Dr. David Starkey, noted historian, author and British TV host, once labeled the "rudest man in Britain," continues his fascinating multi-episode series examining the lineage of the British kings and queens in Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2, a terrifically entertaining history lesson that looks at the most stable continuation of governance in European history, and the birth of the first truly modern state.

Starting with the lustful Charles II, Dr. Starkey moves like a freight train through Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2, looking at the various succeeding British kings and queens, including William of Orange, Queen Anne, the foreigner George I, George II and III, and finally Victoria. If you remember taking European history in college, you may have had the same experience I had when learning the hundreds of years worth of British monarchy succession: I fell asleep. After the first two or three kings and queens - thanks to pedantic profs who could be barely roused to the occasion of lecturing - I blanked out and hoped I could fake it through the final. It all just seemed too confusing and complex and layered to make much sense on a hungover Monday morning.

But Dr. Starkey effortlessly holds your attention - but not through any artificially flashy delivery or efforts to be viewer-friendly. On the contrary, Dr. Starkey's owlish, peering intensity creates a humorless focus that's infectious and demanding (I love how he thrusts his head forward, in an indifferent defiance of your possible confusion, as he confidently informs you of a particular king or queen's crafty political maneuver). He's the opposite of the usual TV host fodder (slight, middle-aged, unprepossessing in looks), but the barely concealed contempt he shows for his assumed acknowledgment of your ignorance is amusing in the extreme.

But don't think by that description of Dr. Starkey that he or Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2 is a dull, dreary affair. Dr. Starkey, in that marvelously dry, arch British manner, is quite funny (without the slightest trace of a smile), saying things that you'd never hear your college prof would say. Describing the libidinous Charles II (who fathered 17 illegitimate children, Dr. Starkey intones with a straight face: "The only thing rigid about Charles II was his male member." Hilarious. And his treatment of the history itself is quite exhilarating, keeping the intertwining stories and complex alignments of religious and political philosophies within easily understandable contexts. This is history interpreted and told as exciting political thriller.

And while Dr. Starkey is indeed a lively host, so too is the actual production of Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2. Using copious amounts of location footage of various palaces, battlefields, government buildings and gorgeous estates - with Dr. Starkey present at many of them - Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2 is stunning to look at; it can be enjoyed on the level of travelogue alone. The use of paintings and illustrations, many of them visually processed to give them a fun, 3D "Viewmaster" effect, as well as many statues and other works of art, decorate Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2, providing a frequently breathtaking look at the "living" history of Britain.

Here are the 5 episodes included in the two-disc boxed set, Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2, as described on their hardshell cases:

Return of the King
In 1660, King Charles II returned from exile and restored the English monarchy. Could the new king, who famously fathered at least 17 bastard children, turn his fertile mind to healing the wounds of a divided England? Could he secure the Stuart dynasty? What about the succession? This opening program tells the remarkable story of a kind who, through his cunning and savvy, restores the authority of the English crown and lays the foundation for the world's first modern state.

The Glorious Revolution
When the Catholic James II succeeds his brother on the throne, old wounds reopen. James' mishandled attempts to promote toleration for Catholics leads to fears of rule by royal tyranny once again. Outraged, Parliament invites James' daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange, to invade and claim the throne. They restore parliamentary rights to Britain and thus the Glorious Revolution of 1688 is born.

Rule Britannia
Transformed from an insignificant minor state to the greatest power in Europe, England assumes a new name to match its swelling status: Great Britain. The brilliant reigns of William and Mary and Queen Anne help form the foundation of modern Britain, changing the relationship between Crown and Parliament and laying the groundwork for Britain's unparalleled financial prosperity.

Empire
Able to speak only a few words of broken English, a 54-year-old obscure German prince becomes King George I. Nevertheless, he and his two namesakes, George II and George III, develop relationships with parliamentary leaders, creating a dynamic that survives in British governance today. This episode also chronicles the rebellion in the colonies that leads to the American War of Independence as well as the extraordinary bouts of madness that bring George III to the brink of abdication.

Survival
The French Revolution creates an anti-royalist storm felt all the way across the Channel. Would the British monarchy succumb to the populist fervor sweeping the continent? Would Great Britain withstand the military might of Napoleon? By the mid-19th century, the future of the British crown rests in the hands of an untested 19-year-old girl. Queen Victoria, along with her husband Albert, reinvents the monarchy yet again, reconciling medieval and modern elements into a stable yet progressive reign.

The DVD:

The Video:
The anamorphically enhanced, 1.78:1 widescreen video image for Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2 is sharp, clear, and brightly hued, with no compression issues.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English 2.0 stereo audio mix is perfectly suited to his largely dialogue-driven documentary. Close-captions are available.

The Extras:
There are no extras for Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2.

Final Thoughts:
Sumptuous settings, decorative works of art, a locomotive-fast narrative that makes the history of England's kings and queens sound like a modern political thriller, and an owlish, obstinately humorless host who still cracks you up, make Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2 a fascinating history lesson that buffs and novices alike will no doubt enjoy. I highly recommend Monarchy with David Starkey: Set 2.