For those with a weakness for soap operas, nothing delivers like a TV miniseries on the British royals. Elizabeth I centers on the Virgin Queen's private life during the latter part of her reign, casting her as a shrewd head of state who struggles mightily with her romantic longings. Helen Mirren channels the monarch's every strength and insecurity, while Jeremy Irons makes for a super smooth Earl of Leicester. The story is familiar — girl wants boy she can't have — but the opulent sets and costumes along with Mirren's deft portrayal make this installation of palace intrigue totally engrossing.