Becoming Elizabeth - Season 1 Apr 2026

: Some reviewers, like those at IndieWire , praised it as a "searing examination of the politics of the time," while Common Sense Media felt it leaned more toward "soapy melodrama".

Despite generally positive critical reception, STARZ cancelled the series after its eight-episode first season, leaving the story of Elizabeth's rise to the throne unfinished. Becoming Elizabeth - Season 1

: Creator Anya Reiss aimed to capture Elizabeth's "tumultuous" journey through an ensemble cast, highlighting the messy reality of royal succession and Protestant-Catholic tensions. : Some reviewers, like those at IndieWire ,

: A major focus of Season 1 is the manipulative relationship between a young Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, which TV Insider described as a "lusty bodice-ripper" take on history. : A major focus of Season 1 is

Critics and viewers have offered varied perspectives on the first season:

The STARZ series Becoming Elizabeth (2022) focuses on the volatile adolescent years of the future Queen Elizabeth I following the death of King Henry VIII.

: The Hollywood Reporter highlighted it as a "smartly crafted portrait of royal intrigue," noting its visual style and focus on self-preservation.