'The Tudors'

Proof that educational porn exists

History fascinates me. Well, let me clarify - British history fascinates me; American history tends to put me to sleep. Here's my rundown of U.S. History: Battle, battle, paperwork, battle, election, battle, enslave people, battle, election, paperwork, battle...you get the idea. 

Sure we've had a handful of assassinations and over-hyped infidelities, but nothing so saucy as a leader hacking off the head of his wife or murdering his nephews just to get ahead. Now that's interesting. I'm so envious of the little kids who got to study that sort of thing rather than enduring someone droning on and on about the battles of the American Revolution.

Certainly the most famous era for popular culture is the Henry VIII through Elizabeth I bit, and I'll admit to it being a favorite for me as well. It's funny how even though I know how the story plays out, I can't resist devouring nearly every book and movie on the topic.  I've read enough of the history of that time to be able to criticize or praise each take on the subject and some, although not historically perfect, are just too good to not like - who can't love Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth?

So it was inevitable that I would come across the latest version of history's favorite soap opera: 'The Tudors.' The show, now in its third season, (and available on DVD) starts when Henry is still married to Catherine of Aragon, but isn't far off from meeting Anne Boleyn. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a wonderfully arrogant Henry (although the acting can be a bit over the top at times). The show's sets and wardrobe are gorgeous and the history is fairly accurate, not spot on but this is entertainment, not someone's history thesis.

With all the trappings of a well-done soap opera - scandal, infidelity, back stabbing - ‘The Tudors' sucks you in quickly. If the history bogs you down a bit at times, there's always a rather explicit sex scene around the corner with a tasty dose of male bodies and bums to grab back your attention (to avoid that awkward feeling, I don't recommend watching this with your kids or parents).

My only complaints about ‘The Tudors' are nit-picky. First, there is no real sense of a timeline to what is going on. The show makes it seem as if Henry's attempt to divorce Catherine and his courtship of Anne takes place in only a year or two, whereas in reality it took about eight years (talk about tenacious). Then there's Henry's age. He was forty-two when he married Anne, but in the show he looks to be closer to thirty. But hey, a couple of shots of Rhys Meyers' abs and it's easy to forget about these details. I also have to complain about this show being so popular it takes months to get the next set of discs from the library, but I guess that's my own fault for not having cable.

‘The Tudors' is a fun and naughty indulgence that will have you glued to the television waiting to see what happens next. Or at least waiting for the next steamy bedroom (or forest, or dining hall) scene.