The Last King
(2003– )
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The Last King
(2003– )
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| Series cast summary: | |||
| Rufus Sewell | ... |
Charles II
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Rupert Graves | ... |
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Charlie Creed-Miles | ... |
James, Duke of York
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Christian Coulson | ... |
James, Duke of Monmouth
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Shirley Henderson | ... |
Catharine of Braganza
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Martin Freeman | ... |
Lord Shaftesbury
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Helen McCrory | ... |
Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine
(4 episodes, 2003)
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| Peter Wight | ... |
Ormonde
(3 episodes, 2003)
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Tabitha Wady | ... |
Anne Hyde
(3 episodes, 2003)
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Robert East | ... |
Arlington
(3 episodes, 2003)
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Dorian Lough | ... |
Clifford
(3 episodes, 2003)
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| Ian McDiarmid | ... |
Sir Edward Hyde
(2 episodes, 2003)
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| Graham McTavish | ... |
Captain
(2 episodes, 2003)
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| Diana Rigg | ... |
Queen Henrietta Maria
(2 episodes, 2003)
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| Robert Cavanah | ... |
Rochester
(2 episodes, 2003)
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| Shaun Dingwall | ... |
Earl of Danby
(2 episodes, 2003)
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Nick Bagnall | ... |
Hopkins
(2 episodes, 2003)
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| Mélanie Thierry | ... |
Louise de Kéroualle
(2 episodes, 2003)
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Albert Welling | ... |
MP #1
(2 episodes, 2003)
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Jochum ten Haaf | ... |
William of Orange
(2 episodes, 2003)
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The focus of King Charles II is his court, his squabbling family and his glamorous mistresses - from the high-born and promiscuous Barbara Villiers through folk heroine and sex symbol of the day Nell Gwynne to the French spy Louise de Keroualle. It is an original take on a historical period written by award-winning screenwriter Adrian Hodges, whose credits include David Copperfield and The Lost World, which penetrates to the heart of the charismatic monarch who was deeply traumatised by the execution of his father. Written by Anonymous
I truly enjoyed this show. The production values were excellent and it was historically quite accurate. The acting was superb, with Sewell, Graves and McCrory as standouts. I had a real sense of the history of the period... considering that it was more a dramatic biography than the historical and political record of an era. This was not meant as the definitive documentary on the Restoration, but rather a portrait and narrative on the lives of Charles and his court during a period of great intrigue and change.
One cannot cover the 25+ years of Charles' reign in 3 hours and include everything. Instead, it's there as background, for those interested in paying attention. As for sexual intrigue, that's as accurate as was the political. Charles was, from all accounts, a licentious man with many mistresses, several of whom caused no end of trouble.