Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

Mary Queen of Scots is the kind of historical drama that makes power feel intimate—less a pageant of crowns and more a pressure cooker of choices, pride, and consequence. Anchored by Saoirse Ronan’s intelligent, passionate Mary, the film finds real electricity in the push and pull between two women forced to rule in a world determined to define them, even when they never share the same room. The cinematography is elegantly composed, turning candlelit chambers and windswept landscapes into quiet battlegrounds, while the political intrigue stays smart and steadily entertaining without reducing history to homework. If you want swashbuckling action, this may feel measured, but if you’re drawn to serious-minded storytelling with towering performances and a tragic, tense vibe, it’s absolutely worth your time.

Mary Queen of Scots is clearly aiming for a prestige, feminist-leaning historical drama that frames Mary and Elizabeth as two brilliant women boxed in by brutal politics and men with agendas. The problem is the storytelling often feels strangely flat: scenes look important, but the script doesn’t always build momentum, so it can play like a handsome checklist of events rather than a gripping narrative. If you want tight plotting, sharp intrigue, or a clear emotional throughline, this may come off as uneven and a bit of a slog—and if you’re picky about historical accuracy or allergic to modern sensibilities layered onto period stories, you’ll likely roll your eyes. Still, the performances (especially the two leads) and the production design have real weight, so it can work if you’re in the mood for stately, slow-burn court drama over entertainment-first pacing.