The Tudors: Episode 4
The fourth episode of The Tudors airs tonight on Showtime and will be replayed throughout the week. You can also view the episode On Demand.
Use the comments section of this post to discuss the episode. Any comments I may have will be posted in the comments section as well.
WARNING: Comments may contain further discussion of the show, including potential spoilers. Click through only after viewing the episode. Commenters may discuss this episode as freely as they like, but are asked not to spoil future episodes.
By the way, did you know that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were the parents of Queen Elizabeth I? That’s hot.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Great site. I was using Wikipedia to try to find more info on Princess Margaret, and the other men of the Court from the show – seems to me that the Gabrielle Anwar part is really more of a representation of Mary Tudor than Maragaret. Why didnt they just call te character Mary (or did they think it would be too confusing, like too many Marys?) Honestly, Henry Cavill is the hottest thing to land on my TV since the first season of Sleeper Cell when we were introduced to and Rome’s James Purefoy. I will keep watching just for that – the simple Margaret/Brandon connection in episode 4 made me totally fall in love with the show unlike anything in the previous episodes. Although the dream sequence in episode 3 with a witchy-acting Anne Boleyn was nice too.
I am just looking, I guess, for more of the real story with these characters – and the fact that the men are often called by names oter than their first and last (like Buckingham) it is getting confusing. But great site!
April 25th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I totally agree. I was a little disappointed with the pace of Episodes 1 & 2, but boy did it ever pick up speed. I can’t believe Henry consigned his very own sister to marry that decrepid old lecher in Portugal. I’m surprised she didn’t vomit on him. I’m not a violent person, but I think I would have smothered him too. Then he betrothed his cute little daughter to King Charles of Spain, who has a deformed chin, and will seem like a decrepid old man by the time she is married at age 12! Age 12! Thats worse than Marie Antoinette at 14. But Charles Brandon is the best. His callous attitude and facial expression, when schtupping Buckingham’s daughter right in front of him was priceless! That scene with Margaret was quick and dirty, but electric as all hell. Henry Cavill makes me drool. I predict he’ll be the next “Sexiest Man Alive”. My god, what sexy abs. They make you want to pull his pants down and see what else he’s got under there. Really, I don’t mean to sound like a dirty old woman, but I’m 43 years old and no actor, on screen has gotten me so flustered since Brad Pitt in “Thelma & Louise”. But your right, James Purefoy is hotter than hell too, even as a drunken Antony in “Rome”. I liked him better in “Vanity Fair” and “Mansfield Park” though. Oh well, gotta go think about Henry Cavill some more. Yeah right, in my dreams!
April 25th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hey, thanks for the comments, and welcome to all those coming in through the Showtime link. I’ve been posting a weekly comment thread on The Tudors and plan to continue, so please come back soon and join the discussion.
I also took some time to warm up to the show (see previous comments), but I really enjoyed this last episode. I liked the way the Cromwell piece was handled, particularly the way that it was revealed he is a Protestant. That’s going to be fun.
I agree that the character of Princess Margaret is more closely based on Mary Tudor (Henry’s sister, not daughter). I understand why they had to change the French king to the Portuguese king, but not why they changed the name. The real Margaret actually married the King of Scotland, and that becomes really, really important to English history a few generations later. I also think the Margaret/Suffolk relationship is by far the hottest part of the show to date.
Oh, about the titles. It’s something you get used to in Shakespeare, but anyone who has a title is usually referred to by the title. My favorite instance of that is in Richard III. The title of Duke of York is held by a little boy. Even his mother refers to him as York.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I think the show is good – how could you go wrong with this type of material. The inaccuracies are driving me crazy though. Like with Princess Margaret – she never married the King of Portugal, when it showed that episode(s) I really begain to mistrust my knowledge – I thought I was going mad! Then tonight they kill off a character way before the actual death happens in history – I won’t give away who, you’ll just have to watch. I guess to move the story line along. In any case I think the show gives a really good look into how easily Henry VIII was manipulated by certain individuals (Woolsey among others) and how he was completely manic-depressive. The whole thing with Anne Boleyn is just amazing. She is one of my favorite characters in history. I love how they portray her and her ability to beguile men – something historians have remarked upon countless times.
April 30th, 2007 at 1:41 am
Welcome, Suzanne!
I haven’t seen tonight’s episode yet (Episode 5), but if anyone wishes to comment on it, they may feel free to do so in that episode’s post. Spoilers are allowed, as long as they are posted in the thread for the correct episode.
As for the Margaret/Portugal thing, see my own comment above.
April 30th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Ok- the historical inaccuracies are over whelming. It drives me crazy watching a show that is so off base with timelines, characters (how can you combine Mary and Margaret Tudor when both played such important roles in the Tudor dynasty), and the true nature of Henry the VIII at the time he met Ann Boleyn (he was actually 35). I guess it is entertaining, but it isn’t Rome. They took artistic licence with Rome, but Ceaser didn’t have a relationship with Nefertiti, and Antony didn’t decide against sucide and move to Greece where he became a used chariot dealer…..