Twenty shows to watch while waiting for Game of Thrones season 8

2) The White Queen (BBC/STARZ mini-series, 2013)

Based on The Cousins’ War historical novel series by Philippa Gregory, The White Queen transports us back to the 15th century as the Wars of the Roses (a favorite era of George R. R. Martin’s) rage. The Game of Thrones goes deeper than that, as Faye Marsay (the Waif) and Dean Charles-Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) are both in the cast.

For nine years, the House of York (white rose symbol) and the House of Lancaster (red rose symbol), rival branches of England’s royal House Plantagenet, have fought for control of the throne, having ignited a series of civil wars in the process. The White Queen chronicles the plotting of three female historical figures: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville, as they battle in the shadowy back corridors of power.

The White Queen was met with mixed reviews upon its premiere, though Linda Stasi of the New York Post loved it, stating that “It’s a great tale, beautifully told with beautiful actors.” EW‘s Nuzhat Naoreen was less enthused, calling it an “absurd but engrossing War of the Roses-era drama.” The Metacritic consensus agrees that The White Queen “sometimes suffers from clunky storytelling” but “delivers sufficient intrigue, thanks to its gorgeous costumes, splendid cast, and sexy, soapy plots.”

Like many of these offerings, it’s all a matter of what appeals to your personal taste. Rotten Tomatoes viewers seem to like “sexy” and “soapy,” giving The White Queen a reviewer rating of 79% and an audience rating of 80%.