A historical drama that’s as addicting as a soap opera–a well-written, visually rich soap opera! For the second season, The Tudors continues the scintillating story of a young Henry VIII with lush cinematography and landscapes and all the high drama that was actually present in the court over 5 centuries ago. The characters are complex and real, so they’re much more relatable than previous dramatizations of these stories have been. And while Jonathan Rhys Meyers may not look like Henry VIII, all but die-hard history buffs BELIEVE his portrayal of the young king.
From a technical standpoint, the art department, cinematographers, and wardrobe all excel at bringing to life a royal court in saturated colors and dramatic lighting that draws you in. The costumes are each as intricate and interesting as works of art, worthy of study. Each episode seems like a movie in scale, and a strong score connects the scenes.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is compelling and completely convincing as the royally arrogant Henry VIII, just as Natalie Dormer is a believable “innocent” seductress as Anne Boleyn. The chemistry of selfishness between them is undeniable. The cast is rounded out by a court of well-chosen supporting actors, notably James Frain as Oliver Cromwell and the stand-out Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon, who’s sure to make a break into mainstream Hollywood before long.
The interesting thing about The Tudors is that we all know at least some of the plot, a few details of what’s going to happen, which can be doom for a show if not handled carefully. This narrative totally draws you in, even though you know exactly what’s going to happen, with a sickening sense of dread for the characters you’ve come to love. It’s twisted but impossible to look away as the ‘good guys’ are continually convicted and corrupted by powerful people who’ve used and wronged them.
The Tudors is an R-rated, no-holds-barred, scandalous look at one of England’s most storied periods. It’s just what we’ve come to expect from Showtime, and it’s created a loyal fan base with good reason. And as the show’s fan base is majority female, we can all be thankful with each watch that we are not women of this era, in which it was accepted that ruthless fathers used their young daughters as pawns to be traded for the most power.
*Editor’s note — check out Showtime’s Who are you to find out what type of Tudor you are (www.whothetudorareyou.com )*