heathen Protestant Elizabeth dreads the prospect of the Catholic Mary about her ascending the English throne , leading to intrigue and divisiveness within the court . It also recreates ambition , turmoil and struggle for power by Robert Dudley (Harry Jarvis) , Earl of Leicester . As Elizabeth dealing with Protestant religion , intrigues with Spain and France and the vexing question of a political marriage . Elizabeth chose her advisers with consummate care , the first and best was William Cecil , he stayed in office for forty years , along with Francis Walsingham . Mary Stuart was imprisoned by the powerful Elizabeth , who rightly feared Catholic plots to place Mary on the throne . Mary is a tragic , romantic heroine that contends with various treacheries . Mary (1516-1558) inherited the throne of Scotland from Jacob V . She was next in line to the English kingdom , and married Francisco II , king of France , but he died early . Having been in France for thirteen years , Mary returned Scotland , and arrived from France with some misgivings . Then , Mary disembarks in Leith and goes to a castle near Edimburg , along with his lover David Rizzio (Carlos Camino) , court musician and confidant . There , she's received by his brother , the Earl James Stuart , (Matt McClure) . Later on , Queen Mary married a foppish aristocrat named Lord Darnley (Harry Jarvis) . Mary is helped by the Earl James Bothwell (James Lee Taylor) , her main supporter in her battle for power . Then , Rizzio was reputed to be the father of Mary's son , the future James I of England . Darnley , with some underlings , murdered Rizzio in Mary's presence . But Darnley is killed by an explosion in his refuge , outskirts Edimburg , and the God-fearing Calvinists led by John Knox accused to Bothwell as regicide . John Knox and the rebels Lords besiege Holyrood and the Borthwell's stronghold , Dumbar castle . The Calvinists forced her abdication , Mary escapes and asks for protection to Queen Elizabeth I , but Mary is double-crossed and taken imprisoned in the Tower of London . The film especially describes relations between Spain ruled by Philip II (Adrián Castiñeiras) , England and Scotland at the breaking point . This well-known monarch Felipe II , the Prudent King , governed in domains where the sun never set . He waged war with the Spanish armada commanded by Duke of Medina Sidonia against the British Navy commanded by Duke of Effiham and Raleigh and it lasted ten days , during July 1588 . At the end of the series , Mary confronts her English accusers at court in a stylized trial . Finally , Mary was guilty of plots complicity and was condemned , as the series reflects splendidly when Mary goes to beheading block with all due pomp and circumstance .
This is a good costume-designing , a Spanish/British historic-drama and Olivia Chenery and Rebecca Scott are well cast in the title roles . They are splendidly recreated turmoil , loves , and fight power of its time , including the troublesome days and machinations surrounding . Although supposedly Mary and Elizabeth never met face to face , the movie have them doing so and the screen crackle when both have a reunion that goes wrong , because they are strong rivals for power in Tudor dynasty . This costumer/melodrama recreates faithfully the historical facts , as several centuries separate us from the events are to narrate , it is really important to highlight the huge significance that these Kingdoms had back then , as the shadows still hide from the public those great historic moments , and the significance of such deeds . The picture contributes to historical , artistic and cultural memory of an era , with a look back to the past , offering us an interesting adaptation based on important facts . It's magnificent and correctly captured by marvelous sets , splendid production design and glamorous gowns . This elaborate costumer drama packs outstanding performances from a great , but unknown cast , as Rebecca Scott playing an impulsive , arrogant queen as well as Olivia Chenery as obstinate Mary Stuart . Besides , a top-notch support cast giving strong acting , as Crispin Redman as Lord William Cecyl , Ruben Jones as Sir Francis Walsingham , Sean Browne as Duke of Norfolk , Nick Cornwall as John Dee and Steve Howard as Pope Pius V who convoked the council of Trent , among them . The fine and large cast , more British than Spanish , does quite well in historic setting .
This interesting historical drama formed by 6 episodes contains a wonderful cinematography that adds color to the atmosphere by Javier Salmones who photographed the previous successes as "The Feast of the Goat" , ¨Butterfly's tongue¨ , ¨Los Borgia¨ and ¨Diary of a nymphomaniac¨ . Being photographed on location from various countries as England , France , Italy , Netherlands and Alcalá University , Alcalá , Spain . Evocative and imaginative musical score fitting to the past times by Carlos Martin . The motion picture was lavishly produced by José Luis Moreno and compellingly directed by Manuel Carballo who formerly made hits as ¨The returned¨ , "The Last of the Just" , ¨13 Fears ¨ and "The Possession of Emma Evans" or ¨Exorcismus¨ .
