Despite some redeeming qualities, we’re in for yet another dreary series of beheadings to endure.
This episode kind of epitomized everything that is both at the best and the worst of The Tudors during its long sail into the sunset. I’d argue forcefully that the “drift” into repetitive storytelling began far too early, that we should have stuck with the marvelously engaging and devious Boleyns and poor sweet Catherine of Aragon for a good spell longer, but I’ve talked about that before.
I’ll start by saying then what is right about The Tudors during this final season: the costumes, makeup, direction, and choreography are flawless. It’s a gorgeous hour of television to watch and this alone makes The Tudors worth sitting through, even during weeks where we have yet another dreary beheading watch to endure. And Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII continues to dominate every scene he’s in. While it was a lot more fun to watch the young and fiery Henry hit the jousting arena by force before conquering the tennis court and then, finally, the ladies of his royal court, I’ve come to admire Rhys Meyers portrayal of the older, frustrated, and slightly more circumspect king.
But, really, this episode confirmed my worst fears about how this season was going to play out. Essentially we saw the wind up and final delivery on “foolish little girl” and Queen Catherine (Tamzin Merchant) having her head removed, along with Lady Rocheford (Joanne King), Culpepper (Torrance Coombs), and chief dunce of the lot, Francis Dereham (Allen Leech). From a practical and storytelling perspective, we all knew this was coming. And the effect of everyone getting offed with their ‘eads midway through the season is that a full coterie of those we’ve taken the time to know a bit have been wiped out.
Now the only longstanding members of the cast who we have left are King Henry and Charles Brandon (Henry Cavill), the latter of whom has nothing more interesting to do than spend time with ghosts lately, it seems. There’s also the Earl of Surrey (David O’Hara) wandering around, muttering seditiously and of poems, but there doesn’t seem to be much momentum going there either.
So, what are we left with? One more wife for Henry to meet and become enthralled with before he kills her off? Or perhaps the intrigue will be in the question of whether Henry finally keels over first.
I’d much rather spend more time with Henry’s children at this point. Sarah Bolger is doing a fine job as the refined, remote, and deeply Catholic Mary Tudor, and the actors who play future monarchs Elizabeth and Edward are simply a cute change of pace. That said, I’d love to see more of the post-Henry England and events that lead to the Elizabethan Age (considered to be the golden age of English history).
That sounds far more interesting than the doings of Henry at this point, doesn’t it?
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.