Regarding the Tudors (with various diversions)

[lizbee]

Dear cesario,

A few months ago, I think I tried to persuade you to watch The Tudors, for the lulz if nothing else.  HOW WRONG I WAS.  You ignored me all along, and rightly, but let me just say, if the opportunity should arise, DON'T.  I care about you, and your mental health, and I would be quite sad if outrage caused you to explode, spraying your home with bits of brain and innards and eyeballs.  Sad, and slightly grossed out.



The problem is, you see, that they've only gone and killed off Margaret Tudor (who is a combination of both of Henry's sisters, but without actually being interesting, plus she's played by Gabrielle Anwar, who is utterly beautiful except for her neck, which appears to be twenty years older than the rest of her), like, twenty years too early.  At the time of her death, she hadn't had children with Charles Brandon.  Which means Frances Brandon hadn't been born, and didn't exist to marry Henry Grey, and Jane Grey isn't going to exist.

I think you see the problem here.  I mean, Lady Jane was only queen for a few days, but they were fairly significant days.  Not least to her, I imagine.

I was still sputtering over that -- oh, okay, I was mentally composing this message -- when Henry decided to mourn the late Cardinal Wolsey by having sex in the woods with Anne Boleyn.  THAT'S NOT A SERIES FINALE, PEOPLE, THAT'S BAD FANFIC!

On the upside, Katherine is still the best of them.  Especially with More taking advantage of his new position of chancellor to burn some heretics.  (Admittedly, my inner Braxiatel is rather regretting that he didn't get a chance to use his brief chancellorship that way, but his definition of "heretic" mostly covers book burners, people who don't properly preserve paintings, and people who go around writing "this is a fake" on the Mona Lisa.)


In short, though, the whole series is absolutely terrible.  I can't wait to start on season two!

Comments

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

Um..."Margaret" Tudor is in the second series (which is considerably better). I thought they just exiled her from court for a bit? Then again, I was sewing while I watched it so my recall is dubious and ahistorical, just like the series.

[wallyflower.livejournal.com]

I really was considering whether to watch this series or not. Many friends recommend it but I did some background reading and, well, can I stand to watch a series that makes such a hash of history? Say, at least, if it has any redeeming qualities. :)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Well, it's quite hilarious. Not usually intentionally, but the lulz are there. I have some detailed screencap recaps if you go through my 'ahistorical tudor lulz' tag.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

At the time of her death, she hadn't had children with Charles Brandon. Which means Frances Brandon hadn't been born, and didn't exist to marry Henry Grey, and Jane Grey isn't going to exist.

That's what you're worried about? 'Margaret''s been given Mary's (his other sister's) life, sort of, so there's no actual Margaret to go and marry James IV of Scotland so there was no James V or Mary Queen of Scots or, indeed, James VI so I am A Bit Curious as to who Elizabeth's successor is gonna be.

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping they've just sort of swapped Mary and Margaret's lives in a "too many Marys" kind of way and "Mary" is up in Scotland providing future troubles for Elizabeth.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

No, they were pretty clear that "Margaret" was Henry's only sister.

I KNOW, RIGHT?

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

THIS IS WHAT I WAS WONDERING. What I'm thinking is that they're going to end the show with Elizabeth taking the crown, or even Mary, since there's all those movies about her (Elizabeth).

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

This was the first thing that came to my mind too. Because for a series like this, losing Lady Jane would be one thing, but losing Mary Stuart? Complete and total waste of resources.

[cesario.livejournal.com]

It isn't so much what Liz is worried about. She knows I've got A Thing about the Tudors in general and Jane Grey in particular.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Oh, right, yes, Scotland. *eyedart* I'd forgotten all about it, to be honest.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

More burning some heretics was that rare moment when this series actually did something right historically speaking. More during his short tenure as Lord Chancellor burned six Lutherans and got 40 more arrested. There were also some torture sessions. Which is why I have a slight problem with Thomas More being seen as the champion of the freedom of conscience versus kingly tyranny; he certainly wasn't interested in other people's freedom of conscience, and being a child of his time, fell out with Henry over matters religion, not because of premature enlightenment.

(The church made Thomas More the patron saint of politicians. THAT IS FITTING.)

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

when Henry decided to mourn the late Cardinal Wolsey by having sex in the woods with Anne Boleyn.

I rather suspect the real Henry would've tried this, if he dared. Quite a lot of RL Tudor history resembles bad fanfic, come to think of it...

[cesario.livejournal.com]

Dear Liz,

The tag you used for this entry makes up for everything.

Love, Branwyn

[melengro.livejournal.com]

I always felt really bad for Jane Grey, but was simultaneously fascinated by her and her (brief) reign. So there's no her and there's no Mary Stewart. This, I don't need.

Please tell me there's at least going to be an Edward VI.

[fyrdrakken]

Well, his mother had come to Henry's attention by the end of s2, so I'm thinking Edward VI is going to happen.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I was a bit baffled when the series ended with sex, I must admit. I mean, I know it should have a climax and all (oh bad me) but that's taking it a bit literal.

But hey, maybe Scotland can go for republic in this one.