Moment of Nostalgia (11 Apr. 2010)

Henry is proud of Catherine, his beautiful, vivacious seventeen year old wife, who buys silence from an old friend by making her a member of the court.

Director:

Dearbhla Walsh

Writers:

Michael Hirst (creator), Michael Hirst

Stars:

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, Tamzin Merchant

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	King Henry VIII
Henry Cavill	...	Charles Brandon
Tamzin Merchant	...	Catherine Howard
Lothaire Bluteau	...	Ambassador Charles de Marillac
Sarah Bolger	...	Mary Tudor
Max Brown	...	Edward Seymour
Torrance Coombs	...	Thomas Culpepper
David O'Hara	...	Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Anthony Brophy	...	Ambassador Bishop Chapuys
Simon Ward	...	Bishop Gardiner
Emma Hamilton	...	Anne Stanhope
Frank McCusker	...	Risley
Andrew McNair	...	Thomas Seymour
Rod Hallett	...	Richard Rich
Joanne King	...	Lady Rochford

Storyline

Whitehall Palace, London 1540. Thirty years into the reign of King Henry VIII and it's been a long, hot summer: London is experiencing intense heat and there has been no rain for two months. But while his subjects wilt, the King's vigor remains undiminished. The Reformation goes on and Henry has just married the beautiful Catherine Howard, his fifth Queen, who is a mere seventeen years old. Catherine is different from earlier wives in more ways than age: far from being nobility she was 'discovered' by some of the King's friends in a boarding house for wayward young ladies. Joan Bulmer the new Queen's best friend from her youth, is hired as a lady in waiting; aside from her friendship she knows too much scandalous detail about Catherine's sexual past to be outside the court. The Queen's 'low' background combined with her youth and beauty, arouses a lusty familiarity in certain members of Henry's court. Most notably the King's handsome and ambitious new groom Thomas Culpepper, who makes...

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Plot Keywords:

1540s | rape | hunting | younger woman | lust | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

Ireland Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group, Showtime Networks, Reveille Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Catherine Howard's name is alternately spelled as both Katherine and Katheryne. her birthdate has been alternately cited as both 1521 or 1525, which means she was either fifteen or nineteen, not seventeen, when she married Henry.

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Goofs

Around 38 minutes in, Catherine looks out of a diamond leaded window at Culpepper. We see her as the camera looks into the room, but looking outwards the shape of the lead framing is different. It is not just a question of focus as the soldering is different on the joints. Also, at the end, both Henry and Culpepper look at Catherine in the rain and the device is not used.

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Quotes

Ambassador Bishop Chapuys: [to Charles Brandon, who appears deep in thought] Your Grace.
Charles Brandon: [turns to him, slightly startled] Excellency.
Ambassador Bishop Chapuys: Your Grace seems somewhat distracted.
Charles Brandon: I was just thinking of those who are no longer here to sup with us. I had a moment of nostalgia... even for my enemies. I understand Thomas Boleyn died recently.
Ambassador Bishop Chapuys: Yes, and the only mourners at his funeral were the ghosts of his children.

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Connections

Version of A Man for All Seasons (1966)

User Reviews

Please kill her already!

I've gotten used to a dark-haired, rock star Henry VIII. I've even dealt with all the soft core porn. When the series refocused on other things than sex, it was actually interesting. The sets, costumes and most of the actors are wonderful. Just tell yourself that this is a fictional drama.

However, we come to the episodes dealing with Kahterine Howard. Even ignoring history, this depiction of Katherine Howard had me screaming...."kill her already!" at the TV. Here Katherine behaves worse than a $10 prostitute from the first time Henry sees her alone. She giggles constantly like a 13 year old today. She is wanton in front of the entire court and visitors. She is unkempt, even when she becomes queen. She looks at all men as though they're red meat and she's a tiger that hasn't eaten in weeks. And I haven't even gotten to the episode where she meets Culpepper! Henry was still a king in need of another son. Historically, he was incapable of having sex with Katherine because of his painful leg and obesity. Here his leg has obviously healed enough for him to jump her constantly before (unbelievably) marrying her.

I can ignore all that stuff.....but I can't get beyond the most annoying depiction of a female in this series. so.....Kill her already!