Anything that gets CW audiences interested in history should be applauded. I liked the lighter tone of the show. There have been too many overly sexual and perverse historical dramas like the Borgias so this one is a good compromise for younger audiences.
There are some incongruous things about the show so I'll get them out of the way. For example Mary should have slightly redder hair to look more Scottish. The Aussie actress Adelaide Kane has looks that grow on you - she is prettier than the stills suggest. She looks like a prettier version of Michelle Trachtenberg. Also the French court is filmed in a grand hotel in Ireland 'Ashford Castle' and it doesn't look French at all. A French château would have white walls and darker pointed roofs. This one has a very British Isles castle look even if it is lovely. The French speak with British accents but I guess it would have been too hard to have them faking French accents all through. The music is a bit modern but that's okay. Also the ladies in waiting act like they are in 'Pretty Little Liars' or 'Gossip Girl'.
The casting of the older characters isn't that great. The actor playing King Henry isn't regal enough. Megan Follows is a bit expressionless as Catherine de Medici. She isn't very Queen like. Illegitimate Sebastian looks a bit old to be a love interest. It will be interesting to see if the predictions of Nostradamus will come to pass.
In the end despite the faults it's still a fascinating story and I enjoyed it. Some inaccuracies are forgivable if they want to entice the target audience into the show. The court intrigue romantic entanglements and assassination attempts are exciting enough. More than enough for a 15 year old girl to handle.
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