Showtime’s “The Tudors” began its fourth and final season this week. The series, which chronicles the reign of Henry VIII and the comings and goings of his six wives, has become one of the few (if only) successful attempts at historical fiction in the recent televised era.
I emphasize “fiction” because, while the show does depict the political and sexual games played by royalty and their agents, much of the factual plot has been obviously condensed and consolidated for dramatic effect. That effect, however, is nothing but positive. The series is quite entertaining; its costumes, set design, and scenery make for sumptuous production values. And the acting, led by Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry, is always fascinating to watch, especially as Meyers has begun to show chilling glimpses of the instability that will lead to Henry’s downfall.
The first two seasons of “The Tudors” were stellar, largely characterized by the role of Anne Boleyn in Henry’s life and how she was used and ultimately betrayed by those she trusted as a pawn in their ulterior motives. An uneven third season tried to do too much too quickly, but it did successfully build to the bloody clashes that heralded the Protestant reformation in England. So what will this fourth and final season bring? It may be too soon to tell.
Early scenes of the premiere episode acknowledge that a heat wave and accompanying drought are sweeping the land, with no sign of rain to bring relief. These conditions appear to symbolize… something, but the writers can’t seem to decide what it is. Thematically speaking, stifling heat and waiting for rain usually indicate that something is unexpectedly stalled or in limbo with the characters. Yet in the story, time is marching on and change is sweeping through the kingdom where rain isn’t.
Henry’s newest wife and queen, Catherine Howard, embodies the passionate and carefree spirit that he desires, and he is entranced. While the other queens had their issues but always remained pure and true to themselves, Catherine seems far too easily swayed by the material advantages of the royal lifestyle. There are brief flashes of redemption in the fact that she feels so uncomfortable with the new level of public scrutiny, but something still feels off. I can’t tell yet if it’s the actress or the character that is so grating to me, but it’s clear I’ll need a few more episodes to decide either way.
Meanwhile, a member of Henry’s court appears to have eyes for Catherine. Unable to take what he wants, he violently asserts his libido elsewhere before bribing and eventually killing the young maid’s husband. At the same time, a childhood friend appears to know secrets about Catherine’s past, and Catherine is forced to bring her to court as a lady-in-waiting in exchange for her silence. I’m crossing my fingers that if these are among the factors that contribute to Catherine falling out of favor with Henry, then I hope they’re at least played out in a more original way.
I’m a little more intrigued by what’s happening with Mary, Henry’s eldest daughter from his first wife. She has displayed such dignity about the deception and debauchery that goes on around her, yet she openly distrusts Catherine and even shows disdain toward her. In all fairness, Catherine isn’t much older than Mary and that has to be an awkward situation, but either way, I’m looking forward to seeing Mary speak up for herself more. This empowerment may become difficult, as a possible arranged marriage is looming for her to the duke of France. Henry is weighing the pros and cons of the marriage as political leverage against strained French relations, so I can’t wait to see how she takes and hopefully defies the news.
Also of note are the ongoing threads of past storylines, particularly with regard to the Seymour family. Jane Seymour was Henry’s third wife, who died after giving birth to Prince Edward. Her main lady-in-waiting is still at court, and she seems loyal to Jane even while serving Catherine. Also at large in the royal court are Jane’s brother and his wife, both of whom appear to have agendas of their own, but how long will they be able to outlast the changing times?
After Henry declares to his advisors and the public that Catherine is to be treated with respect as the new queen, he goes one step further and grants Catherine the land and personal property that was left behind by the deceased Jane. If this was done based on some legal precedent, that’s one thing; if Henry did this out of spite, I eagerly await how he handles the day when it comes back to bite him. In the final scene, with all eyes metaphorically on Henry and one pair of eyes literally on Catherine, it finally (and a little too conveniently) rains. If the writers were holding back the rain until people were required to take Catherine seriously, then as far as I’m concerned, I’m happy to remain in a drought until further notice.
Needless to say, the season is off to a slow but promising start. Enough stories have been established to sustain at least the first few episodes, but the real test will be in how those stories and their characters are handled. Plus, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel: we already know there’s only one more wife to go. Sometimes, when you know an outcome but not the journey, getting there can be half the fun. Let’s hope “The Tudors” makes that journey worth the trip!
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