Hello everyone!
And I'm back, with yet another Tudors review. One would think that I've had enough after the one I did for the first season, but nope, one would be wrong!
Can you tell I've been watching Game of Thrones recently and that Jagen H'Ghar is probably one of the best characters ever?
Anyway.
My friend Maegan definitely has a say in this, obviously, considering she seems to have liked the review I did on the first season, and she asked that I continue with these until I'm done with the show! Which basically means two down after this, and two more to get through!
But then, when you get to look at Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Henry Cavill on screen, I don't think anyone would really complain, now, would they?
So if we recap: in season one of the show, we got to know king Henry VIII Tudor of England, his life, his wife, and his many, many mistresses. You have to admit, the man had talet for acquiring those! Along the way, we also picked up random people from his court, his friends, their families, politicians from other European countries, cardinals, and of course the never-ending political situation that we all wanted to gauge our eyes out over. Season one basically ended with
Now in season two, Henry is actively seeking the annulment which would grant him the freedom he so desires to marry Anne Boleyn. Catherine of Aragon is exiled and separated from her daughter Mary, while Anne basically reigns supreme in court even without the crown on her head. We have to mention though that she definitely knew how to keep Henry's interest and his vanity nicely flattered, because if anyone, then Anne knew how to work the king - and he had ZERO idea about it most of the time.
Of course, there are always enemies, which means that there will be exiled people from court. Somehow, Charles Brandon gets himself a whole lot of exile and a lot of temperament from the king, but at the end of the day this doesn't seem to put them at odds with each other for long.
BFF, anyone?
On the other side of their known world, a new pope is elected, who practically mentions Anne could just be assassinated instead of all these problems they have. At this point, Henry has already begun his Reformation of the Church of England, appointing himself as its head, and causing quite the shockwaves around Europe because of it. My all-time favourite line from season two is said at around this point by Eustace Chapuys, Imperial ambassador at court, who tells Henry that he has 'no doubt that His Majesty's reign will always be remembered'. Which, in itself, is prophetic in a way (and that brilliance of TV show) because Henry IS remembered for establishing a separate Church of England (and his many wives).
Things don't all go well or smoothly, though, as Thomas More, disilussioned, resigns from his post and retreats into solitude, however continues posting pamphlets and supporting Catherine instead of Anne - which, ultimately leads him to be one head shorter because he won't swear to the new line of succession (which excludes Mary but places Elizabeth, Anne's daughter, as first in line, and all their children basically before Mary) because, as a devout Catholic, the changes Henry was making in the Church of England really didn't sit well with him (thank you Maegan for the clarification <3).
This also happens to Bishop Fisher, a staunch Catherine supporter all his life.
Thomas Cromwell, another rising star at court, becomes even more powerful as the Reformation continues its march across England, while at court, things begin to fracture at this point: Henry feels guilty about the death of More, and Anne is paranoid (okay, Henry is paranoid too, with all those dreams and visions and whatever, but less than his wife). It doesn't help that she miscarries at around this same time, which drives the king back into the arms of his mistresses.
Charles Brandon helps with this quite a bit (the pimp), because he hates the Boleyns and makes absolutely no secret of it, but he also makes it rather public knowledge that he loves the King.
Things start to unravel from there, as Catherine dies of illness (although people at the time suspected she had been poisoned), and Henry mourns her passing. Anne is once again pregnant, but Henry has strayed to Jane Seymour. If his wife can deliver a son, then she will be secure - but she miscarries once more and seals her fate. By this point, Henry is desperate for succession, and he is also, in my opinion, tired of Anne's passionate personality and the quarrels she always insists on. The famous, largely falsefied, almost inquisition against the Queen begins, with testimony that she has taken other lovers, even her brother, practiced witchcraft, that sort of thing. A score of men are beheaded before she walks up the steps herself, losing her life.
Jane Seymour, meanwhile, prepares for her wedding to the King.
Season two was notably darker and grittier than the first season, showing a more mature Henry and a king out of control; the Boleyns had created a monster when they told him he could do anything, and they paid the ultimate price for that. Did he love Anne? I firmly believe he did, because why else would he have basically turned heaven and hell around to marry her? But I also believe that the line between love and hate ran especially thin between these two, and in the end, there wasn't much more of love left - or sanity for that matter.
Other notable features for me were Mary, who we can see as caring towards her half-sister Elizabeth, but already showing signs of the disposition which would later gain her the nickname 'Bloody' as she, even though a devout Christian, seems fairly gleeful about Anne's death.
There was, of course, Chapuys, who I thoroughly enjoyed. James Frain as Thomas Cromwell was brilliant, but then the man can probably tattoo 'period actor' across his forehead and be done with it. I was on the fence about the actress who plays Jane in this season, especially since they changed her for season three, but I do prefer Annabelle Wallis. And pretty much the only remotely cute scene of the whole season was Brandon turning over to wrap his arm around his wife and son after the boy climbs into bed with them.
On that note, the most ridiculous scene was the one after Henry's injury during tournament, when he is unconscious and brought into a tent; and instead of doing SOMETHING, everyone kneels to pray for their king.
Sixteenth century, natch.
That's all for season two! Have anything to say? Sound off below!
xx
*images not mine
Yes, as always <3
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