Critic's Column
Tudor history reimagined on Showtime series
By Paige Gabriel
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Culture
In "The Tudors," creator and writer Michael Hurst ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "Elizabeth") portrays an innovative and provocative version of the early years of Henry VIII's reign of the British throne.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("August Rush," "Bend It Like Beckham") stars as King Henry VIII, the British monarch famous for bringing about the religious reformation of Britain through the creation of the Anglican Church and his break with Rome. Natalie Dormer ("Flawless," "Casanova") plays Anne Boleyn, the vibrant but doomed primary love interest of Henry.
The first season revolves around Henry's attraction to and courtship of Anne and his attempts to divorce his first wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, played by Maria Doyle Kennedy ("Queer as Folk").
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (Sam Neil of "Jurassic Park," "Bicentennial Man") acts as Henry's right hand man whose loyalties shift from God to the crown as the plot progresses.
An interesting theme that runs throughout the first season is the absence of a black and white set of ethics. Characters perform bad deeds for good reasons and characters who were originally portrayed as good and pure later commit horrific acts. The provocative Showtime series debuted its second season Sunday night. The first episode of the second season of the "The Tudors" is available for download for free from iTunes for a limited time. Other season one episodes are available for download for $1.99 on iTunes. Used copies of the first seasons are available from used media shops for approximately $10 while a new copy costs approximately $25.
The chief complaint about the series that I have heard people voice is that it includes too much sex and swearing.
While it is true that nearly every episode includes a steamy scene, and I can't think of any dirty words the series hasn't broadcast over the airwaves, I was not scandalized by their inclusion in the show.
The shock value of the first episode was not lost on me, but I thought the racy scenes were tastefully done in a manner that accurately reflects the role of sex in the Tudor period. The swearing used effectively for emphasis is probably milder than most movies marketed to the college demographic.
I found it refreshing to see a show portray sex, nudity and profanity as a natural part of human life. Showtime's version of Henry VIII's reign contrasts nicely with the puritanized versions of life portrayed on broadcast television.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("August Rush," "Bend It Like Beckham") stars as King Henry VIII, the British monarch famous for bringing about the religious reformation of Britain through the creation of the Anglican Church and his break with Rome. Natalie Dormer ("Flawless," "Casanova") plays Anne Boleyn, the vibrant but doomed primary love interest of Henry.
The first season revolves around Henry's attraction to and courtship of Anne and his attempts to divorce his first wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, played by Maria Doyle Kennedy ("Queer as Folk").
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (Sam Neil of "Jurassic Park," "Bicentennial Man") acts as Henry's right hand man whose loyalties shift from God to the crown as the plot progresses.
An interesting theme that runs throughout the first season is the absence of a black and white set of ethics. Characters perform bad deeds for good reasons and characters who were originally portrayed as good and pure later commit horrific acts. The provocative Showtime series debuted its second season Sunday night. The first episode of the second season of the "The Tudors" is available for download for free from iTunes for a limited time. Other season one episodes are available for download for $1.99 on iTunes. Used copies of the first seasons are available from used media shops for approximately $10 while a new copy costs approximately $25.
The chief complaint about the series that I have heard people voice is that it includes too much sex and swearing.
While it is true that nearly every episode includes a steamy scene, and I can't think of any dirty words the series hasn't broadcast over the airwaves, I was not scandalized by their inclusion in the show.
The shock value of the first episode was not lost on me, but I thought the racy scenes were tastefully done in a manner that accurately reflects the role of sex in the Tudor period. The swearing used effectively for emphasis is probably milder than most movies marketed to the college demographic.
I found it refreshing to see a show portray sex, nudity and profanity as a natural part of human life. Showtime's version of Henry VIII's reign contrasts nicely with the puritanized versions of life portrayed on broadcast television.
