"The Tudors" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Creator:

Michael Hirst

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

Prepare for Reign

Plot:

A dramatic series about the reign and marriages of King Henry VIII.

Plot Keywords:

King | King Henry VIII | Court | England | Intrigue

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 23 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	King Henry VIII (28 episodes, 2007-2009)
Henry Cavill	...	Charles Brandon (27 episodes, 2007-2009)
James Frain	...	Thomas Cromwell (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Natalie Dormer	...	Anne Boleyn (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Nick Dunning	...	Thomas Boleyn (20 episodes, 2007-2008)
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Queen Catherine of Aragon (17 episodes, 2007-2008)
Anthony Brophy	...	Chapuys / ... (17 episodes, 2007-2009)
Padraic Delaney	...	George Boleyn (16 episodes, 2007-2008)
Jeremy Northam	...	Sir Thomas More (15 episodes, 2007-2008)
Guy Carleton	...	Chamberlain (15 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jamie Thomas King	...	Thomas Wyatt (14 episodes, 2007-2008)
Rebekah Wainwright	...	Catherine / ... (14 episodes, 2007-2009)
Sarah Bolger	...	Mary Tudor (13 episodes, 2008-2009)

Country:

Ireland | Canada | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Czech Republic:15 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18 | Brazil:18 (season 1) | Brazil:16 (season 2) | UK:15 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:MA (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Reveille Productions

Trivia:

The character of Princess Margaret, Henry's sister, is actually a composite of two sisters, his older sister Margaret Tudor and his younger sister Mary Tudor. While the events in the series come from Mary's life, the substitution of Margaret's name helps to avoid confusion with Henry's daughter with Catherine of Aragon, also named Mary.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: According to the series, the Sistine Chapel in Rome was painted by Michelangelo Buonarotti during the time the Pope Paul III decided to excommunicate the King of England around the years 1534-1536. In fact, the Sistine Chapel has been painted by Michelangelo in years 1508-1512 by the request of the Pope Julius II, i.e. 20 years earlier.

Quotes:

Duke of Buckingham: I am a direct descendant of Edward II. This is MY crown!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gossip Girl: New Haven Can Wait (#2.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Lacrymosa

Could have been so much more.

Rather than disliking this show I'd just say I was kind of disappointed. Being a bit of a fan of the Tudor history I was kind of hoping for an in-depth look at a very complex time in British history, sort of like Ye Olde West Wing. The Tudors could have been a show that dramatically explored what was one of the most intelligent, erudite and politically savvy royal lines this country has ever seen. Instead I felt like I was watching a slightly more sexed up Ye Olde Hollyoakes. As a diversion there's absolutely nothing wrong with that I guess, but we just had Rome, which did it a lot better in my opinion. There's no one thing I dislike about this show, I'm just a little down that it wasn't as "clever" as I thought it could be. Maybe I'm in a minority though. Hollyoakes still runs despite my best efforts so.....