Elizabeth I (HBO Series 2) w/ pictures

The Series 2 of HBO's Elizabeth I starts around 1589, so she has been Queen for about 31 years.  At this point, she is known as a heroine and saviour of her country.  The defeat of the Spanish Armada had secured the English nation & the English Protestant church.  Also, at this point there was no more talk of her need to take a husband and produce an heir.  But questions that were raised, who would succeed her?  Who would take her extraordinary power for themselves?

The beginning of the series is remarkable.  As I have noted in earlier blogs, I love the music in this series. Besides that, the beginning of this series illustrates an older Elizabeth and one of her lady's is applying white makeup on her face.  Also, a wig is applied.  The white make up is the image most individuals have of her.  Of course, throughout the movie, she does not always wear white make up.  She only wore it when she was going to be in the public eye.  After her lady applies the makeup, she asks for a mirror and states "we have no need of that".  She further states to her lady "the look on your face tells the Queen all she needs to knows about hers".

Left to Right; Earl of Essex, Elizabeth I, & Earl of Leicester
Elizabeth & Essex

At this point, the Earl of Leicester (real name: Robert Dudley) has passed away in series 1 and she now takes a liking to his step son, the very young, Earl of Essex.  Throughout the movie, you can definitely tell that she loves Essex.  However, not the same way she loved Leicester.  Her love for Essex could have been for many reasons; his charm, wit, looks, making others jealous (including those in the privy councel), and most of all he had a connection to Leicester.  Throughout the movie, she always calls him boy and in a way, almost mother's him, as if he was one of her own.  She grants him monopolies so he can get out of debt, puts him in charge of important battles, allows him to sit on the privy counsel, etc.  In a nutshell, she baby's him.  It is clear that he has many talents but definitely needed more guidance and experience before having such important roles.

Will continue in another blog with Series 2...