The Tudors.

Henry VIII, I am.

So I got Netflix, it streams to my Wii, laptop, and my ipod touch. I have to admit, I do love it a lot. Though I'm against ordering the actual DVDs (I know I'd just lose them), I use the instant streaming like a madwoman. It just so happens that The Tudors seasons 1 and 2 happen to be on Netflix. I was giddy like a schoolgirl. Why? Because I'm currently in a Tudor phase, caused by seeing the 2008 film The Other Boleyn Girl. This followed by reading the novel encouraged me to keep learning. I'm not much of a history buff, but once I'm interested, I can't stop. I'm almost done with Phillipa Gregory's series, have finished the first 2 seasons of The Tudors, and am looking for other movies to watch and documentaries online. 

Back to the show, though. It grieves me that I have to order seasons 3 and 4, but I know that I will because of how much I loved the first 2. I know it's not historically accurate (most historical movies aren't), but it is interesting and definitely knows how to hold your attention. It's written more like a soap opera, but Showtime wasn't looking for a documentary. 

I thoroughly enjoy the acting, which is very good. The costumes are gorgeous. The characters are fascinating in both the show and history. What I like the most is that it prompts some people to actually research the history of Henry VIII on their own, and who doesn't love to learn about an impotent king with an anger problem? 

I don't like to give away the plot, so I'll make the description of the show very short and sweet. King Henry VIII is married to Katherine of Aragorn, who was married to Henry's brother, Arthur. Arthur died shortly after the wedding, and Katherine claimed that they never consummated their marriage, allowing herself to marry Henry and become Queen. Unfortunately, Queens don't have happy ending in real life like they do in Disney movies. Due to her inability to produce an heir, she's kicked to the curb for a younger, ambitious girl named Anne Boleyn. The Catholic church does not agree with Henry's decision to divorce Katherine and so he decides to split from them. And that's were all the shit started.

Obviously most of you know what happens after that. The show goes through all 6 of Henry's wives though the first 2 seasons only focus on two, Katherine and Anne. Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves (my second favorite), Katherine Howard (my favorite), and Catherine Parr are introduced in seasons 3 and 4.

With all that in mind, I bestow upon this drama a 3.5 star out of 5 rating. 

The pretty actors and gaudy costumes just can't make up for the fact that the show is not entirely accurate when compared to actual historical events.