Great Performances Season 44 Episode 7 The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses | Richard III ( Air Date 2016-12-25 ) Genre Comedy, Documentary, Drama category. Overview "Richard III is the third of three parts in The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses. Richard III, the most notorious of Shakespeare’s kings, manipulates his way through the court on a ruthless path to the throne. But after Richard’s defeat at the battle of Bosworth Field, the Houses of Lancaster and York unite, bringing the Wars of the Roses and a tumultuous period of civil strife to an end.".