The Tudors
Other
Have just watched again having not seen to the end first time round. I don't know why I FEEL history so much but I couldn't hold back the tears as it ended. Henry VIII was such a tyrannical king, full of arrogance, ego and had a total disregard for the lives of everyone, except his own life, of course. Lives ended in the most horrific ways at the flick of a wrist. Of course he was not the only cruel and vengeful monarch.
Yes, it was a Hollywood version but surprisingly accurate fact wise. My only real complaint was that Henry was head and shoulders above most others at court but portrayed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers he became a small and puny dark haired miniature of the real man. (I like JRM so that is not a personal remark).
But now I am bereft with nothing to binge watch and only tales of modern man who it seems, has not learned the lessons of history.
Have you seen it, did you like it? 
The Tudors has always been one of my favourite parts of history as it was indeed a very colourful time, and also Elizabeth became queen despite many attempts to assassinate her. I’ve watched loads of shows about this and I can’t say this version is that great - it was hypersexualised
All the series I have loved have sold themselves with sexual overkill when the stories have been perfectly good and would have done just as well without all that. GOT, Versailles, Outlander and so on. If I wanted to watch soft p*rn I am sure I could find it and I think it is a shame they pander to one section of society. I ignore it or full forward.
Besides which, having discussed at great length a book on medieval women and their role in the bedroom, with my granddaughter, who was studying the subject, women were not expected to enjoy the act and only women of ill repute were able to show wantoness, certainly not wives, hence so many mistresses.
Apart from my initial comment re JRM and the above I really enjoyed Tudors and found it quite accurate.
Elizabeth was also a woman of her time and could be cruel by today's standards but she was struggling in a man's world. She did however follow a policy of religious tolerance (after the horrors of Bloody Mary's reign) and hers was indeed a golden age.
You may prefer Wolf Hall if you haven't already seen it, based on the books by Hilary Mantel. And have you seen the White Princess, the start of the Tudor dynasty with Henry VII?
hspexy I have literally just finished (2 minutes ago) reading The Sunne in Splendour, for the second time. If you enjoy reading I personally think it is one of the best historical fiction works of the War of the Roses. I love historical fiction because they are nearly always fact based and the author's notes say quite clearly what was real and what was added to pad out the story. I truly believe Richard III was a victim of Tudor propaganda and did not kill the Princes in the Tower. This book clearly lays the crime at the feet of the Duke of Buckingham. It is written by Sharon K. Penman if you are interested.
Lynibis thanks for the recommendation. Wow that’s a first for me, as it’s always been said he killed his nephews, and the section of the tower where it’s said it happens has always had a strange aura about it. However I wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t responsible as they (the PR team back then) were always painting him as some kind of troll figure, and I never believe things when it feels so one sided
hspexy sorry to keep going on but I am a bit of a history geek! Last night after finishing author's notes I followed her advice and googled Richard the third facial reconstruction. After they found his remains they proved he was never hunchbacked (as portrayed by the Tudors, he appeared to have mild scoliosis, was 5' 8" ). The reconstruction showed him to be a lot better looking than the doctored portrait which showed him as rather ugly and a lot older than his 32 years at death. The Tudors had reason to blacken his character in order to uphold Henry VII very tenuous claim to the throne. After all, he was descended from a widowed ex queen and a Welsh commoner who was a high up servant in her household.
If you do ever read The Sunne in Splendour, you will find the argument against him killing the Princes very compelling.
Lynibis lol I do recall reading in the news about his skeleton being assessed and the experts saying there was no sign of a hunchback. It is indeed fascinating stuff, something I hope to check out more when I’ve the time. Currently I’m looking into Russian imperial history, and there’s a lot to take in
Thanks for the recommendations, and have a great time out in Winchester 
Absolutely fantastic series ... thanks for reminding me I shall watch it all again 
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