Death of a Monarchy (20 Jun. 2010)

As Henry's health deteriorates, he grows introspective as various factions in the court try to position themselves for the seemingly inevitable succession.

Director:

Ciaran Donnelly

Writers:

Michael Hirst (creator), Michael Hirst

Stars:

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, Sarah Bolger

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	King Henry VIII
Henry Cavill	...	Charles Brandon
Sarah Bolger	...	Mary Tudor
Max Brown	...	Edward Seymour
Natalie Dormer	...	Anne Boleyn
Maria Doyle Kennedy	...	Queen Catherine of Aragon
Annabelle Wallis	...	Jane Seymour
Joely Richardson	...	Catherine Parr
Simon Ward	...	Bishop Gardiner
Selma Brook	...	Brigitte Rousselot
Emma Hamilton	...	Anne Stanhope
Frank McCusker	...	Risley
Andrew McNair	...	Thomas Seymour
Rod Hallett	...	Richard Rich
James Flynn	...	Ralph Morice

Storyline

As Henry's health deteriorates, he grows depressed and introspective as the ghosts of the past come to haunt him, and various factions in the court try to position themselves favorably for the succession after his death. Bishop Gardiner continues to pursue Anne Stanhope and the Queen for heresy but is thwarted by some unforeseen circumstances. Sensitive to his legacy, the King commissions a portrait from Holbein as Charles Brandon's health decline too.

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Plot Keywords:

heresy | court intrigue | catholicism vs protestantism | regret | king henry viii | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

Canada Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Octagon Films, PA Tudors IV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bishop Gardiner was imprisoned for five years during the reign of Edward VI.

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Quotes

King Henry VIII: [Opening lines] In these last days I've been thinking a great deal about loss. What loss, your grace, is to man most irrecoverable?
Charles Brandon: His virtue.
King Henry VIII: No, for by his actions, he may redeem his virtue.
Charles Brandon: Then, his honor.
King Henry VIII: No, for again he may find the means to recover it, even as a man recovers some fortune he has lost.
Charles Brandon: Then I can't say, Your Majesty.
King Henry VIII: Time, your grace. Of all losses, time is the most irrecuperable for it can never be redeemed.

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Connections

Version of The Tudors: Search for a New Queen (2009)

User Reviews

A masterpiece ending

Were you to go to the movie theatre and walk out an hour later after watching this final episode, you would not feel cheated out of your money. In the final hours of King Henry's life, Myers' culmination of his role rivals any actor out there who has ever played a character going from youth to old age. There are scenes where you won't even believe it's him. Cameos, lines and scenes have a perfect flow, and you can only feel sadness for the ending of a great TV show, as well as for every character on screen, whether from past seasons or current. A truly perfect ending for a captivating series, spectacular in its simplicity.