Has anyone been watching this series? I find it very interesting despite some of the historical inaccuracies. It has shed some light on King Henry VIII for me. Does anyone have any comments?
I always wonder how accurate these movies are. It really does paint Henry in a very bad light. Hardly what one could call a reformer at all. Stephanos I
Utterly inaccurate (except for painting Henry VIII in a very bad light): the atmosphere, costumes, language and thought processes of the protagonists are all anachronistic. It's more like, "What if a bunch of contemporary American and British actors were actually 16th century British aristocrats?"
A much better series was "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", starring Keith Mitchel--made back when BBC had no money but high standards.
Henry wasn't a Reformer, his intentions where ot keep the Church of Engkand thourougly Cahtolic in its teachings, except tthat it no lionger woudl submit to the Pope, but instead to the King.
Cranmer and others saw this as a CHance to import the ideas of the Reformation, as they had been influenced by them, and wanted them implemented.
Cranmer had, in fact, been converted to the Protestant beelifs (But secretly) durign a trip to Germany, where he also secretly married a Lutheran Priest's Daughter.
He had embaced much of the teaching of Martin Luther or William Tyndale before returning, and eagerly sought ways to implement the changes within his own country, without loosing his posiiton in the CHurch.
Henry's seperation of the CofE from the Papal controle was the oportunity that he could use.
Cranmer was also not alone and several clergymen also sought to implement reforms.
Henry initally refused, in fact orcerin the Churhc to remain Cahtolic, except not to go tot he Poep to settle disputes on doctrine. Soon, however, rpessure mounted as the Popular appeal of the Reformation took hold, and both the common layety, some noble layty, and many clergy pushed for such reforms. Still, Henry's own allowance of such was mild, and in some cases existed just to SPite the Pope.
Henry Tudors main concern though as just to gain his DIvorce and marry his lover, and hpefully have a male heir.
I find this interesting in that King Henry did in fact remain "catholic" in beliefs and worship. I think Henry lost control and didn't know all that Cranmer was doing.
From the Tudors show, Henry wanted to get rid of Catherine because he believed she had consummated her marriage to Henry's brother, Arthur. Henry was convinced she had though Catherine many times stated she and Arthur had not. So, throw in Anne and the seductiveness and you have Henry using Catherine's previous marriage as a scape goat to allow him pursue Anne. I found it ironic that Anne backfired in Henry's face as well. According to the show, she was not a virgin when she wed Henry so he was authorized to divorce her. I thought I read somewhere that if a Queen commits adultery that it's not punishable by death. Was she killed for treason? If so, what did she do that was treasonous? I found it interesting that Mary returned the country back to Catholic and then some 40 years later Elizabeth returned it to Protestant. I would think once it returned to Catholic it would have stuck with the people.
How is the House of Tudor related to the House of Windsor?
I must say, despite the gratuitous sex and historical inaccuracies, I'm quite mesmerized by the show.
Me too... I think that it is quite well done despite the gratuitous sex. Ofcourse, I was quite saddened and did squirm alot with the inhumane death sentences.
The opening of Season I on the youtube link is indeed awesome!
I shudder to think that an entire generation is growing up thinking this is what the Tudor era really was like. At least earlier docudramas tried to hew close to the facts. What are they going to do when Henry weighs 300 pounds and has a supperating ulcer on his leg?
I shudder to think that an entire generation is growing up thinking this is what the Tudor era really was like. At least earlier docudramas tried to hew close to the facts. What are they going to do when Henry weighs 300 pounds and has a supperating ulcer on his leg?
HeHeHe!
Dear Stuart,
I understand what you are saying... and the actors are obviously quite appealing by *today's* standards, though if we think about it, these characters were indeed young at one time, and the sexual scenes are obviously totally out of historical context, but as an art historian, I find that much of the manner in which the costumes, jewelry, court etiquette, flirtations, coquettery, religious practices, mannerisms, etc., are depicted, are much more evocative of the era than anything else I have seen.
I think that this show wanted to start with youth rather than the insane old, sick, obese man which Henry VIII has been immortalized as.
It is kind of like Elvis Presley! He was such a good looking young celebrity at one time, yet now he is forever remembered in popular psyche as the overweight, ridiculous looking middle aged man he was before he died!
The BBC series from 1970 began with young Henry, and Keith Michell was absolutely gorgeous in the title role. But the series did not sugar coat the era, and Henry's physical and mental deterioration is portrayed with graphic intensity. By the last episode, he resembles nothing so much as a wheezy, rheumy, bearded Jabba the Hutt. It makes you understand why winsome 18-year old Katherine Howard was so repulsed by the man that she risked (and lost) her head cuckholding him. Moreover, the BBC series portrayed the politics and religious dimensions of Henry's reign far more accurately than the HBO series, in part because, back then, the people who ran BBC expected their audience to know this stuff from school. Thus, you could do worse if you wanted to know the background to the English Reformation, the roles of Wolsely, Cranmer and Cromwell, and why they took it all so seriously, than to watch the BBC series. You can find snippets of it on You Tube, which are enough to reveal its superior qualities.
You should read the book "Stripping the Altars" it shows that the reformation was tolerated because of the tyranny of those in power but never accepted and Catholicism always made a come back as soon as it was possible. Stephanos I
I have read Eamon Duffy's excellent book, and your point is right on. However, over a period of two centuries, the southern portion of England became solidly Protestant--and of a distinctly reformed variety, while the north retained a far more Catholic outlook. Most of the Catholic revolts against the English Reformation began (and ended, bloodily) in the north, which was far more agrarian and less commercial than the south. As Kevin Phillips' book "The Cousins' Wars" demonstrates, this conflict was transported over the ocean and continued shaping American history down to the Civil War.
I watch The Tudors! It's a little sex-laden for me, but these days, what isn't? I look past that because I enjoy the history, and I just like period pieces in general.
The Tudors is by far one of my favorite shows on television. I am a huge fan of that era in history. The show is laden with inaccuracies but somehow, I find myself OK with overlooking them. Perhaps because I know what really happened. While it does bother me that Jonathan Rhys Meyers won't suck it up and wear a fat suit I think his temperament was right on. I also think that this portrayal of Katherine of Aragon was one of the best by far. Although they managed to follow the incorrect idea that she had dark hair, Maria Doyle Kennedy portrayed her beautifully. I believe they got Anne Boleyn spot on. You begin disliking her because she is the other woman, and in the end I couldn't help but feel sorry for her because she is yet another victim of Henry.
I've seen the first two episodes of the new season (they are on Youtube if you look) and I am quite excited about it. I'm interested to see how the cover the rest of the Pilgrimage of Grace. I'm also really fond of Jane Seymour and how she is trying to stand up for the Catholics.
It really is an interesting and intriguing show. I think the overall cast is very strong as well.
Yes, Maria Doyle Kennedy played the very religious Katherine of Aragon very well.
Won't Jonathan Rhys Meyers eventually *have* to wear a fat suit?!? LOL!
He is quite a good looking young man, and indeed he manages to embody the arrogance and temperament of King Henry quite, quite well. All the actors are very good.
Alice
P.S. GOOD to hear from you, Katie G.!! Hope that all is well.
Actually, I heard that Jonathan Rhys Meyers will not be wearing a fat suit, period. They are really more into portraying him as a rock star king than the way Henry actually looked. Henry really only started getting fat after his marriage to Jane because of an ulcerated wound on his leg. The fourth season, I believe, will be the last season, ending with the last two wives.
One of the things I like about the 3rd season, from what I've seen, is the character of Princess Mary. If Jane Seymour did one thing in her time as queen, it was to try her best to reconcile Mary and her father.
There is a LOT of sex on the show, but it usually involves people I don't care for anyway (ie Anne Boleyn) so I usually fast forward it.
I could go on forever but I don't want to bore anyone.
It is always easy to tell when I have had an easy week at school or a break because I post a little more frequently
Although Rhys Meyers is Welsh, he looks very little like Henry Tudor, young or old. Henry was ginger haired and had the hearty good looks of his Plantagenet mother (look at the one extant bust of Henry VII, and you will see which side of the family Henry VIII favored.
Although Rhys Meyers is Welsh, he looks very little like Henry Tudor, young or old. Henry was ginger haired and had the hearty good looks of his Plantagenet mother (look at the one extant bust of Henry VII, and you will see which side of the family Henry VIII favored.
Indeed, the real King Henry was quite fair haired, and not a bad looking chap, even by today's standards, but Rhys Meyers, despite being of different colouring, is also quite handsome--and I think that is the essence the producers of the dreaded 'Tudors' on Showtime wanted to depict !!
....I know, I know, dear Stuart.... we are driving you crazy talking about the series!!
Seriously, tanks for sharing all that you have shared. It seems that you are quite an expert on the period, and your efforts to share your knowledge have not gone unnoticed
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