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Original poster

to be miffed that having just discovered 'The Tudors' it has turned out to be mostly b0ll0cks?

86 replies

MumSecret · 31/01/2011 16:52

Saw (and was excited to learn of)'The Tudors' on BBC2.

Should I just enjoy it for the glamorised, sexed-up version of history that it is?

Should I watch it whilst quietly seething at the extent of the historical inaccuracies?

Should I give it a miss altogether?

If I watch, will it forever alter my perception of Tudor times and leave me with a lasting image of Tudors all with pretty hair & make-up, and lovely white teeth.

Even Anne of Cleves has lovely twinkly eyes and a pretty smile. (Although, they did decide to go along with Henry's "She looks like a horse" line anyway - quite amusing when she so clearly doesn't).

OP posts:
edam · 31/01/2011 17:02

You are right, it is bollocks. Henry VIII certainly didn't look like the male lead by the time he married Anne of Cleves...

AoC wasn't necessarily bad-looking, btw - that was just Henry being mean and justifying yet another divorce. There's a theory that his fancy ran to slim boyish figures and hers was too womanly for him.

Bogeyface · 31/01/2011 17:43

Henry isnt nearly as fat with ulcerated legs as he should be at the part in his reign that they are protraying! I needs another, much older actor to play the later years I think.

As a history buff myself, I dont watch these things as I end up shouting at the TV :o

TrillianAstra · 31/01/2011 17:48

It's not history, think of it as a period drama like Pride & Prejudice or something, just using the names of characters you have heard of.

castlesintheair · 31/01/2011 17:48

I agree it is utter bo**ocks but much more enjoyable to watch such a handsome miscast romping about!

brimfull · 31/01/2011 17:50

mate at work went on and on and on about the farkin Tudors last time it was on
so I tuned in..tuned straight back out again

utter shit

moomiemoo · 31/01/2011 17:54

Plenty of dull documentaries around if it's historical accuracy you're after. The Tudors is totally, unashamedly an entertaining romp.

kittybuttoon · 31/01/2011 17:55

Surprising number of Irish accents in and around the Tudor court,too.

I think a lot of the production was cast/filmed in Eire.

MillyR · 31/01/2011 17:58

I can't be bothered to watch it because Jonathan Rhys Meyers is constantly naked or angry, or both. It is too repetitive. If it was realistic, his Henry would have died of either a heart attack brought on by stress or hypothermia by the end of the first series.

You have to watch it as a period drama, like the nonsense that was Braveheart.

TattyDevine · 31/01/2011 17:58

I thought the last episode was very arousing informative

I'm sure its not that accurate though...

valiumredhead · 31/01/2011 18:00

Of COURSE it's a load of bunkem but as tatty said, very PHWOAR informative.

PureBloodMuggle · 31/01/2011 18:06

The very last series was odd altogether!!

I watched purely for Charles Brandon too.

Swoonfest.

certainly didn't watch for JRM who was an very very bad casting for Henry VIII, always thought that the guy who played the guy who was beheaded in the first series (henry's cousin of somthing) much better (and sexy too)

AnyFuleKno · 31/01/2011 18:11

wasn't it Joss Stone who played Anne of Cleves?

BitOfFun · 31/01/2011 18:14

I can't watch anything with that nasty narcissistic woman-beater in. Odious man. Almost as unpleasant as his character.

BunnyLebowski · 31/01/2011 18:23

Yep Joss Stone played Anne of Cleves

Oh and do y'all know that Henry Cavill (swoon) who plays Charles Brandon has just been cast as Superman in the new movie??

I'm only on Series 1 of The Tudors and I don't think I'm even going to bother finishing it. I thought it would be a guilty pleasure watch but it just stinks.

Yer woman who plays Anne Boleyn is too irritating and Jonathan Rhys Meyers just looks and acts demented.

I liked Maria Doyle Kennedy as Catherine of Aragon but that's about it.

kittybuttoon - it's a Irish/Canadian production hence the many ill-fitting accents.

gordyslovesheep · 31/01/2011 18:29

I love Tudor history but watching this hasn't marred that for me - it's what it is - a pretty silly telling of the story with some nice eye candy!

sazzlesb · 31/01/2011 18:32

Glad I'm not the only Henry Cavell fan (actor who plays Charles Brandon).
Watched opening episode this weekend (or maybe I missed 1st one?) - did they show the run up to his marriage to Katherine Howard? Or did I manage miss a whole series and not realise? Have to admit that this series seems even more ludicrous than the previous ones

bluebump · 31/01/2011 18:33

Yes they did show a bit of the run up to his marriage sazzlesb but it's not been mentioned much since!

KaraStarbuckThrace · 31/01/2011 18:33

I too swoon at Charles Brandon!

I also rather liked Jeremy Northam as the doomed Sir Thomas Moore - I was very upset when he died Blush

Nah it is not very accurate, I doubt very much young Kathryn Howard was gagging for it with Hal the way they are portraying in the series.

But it is still fun!

I agree with the comments of Anne of Cleeves, Hans Holbein who did her portrait, was famous for very accurate portraits. Henry was lashing out at being manoeuvred to marry her. But he did treat her kindly after the annulment, she was officially known as the King's Beloved Sister, and first of all women behind his current wife and daughters.

StormInaCCup · 31/01/2011 18:39

I too have a massive crush on the Charles Brandon character (hubba hubba!) - gotta say though that JRM does nothing for me, I agree that he comes across as ranty and annoying.

I am a fan of tudor history too, but try to take the Tudors with a massive pinch of Maldon. I have just finished the second series boxset, looking forward to the new stuff! Grin

sixlostmonkeys · 31/01/2011 18:39

as much as it may be inaccurate I do beg of you :) not to complain too much.
At least in contains a script, some acting, good sets, production, storyline etc etc etc - all very scarce on TV now.
If such dramas as this disappear altogether we will be left with nothing more than watching other people cook, in the name of 'entertainment'

BoffinMum · 31/01/2011 18:42

All history is inaccurate.
That is why it is history. Nobody is there to give a definitive version of events.
Just get on and enjoy it for what it is - an insight into what matters to 21st century TV viewers while they are thinking about historical matters.

RMCW · 31/01/2011 18:43

yep, only watch it to see (letch over) Henry Cavill who plays Charles Brandon.

He has just been announced as the new superman btw Smile

edam · 31/01/2011 18:48

an insight into what TV people think audiences will enjoy, surely? Rather than what the viewers think matters?

Kara, something I read a while back suggested actually life was bloody scary for poor old AoC - Henry was such an unpredictable character (and a complete psychopath). No way of knowing whether he'd change his mind and decide to send her back to her horrible brother, or stick her in the Tower for imagined crimes... and certainly no opportunity to marry and have children.

PureBloodMuggle · 31/01/2011 18:53

I suddenly find myself very pervertedly interested in Superman!!

He was in Count of Monte Cristo too (WAY younger)

I've see all the last series (cause i'm in Ireland) Would it spoil it if I said what happened LOL.

Discovered all too late that it was a bar near me that the yummy Henry Cavill drank in from time to time whilst filming. Would have got out my special occassion heels if I'd know Wink sure DH would have understood.