The Tudors
 

Didn't see anything about this yet, but this show is awesome! My husband and I are totally into history, and we just happened to find the first two episodes on 'Free Movies on Demand' last night. Now I'm going to have to buy Showtime!

Aw, bummer...are there only going to be two episodes on that channel? Because I found the first two on some weird channel that has everything on it from concerts to...well, stuff like this, and I promptly TiVo'd them. So now if I get hooked I have to get Showtime??? Booo...

watched it last night
 

Henry was a big whore! But I guess it was OK because he was trying to get an heir!

LOL! :D

AA - thanks for the tip!! I had no idea they were going to put this in the free movie area!! I'll have to see if it's on mine.

Does anyone know if it will be on DVD? My parents don't have Showtime, HBO and such.

It just started April 1st, so def not for a while, but surely it will be in time.

yea its probably going to be on dvd after the series finishes for this year..I have showtime and the show has been really good. If you dont have showtime I know that showtime has the first two episodes on their website http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/home.do

Aside from the historical backdrop Anne Boelyn is really starting to be one of my fave characters. The way she carries herself is very interesting. She is the complete opposition of the quiet queen.

I saw an episode of this for the first time. In retrospect, do most posters think it was worthwhile? I ask because the series is now available on dvd.

Bumping this as the last year grinds to a halt...

So, did you watch it? Any thoughts about the show? Am I the only one watching this? I'm just loving the teaser for next week (from Catherine Parr), "You know what happens to his wives!"

And, as much as I've read about the Tudors, the execution scenes on this week's show actually made me realize a few things I never before considered.

I have been watching online, so haven't caught any of the previews for next week, but Howard's last lines were good. I honestly thought the show went downhill after More died. I know that he had to, I'm just using that as a turning point.
Is this the last season? If so, how many episodes are left?

How gruesome the era was? Or how the people lacked entertainment and they watched executions?

I think one thing I "realized" (so to speak) was that I think people in that time went to executions to remind themselves that they were still alive and hadn't gotten on Henry's "bad side" and then later on Mary's "bad side" (which was hard to do considering history would remember her as Bloody Mary).

I know it's showtime and all and they can get away with being graphic (i.e. sex), I kind of didn't expect them to be that drastic with beheadings. Didn't see much of that last season. Knew it was coming though with all the people who "fell" around Katherine that got beheaded.

I'm excited to see Joely Richardson playing Catherine Parr, that should be interesting to watch.

Anyone know how many episodes are left? I mean he dies pretty soon after he and Catherine Parr marry (like 2 years later or something). I kind of wish the show would go on and kind of dwelve into Edward being king and then Mary being queen (especially the whole debacle of Jane Grey being crowned queen for like what 5 days). I mean we all know what happened with Elizabeth. I'd like to see the other two who aren't as popular, historically, as Elizabeth was/is.

I think there's only one or two episodes left. The only "exciting" part of Catherine Parr is that, by 21, she was already widowed twice, was almost engaged to Thomas Seymour, but had to marry the King, whether she liked it or not. Then, she almost was executed for having (gasp!) Lutheran leanings.

Of course, they could have a field day with the siblings (and cousin) fighting for the Crown.

I think they did a decent job with the executions, but it had never occurred to me before that (spoiler) people would throw up or wet their pants. (/spoiler)

I also didn't think that Katherine Howard would be barefoot. Has anyone noticed that every woman who was executed had the same type of cap? I wonder if every woman had those, or if they just kept a few on hand for beheadings?


ETA: I can't wait to see Joely Richardson play Catherine Parr, either. I think she's underrated as an actress. And maybe if enough people let Showtime know, there will be a "The Tudors, the Second Generation"!

There was a whole movie about Jane Grey - Helena Bonham Carter was in it (it might have even been her first movie). It came out in 86-87 or so.

I remember that - not heavy on the facts, but decent. I think Lady Jane Grey was one of the worst used people in history, fwiw.

Come to think of it, that would be an interesting list.

This is the fourth and final season of the Tudors. Sunday was Episode Five. I love the series and have enjoyed it. Lots of nice looking men, steamy sex scenes and gruesome stuff, too. Don't go into it as a history lesson. Sometimes they go to great detail to follow history and sometimes they go waaaay off the course. There is a "Tudor Wiki" that gives lots of background information.

Certainly in English history.

I just found this show in the middle of the night when I was wakeful. I enjoyed it a lot, but I had to go dig out my reference book on the kings and queens of England to keep up.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard.;)

I love this period of history. It has always fascinated me! I have recently become addicted to Phillpia Gregory's different books about the period, though they are not always historically correct. I am currently reading "The Queen's Fool" which is about Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth.

I started watching the 1st & 2nd seasons on DVD last summer. I bought the 3rd season as soon as it came out!

I don't have Showtime, so I have to wait for the new one to come out on DVD!

Here's one scorecard, concerning the six wives: Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Henry had a real thing for Catherines and Annes, too - except Jane, next to whom he's buried.

I'm waiting for the series to be over, and to get the full series & save some money. Hey, just think of the gimmick that might be included with the full series! :eek:

And bless your little baby heart for knowing that Phillippa Gregory plays fast and loose with truth! It does make for a good story, but sheesh! It's not like that period of history was boring at all! I'm tempted to read The White Queen, but I think I'll pass.

hijack
Both my Mom and I loved The White Queen though I've liked most other books she's written so it probably wasn't hard for me to like it lol
/hijack

So history has said that Henry went a little "crazy" towards the end of his life (and that is being nice). I think Jonathan is playing Henry's craziness wonderfully! Even though they (the make-up artists) are having to make Jonathan look older, he still is looking good. He's just a gorgeous man in general. LOL.

Well, untreated syphillis does affect the brain.

The White Queen isn't quite as fanciful as some of her other books...I usually prefer straight biographies and historical NONfiction, but this book was not nearly as irritating as some in regards to what is complete fiction and what has some truth. I think she spent more time embellishing than inventing on that one.

Yup. And it affected him.

Series finale next week.

Am I the only one who was disappointed in the finale? I liked Henry seeing his former wives & their children, but what about Anne of Cleves or Katherine Howard? What about the (undoubtedly) fancy-schmancy funeral? Too many unfinished threads!

Well Anne was still alive and since she was considered his "sister", I'm not sure why she didn't come to see him. Katherine, should have haunted him. I think they just did those three because they were the only ones that had children with him.

I too was disappointed with the ending. They just stated things that most Tudor history fans know, that Edward died young, that Jane Grey (didn't list her name though) was queen for 9 days until Mary took over. Mary was known as "Bloody Mary", and Elizabeth is one of the most well recognized monarchs in the country.

I kind of wish it hadn't ended with Henry dying. I kind of wish the show had talked about Edwards time as king (short lived as he died at like 16), Jane Grey's nine days as queen, Mary's marriage (that most of England was opposed too) and her reputation (Bloody Mary) and then stop at Elizabeth's coronation (since so many movies are devoted to Elizabeth as queen).

Stay tuned! With the PR The Tudors got, I'm sure the producer is going to try Round 2.