So, we let you know last week that The White Queen was premiering on Starz. Did you catch it? If you happened to be busy Saturday night, or if you don’t have Starz, or you can’t be bothered to DVR something new, let me tell you TEN REASONS why you should.

Reason #1. It’s a nice little history lesson.

I remember studying the War of the Roses in high school and in college (history minor), but I really don’t remember all the details. Before the Anglophile nerds lynch me, please understand that I totally understand that this series takes gigantic liberties with historical accuracy. But so did Shakespeare. Doesn’t mean you can’t learn something. And, at the very least, maybe it will encourage you to look up what REALLY happened and impress a friend or two.

Reason #2. Max Irons’ Smile

Reason #3. Strong Characters that are … of the female persuasion

I hate when people talk about “strong female characters” like they are unicorns because I feel it trivializes the need for them. But this show, even one episode in, is full of them. Elizabeth Woodville (Rebecca Ferguson) and her mother (THE INCOMPARABLE Janet McTeer) are just two in a company of awesome women. Granted, they are scheming about marriage and babies and securing positions with their bodily wiles, but still. The women in this story topple kings.

Reason #4. Max Irons’ Costumes

Reason #5. It’s pretty much an epic saga …

… that covers three novels by Philipa Gregory and spans generations of British monarchs and treachery. If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Game of Thrones, Merlin, Rome, Vikings, The Tudors, The Borgias (DAMN but there are a lot of these), then this fits the bill. VERY nicely.

Reason #6. Max Irons’ Smolder

Reason #7. You’ll get to know your friendly neighborhood British actors better.

Like all good period dramas produced by the BBC, this puppy’s gots lots of casting incest going on. From James Frain who looks like every courtly bad guy in every movie ever (was he really in Water for Elephants?) to Janet McTeer who plays awesome mothers (Sense and Sensibility) and Amanda Hale who plays annoying bitches you want to slap (Persuasion), this cast is a British cornucopia. Of course there’s the awesome Caroline Goodall who you THINK you don’t know until I mention Hook and Schindler’s List (and my personal favorite, Chasing Liberty), and who was also in Dorian Gray with Max Irons (have we mentioned him yet?). And of course David Oakes who has plenty of period drama chops from Pillars of the Earth and The Borgias (with none other than Max’s dad, Jeremy Irons). See what I mean about BBC incest?

Reason #8 Max Irons’ Chest

Reason #9. It will give you something to pass the time until Outlander

I’ll be frank: I’ve got my eyes on you, Starz. Yes, I know it’s not the same production companies, and to be honest, we shouldn’t be comparing the shows. But I can’t help it. DO RIGHT BY MY BABY. #JAMMF