The Tudors - Possible Cure For Rome Withdrawal Symptoms

[Harsin]

The last ever episode of the superb Rome airs next Sunday in the US. :cry:

However this series from Showtime is premiering on 1st April. The channel did a great job with Dexter and Brotherhood (I'm going on reactions I've read for the latter as I've never watched it).

Can't link to Showtime's site as it's only viewable to people living in the US, but here's the details.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/03/14/the-tudors-online-preview/

Holy history porn. If you dig Rome, and Deadwood does it for your fictive nonfiction-loving self, then Showtime's The Tudors may be right up your alley. It's a journey through Henry VIII's kingship and many, many marriages with more tits, ass, intrigue and bloody violence than you can shake a royal stick at.

The series, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, premieres on Sunday, April 1st at 10PM. The series focuses primarily on the king's affair with Anne Boleyn, his obsession with producing a male heir and the political intrigue of the court. And, did I mention that it's essentially softcore for the Anglophile set?

At the very least it's got a decent sounding cast.

Rhys Meyers stars alongside an international cast including Sam Neill (Cardinal Wolsey), Natalie Dormer (Anne Boleyn) and Maria Doyle Kennedy (Queen Katherine of Aragon) and Jeremy Northam (Sir Thomas More).

[Alan b]

with more tits, ass,

Sounds great, anyone know when it airs over here :D

[Jonnyrepp]

Sounds really good - even without the T & A!

[ryonhilluk]

Thomas Moore..... had to watch a god awful film about him last year for my degree at uni. At least quint from Jaws was Henry VIII.

[Adam Thirnis]

Noone else has stared watching this? I thought lots of folk around here had an Amercian friend? Hell it even had Sean Pertwee in the opening scene!

Actually it was quite pedestrian - some nasty namedropping at times - but a fair bit of female nudity for those who like that sort of thing. ;) No sign yet though of a Vorenus/Pullo element that made Rome so successful.

[Disappearer]

Noone else has stared watching this?

Didn't think it was broadcast until April 1?

[Jonnyrepp]

I'm watching it this evening - it is out there.

[karellen]

Looking forward to this (will wait and watch it in HD).

Showtime (and FX) really are producing the goods these days. I imagine HBO are starting to panic - Sopranos and The Wire are on their last seasons and Big Love is their only established drama.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Ill be watching this anyway. Weeds, Sleeper Cell, Huff, Dexter. All quality showtime productions so chances are this will be too.

[Adam Thirnis]

Episode 2's got it all - a beheading, a blowjob and a ******* son. What more could you want?:thumbs:

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Episode 2's got it all - a beheading, a blowjob and a ******* son. What more could you want?:thumbs:

Ninja's are always welcome.

[DamienB]

Wifey and I both gave up after ep 2 - just hasn't grabbed us at all. Doesn't hold a candle to Rome.

[roddy]

I quite enjoyed episode one - very different beast to Rome, and I don't think it will rank as an equivalent. Still good TV though.

[LIGHTRAY]

Watched 2 episodes, not really grabbed me, probably won't bother with the rest.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Why give up so easily? It could be a grower.

[LIGHTRAY]

Possibly, I don't mind sticking with show for a while, but I usually get a feeling early on wether I like a show or not. It's not bad, just didn't really find it that great after the 1st two, unlike Drive, which I really liked from episode one.

[Thornastor]

BBC2 has bought the rights and to be shown in the Autumn http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/04_april/16/tudors.shtml

[Nathan Adler]

Thomas Moore..... had to watch a god awful film about him last year for my degree at uni. At least quint from Jaws was Henry VIII.

Would that be the 1966 multi Oscar winning film A Man For All Seasons?

[TonyG]

Did anyone watch all of this? .... How was it overall? ... It's to be shown on BBC HD over the autumn.

[Harsin]

I gave it 4 episodes and gave up because it was more Tudor England 90210 than Rome.

[Sprout Crumble]

I found it really good. Not in the same league as Rome but some excellent performances. A second series should kick things off when Henry starts his descent into paranoia and violence.

[stuartfanning]

It's coming to BBC 2 at 9.00PM on October 5th.

[poissony]

It's coming to BBC 2 at 9.00PM on October 5th.

...and on BBCHD on 5th October as wel.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Been on Irish tv for a few weeks now. Its ok, nowhere near Rome standards of goodness. Loads of shagging in it though.

[R-T-C]

Just saw the start of this on BBC2. Looked quite interesting, plus it starred Sam Neil - always a good thing.

Since I've missed presumably a few episodes, I'm planning to pick up the DVD set. For a history buff how does this series rank?

[balstino]

I gave it 4 episodes and gave up because it was more Tudor England 90210 than Rome.

Could never of described it as well as that, totally agree. Tudors is good and they try with all the english culture stuff, but it always feels a bit put on/americanised. Also, there are 20 better series out there and if you've skipped any of the major ones (e.g The Unit :luv: ) then forget Tudors. However, if it's historical/period stuff you are after then it may be worth your money. :thinking:

[Robby]

Ill be watching this anyway. Weeds, Sleeper Cell, Huff, Dexter. All quality showtime productions so chances are this will be too.

I was going to ask if this show measures up to Showtime's current output, most notably Dexter and Brotherhood.

Judging by some of the comments i'd be better off watching Rome first.

[roddy]

I quite liked the Tudors, but it is completely and utterly outclassed by Rome in every sense. If you're know you are going to watch both you might be better off starting with the Tudors as you can then watch Rome thinking 'wow, this is so much better than ...' rather than watching Rome and then the Tudors thinking 'Hmmm, it's ok but it's no Rome'. If you can only watch one, then Rome, no arguments.

[Alan b]

I agree with the above completely. The Tudors was good but not in the same class as Rome. For me the main problem with The Tudors is that some of the storylines dragged on for far to long and became boring namely Henry and his divorce being granted.

[PaulaB]

Just saw the start of this on BBC2. Looked quite interesting, plus it starred Sam Neil - always a good thing.

Since I've missed presumably a few episodes, I'm planning to pick up the DVD set. For a history buff how does this series rank?

Terrible the way they have done it I don't see how they can go much further with the Tudors. They certainly are going to have trouble with Mary and Elizabeth, there will be no Lady Jane Grey as the Duke of suffolk had no children by Margaret!!!!!!!!! So there is no Mary Queen of Scots because they ignored Margaret marrying the King of Scotland. No Lord Darnley because she didn't (in the series) marry the Earl of Angus. So there can be no Babington plot because who is he trying to release if there in no Mary queen of scots?

[silent]

i just watched the lot on blu ray and really enjoyed it. yes, it's not entirely factual but very enjoyable non the less.

roll on series 2!

[Sick Boy]

Never watched the first series but seems to get ok reviews from this thread.

Not really into my British costume dramas, but seeing as the trailer had Marilyn Mansons 'Beautiful People' playing in the background, it now has my attention.

[Grandmaster]

Loving this show - watching S1 on Blu-ray. It's no Rome, but it's obviously been pitched as a soap opera and in this respect it works beautifully.

The only things I find irritating are the lead actor's Joaquin Phoenix-style delivery, his Paddington stare, and that his Anne Boleyn isn't especially attractive, especially compared to some of the other women Henry's had during the course of the show.

Bearing in mind the license it has taken with history, it's actually staying pretty faithful to the timeline of events - even if stuff that took years to unfold is being dealt with in months of screentime.

They need to up the budget on the CG though - just doesn't stand up to scrutiny at 1080p... most of the time any people in any given CG scene are just cardboard cut-outs and sometimes they just don't bother at all.

EDIT: I have to admit that the sweating sickness episode was bloody dull though.

[gravesend46]

and that his Anne Boleyn isn't especially attractive, especially compared to some of the other women Henry's had during the course of the show.

Just started watching this on DVD and initially would agree with you about the Anne Boleyn thing... but four episodes in I'm smitten! She's a bit of a grower and the bewitching/seductive thing about her gives some credence to the way Henry may have been roped in to marrying her rather than just 'tangling' with her as he did her sister. :luv:

[Grandmaster]

No love at all for the Tudors? I've been dutifully following the show and now I'm seeing Henry VIII dismiss Joss Stone saying she looks like a horse!

[TonyG]

Horse-like or not, if she gets her clothes off like most the top totty on that show, let me know please. :)

[Grandmaster]

Not gonna happen, because Joss is giving Henry VIII erectile dysfunction.