It's not the exact quote, but it's close enough to the fears of the men who plotted Mary, Qveen of Scotts' execution. The Queen's advisors fear the vengeance of the King of Spain, and the queen, having grieved for the cousin she never met, must forgive those responsible so they can face a ruthless enemy. Tricked into signing the order for her execution just like Roman emperor Claudius was for his wife Messalina, Elizabeth must come out of her depression and returns to her duties a stronger and more determined monarch. This puts her up against Sir Francis Drake, taking on the Armada and disobeying many of the Queen's orders.
This episode really shows the strengths of both the aging queen and Glenda Jackson, establishing her as the top British dramatic actress of the 1970's. (I can't help but think of Maggie Smith's delicious takedown of her in "California Suite" while watching this.) This even shows Elizabeth laughing lightly as one of her advisers insults her, giving her an admirable self effacing quality.
Like "I Claudius" just a few years later, this makes the most out of compact sets and the insinuation that a few extras are actually a few dozen. The political discussions are relatively easy to comprehend, but still complex. The advisers who have aged along with the queen obviously have come to respect her commanding ways, although it is obvious that they wouldn't easily accept another female on the throne, considering her a male brain in a woman's body who sometimes shows what they believed a common woman's heart.
This episode really shows the strengths of both the aging queen and Glenda Jackson, establishing her as the top British dramatic actress of the 1970's. (I can't help but think of Maggie Smith's delicious takedown of her in "California Suite" while watching this.) This even shows Elizabeth laughing lightly as one of her advisers insults her, giving her an admirable self effacing quality.
Like "I Claudius" just a few years later, this makes the most out of compact sets and the insinuation that a few extras are actually a few dozen. The political discussions are relatively easy to comprehend, but still complex. The advisers who have aged along with the queen obviously have come to respect her commanding ways, although it is obvious that they wouldn't easily accept another female on the throne, considering her a male brain in a woman's body who sometimes shows what they believed a common woman's heart.