| The Tudors: The Complete First Season |
| Written by Anita Connors | |
| Wednesday, 07 May 2008 | |
 Sony Pictures Home4/5 You’ve got to admire the arrogance of everyman scriptwriters who, when it comes to historical drama, think that they can improve on history. Of course history can and should be manipulated for the camera, if not because of time constraints then for enhancing the plot, however there is a great difference between twisting events for entertainment and grossly misrepresenting them. Writer Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) seems not to think so. Indeed his script for the Showtime 10-part series The Tudors is so loosely based on the reality and reign of Henry VIII, not one single element of history has not been left untouched. Time in tandem with characters has been condensed, ages have been skewed, events falsified, sexualities embellished and deaths counterfeited. Yet despite all of this, The Tudors is compulsive viewing. While its script may not be, the scale and ambition of this production is imposing. The extravagant budget has meant magnificent sets, stunning costumes and an impressive cast. Sitting at the throne of the production is the beautiful but humourless Jonathan Rhys Meyers who commands the king with great ferocity, presence and stateliness. However, his youthful, clean-shaven looks and impossibly slender frame are not altogether convincing. In contrast, Sam Neill is wholly compelling as the Machiavellian Cardinal Wolsey. So too is Maria Doyle Kennedy as the ill-fated Queen Catherine of Aragon and Jeremy Northam as idealist Sir Thomas More. As for the rest of the court, they are unbelievably good-looking, plastic and shiny. Pure frivolous and pompous entertainment. Extras: behind the scenes featurette, trailers |
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