The Tudors Season One Review
Henry VIII is one of the most notorious kings in world history. If you aren’t familiar with him for some ridiculous reason, I have a couple of key things to say. One, pay attention in history class next time you bum! And two, that Henry VIII had six wives and started the reformation against the Catholic Church in England.
Henry VIII was the center of a soap opera before they really existed. The guy had ultimate power in England and really, really wanted a son. So much in fact that he was willing to divorce and behead his way to getting a male heir to the throne. This setting seems like it would make a pretty powerful historical drama, right? That’s what Showtime is counting on.
Jonathan Rhys Myers, of Bend It Like Beckham fame, portrays a young Henry VIII. Myers is a young, fit, and handsome man, nothing like the traditional representations of Henry VIII. Because we do the research so you don’t have to, I looked up why the creators would cast someone who didn’t look like the famous paintings. There were two major reasons: one, that Henry VIII was an attractive and fit man in his youth, and two, because the creators took historical liberties.
Something that needs to be noted immediately is that the show is not completely faithful to the actual events. Although you will learn a great deal about English history, characters are sometimes combinations of multiple figures and aren’t always a physical embodiment (or even close look alike) of the historical personage. But you had to see this coming? This is supposed to be the OC or Melrose Place of 500 years ago! Who would want to see ugly people having sex? Especially on a channel that you have to pay extra to get!
Therefore, they cast some pretty nice looking gals to portray the women in Henry’s life. Maria Doyle Kennedy and Natalie Dormer are Catherine of Aragorn and Anne Boleyn respectively. Kennedy is one of the highpoints of the show, she plays a queen that is infused with frustrations and love and therefore is one of the most convincingly real characters. Dormer does an alright job, but I can’t stand to look at her. I can see why some people will find her attractive, even Henry VIII, but she is such a whore! She destroyed the Catholic Church in England dammit! (Please note: Doug is a Catholic and pretty proud of the awesomeness of the history of the Holy Church)
I can’t really tell who will be watching this show more, men or women. Men seem to like historical dramas more because it reminds of them of the good ol’ days when men were king (see what I did there?), but this shows puts the emphasis on drama. Of course, men like drama, but women seem to flock to it. I could definitely see this show being one that women gossip about (and don’t include me in…). In that regard, women will also probably tune in because of Myers and Henry Cavill, the latter who is about as hunky of a man you can get (very attractive and has an English accent ladies!).
Part of me thinks that Myers and Cavill were selected because of their appeal to women. Frankly, their acting is just average and sometimes dips below average especially during some heated debate scenes (of which there are many). Luckily for those of us who like to watch superb acting we have Sam Neill and Jeremy Northram. Neill plays Cardinal Woolsey and Northram plays (Saint) Thomas More. Both are pretty seasoned actors and really bring a lot to the theatrical aspects of the tumultuous story. Woolsey and More are two close advisors to Henry VIII who advise him on all matters, but begin to fall out of the king’s favor when Henry wants a divorce.
The central problem for Henry is that he wants to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon because she isn’t bearing any sons. Under the trance of the evil whore Anne Boleyn, he basically destroys the entire Catholic Church in England because the Pope refuses to annul the marriage. Woolsey and More argue with the king over the fight with the church but can’t really change the king’s mind because he has absolute power. Once the split begins with the Catholic Church, Henry becomes the embodiment of a spoiled child, one who has absolutely no limitations.
If you can’t gather from the brief synopsis, the show is pretty damn entertaining. There are definitely problems (more depending if you are a stickler for historical accuracy) but the time period lends itself well to a really sexy and intense television drama. I was a big fan of HBO’s Rome, a show who’s success seemed to be the main catalyst for The Tudors manifestation. Both shows share a lot in common, particularly their grandiose scale. The only difference is that The Tudors is a sexy drama that will appeal to a wider audience of viewers. Some of the acting and special effects will be disappointing but the actual narrative and pacing of the show will leave you wanting more. And… oh goodie! You can get more as there is a second season!
