Returning to the world of Tudor royal court intrigue, “The Spanish Princess” is a vivid and captivating story told uniquely from the point of view of the women, which also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history: the lives of people of color living and working in 16th-century London.
Catherine of Aragon is the strong-willed young Princess of Spain, who has been promised the English throne since she was a child. She arrives in a gray, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court, including her ladies-in-waiting Lina — a Spanish noble of African-Iberian descent — and the sweet and free-spirited Rosa. When her husband, Prince Arthur, dies suddenly, the throne seems lost to Catherine until she devises an audacious plan and sets her sights on the new heir, the charismatic and headstrong Prince Harry, who will one day rule as King Henry VIII.
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[youtube https://youtu.be/eDsAEdjuLRw?si=O51XHMMmHVuIJI5A&t=1169]
Video Quality
The Spanish Princess arrives on MOD Blu-Ray courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment with a sumptuous AVC-encoded 1080p transfer. This first installment of the series consists of eight episodes spread across two discs, which leaves a good amount of breathing room, especially with the lack of supplements. There are thankfully no significant instances of aliasing or compression artifacts at play throughout the season. This presentation improves upon the streaming and broadcast versions of the show, which stumble slightly from being overly compressed.
The show has a rich natural color palette that delicately captures the natural landscapes on display. The nuances of the hues leap off the screen, especially when it comes to distinct articles of clothing, the shades unlocked within the foliage, and the blue skies. Skin tones appear natural and textured across the entire cast. The level of detail on display remains inspiring, as all of the intricate aspects of the period costumes and production design are razor-sharp. Black levels are deep and provide a stellar amount of detail in shadows. Highlights do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Lionsgate offers a nice presentation, even if we wish it could have been a pressed set.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray set comes with a robust DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that springs to life with great vitality. The surround sound track harnesses environmental effects to flesh out the mix with dedicated precision. Kinetic set pieces are not constant, but when they do pop up they are given the weight they deserve. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being drowned out by the soaring score or any sound effects. The music establishes the tone of the series favorably and is presented with peerless fidelity within the mix. Environmental sounds flow throughout to make the world feel more alive. The audio presentation more than achieves what it sets out to do. There are English SDH subtitles provided for those who desire them.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
The Spanish Princess is a welcome look at a historical figure who is often reduced to being the jilted spouse of a powerful man. Not only does this series give more complexity to Catherine of Aragon, but you also get layered stories of those who are in her orbit. The first half of the story offers up juicy court intrigue and strong performances throughout the ensemble. There are undoubtedly some creative liberties taken, yet the series retains the spirit of the truth. This franchise always delivers some intriguing historical fiction. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has delivered a Blu-Ray that offers a truly gorgeous A/V presentation but no special features. We hope the remainder of the series gets the same treatment Recommended
The Spanish Princess can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
