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The Tudors - BBC Series

I was always interested like most in the history of the Tudors and Henry VIII but this got lost by the whey side when following my education and career in Archaeology and Museums.  I am watching for the second time round the BBC series on the Tudors, and I have to say it’s just as gripping as the first time I watched it.  I really like how they have portrayed all of the characters even if Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a bit too hot and doesn’t really get fat and aged.

I also enjoy how they convey the different political stances within this period and also the change in religion, making it easy to understand for the lay man.  You also see how different members of this period behaved in order for personal and family gain, and how they manipulated their circumstances and people they were in contact with.  It shows a bit more to Henry and the people he surrounded himself with rather than concentrating on him having so many wives.

I feel both times I have watched this it has made me take a keen interest in different people, wanting to learn more about them and proceeding to go off and do my own research.  The first time I watched this series I wanted to learn more about Henry VIII first daughter Mary, so I am currently reading more about her side of the events, the affect it had on her life and how she came to power. 

This second time round although a distasteful character I am drawn to Anne Boleyn and want to know more about her background, along with her father’s puppetry of her and her siblings.  This time around I am almost feeling sorry for Anne, even though she seems like a right pain in the backside and too out spoken and jealous for her own good, however if you think of the situation and pressure she was put in and how she came to be with Henry it’s no wonder she ended up a bit psychotic.  The saying “How you get them is how you lose them” can be seen as very true here.

 I am also interested to learn more about Anne of Cleves, as she is portrayed as quite a character in the series and I would like to know how her relationship with Henry progressed after they were divorced, it would seem that it improved and they became friends who enjoyed each other’s company, I wonder how much of that is actually true.

In this series it also brings to light the different methods of torture carried out during this period and some of it being quite gruesome to watch.  However, they do only really touch on the matter and from previous research into different tortures inflicted on people they really are just showing the tip of the iceberg, it was a horrendous time to be alive.

While watching historical dramas like these it also gets me thinking about how much fashions have changed and how far we have come.  A lady back then wouldn’t be even thought of to wear trousers, yet these days this seems to be the standard for men and women.  Then thinking about the technological advancements, back in Henry VIII’s time there wasn’t even such a thing as a telephone and a mobile phone, what on earth is that!!  Also when dealing with religion, in this country we are much more liberal and embrace all kinds of background and religious beliefs even if some people have none.  Women’s rights have also come a long way and it is good that we are becoming equal to men in not only our opinions but the validity of them and that we are indeed the same if not better than a Man.

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