Welcome to British Isles Friday! British Isles Friday is a weekly event for sharing all things British and Irish — reviews, photos, opinions, trip reports, guides, links, resources, personal stories, interviews, and research posts. Join us each Friday to link your British and Irish themed content and to see what others have to share. The link list is at the bottom of this post. Pour a cup of tea or lift a pint and join our link party!

Last week, I shared my connections to Victoria, Season 3. Heather reviewed a fun and unconventional romance: Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan. Sim shared her list of 10 Ways to Know You’re a Brit at Heart. Gaele reviewed Secrets of Willow House by Susanne O’Leary and The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings by Donna Ashcroft

Mary, Queen of Scots, returns to Scotland to take the throne after the death of her husband, Francis II (briefly King of France). Elizabeth, Queen of England, is threatened by Mary’s claim to the English throne and by her Catholicism, which comes with some European support.

A 2018 film about Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I

There is an element in the film, that I’m not sure was present in history, about both Mary and Elizabeth doing their best to rule effectively in a man’s world. And, sharing that experience with each other. I enjoyed that aspect, true or not.

The two queens, along with their councils, negotiate and prevaricate about who Mary will marry. A Protestant? A Catholic? An Englishman? Mary’s choice of a Catholic Englishman caused a civil war in Scotland, with the opposing side led by her half-brother.

I enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots, as a review of that part of British history, one that I always seem to get a bit muddled. Rick fell asleep, twice, since we watched it over two nights. So, there are two conflicting opinions.

I say “go for it” if you like dramatizations of British history and the actors (it took me a while to spot David Tennant, even when I recognized his voice — who is that guy?)

Have you seen Mary Queen of Scots? What did you think?