say it with pie

Are you entirely sure you and m’lady Beth aren’t the same exact person? Because, frankly, you hate too many of the same things for precisely the same reasons as her, and I’m starting to get suspicious.

We watched about a Tudors-and-a-half before giving up. And she LOVES period drama. AND Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. It was sooooo slow. And not measured and well-paced slow, not Mad Men slow. Boring, faux-serious, ‘look-at-us-aren’t-we-a-nice-period-drama-so-we-have-to-be-slow’ slow.

And yet the CBC acts like they pulled off some sort of mad coup for getting it.

Maybe yr’lady Beth and I are bizarro-world internet twins? But I think I have to agree with you…cooking, cats, cartoons, and cute are our mutual raison d’etre!

Despite the historical inaccuracies (which are a little jarring and annoying) and Myers not looking anything like what Henry VIII actually looked like, I kinda enjoyed The Tudors last season and am looking forward to the upcoming season. I love the costumes and the sets, I like Myers’ acting, I generally like the cast, esp. the woman who plays Katherine of Aragon, and I’m always a sucker for a period drama. It IS a bit of a testosterone fest, I do admit, and there isn’t enough focus on the strong personalities of the women in Henry’s life, either. But I was engaged enough to keep up with it last season and will be watching season 2.

I am so with you on this. I think we watched 3 episodes before throwing our hands up in the air and downloading Californication instead. And I, too, love the period drama and British accents and have been known to watch the entire second half of BBC’s version of Pride and Prejudice just because I’m feeling down. But this show did not do it for me at all.

Yeah. So I guess I don’t really need to say anything here. You’ve obviously already seen inside my brain.

The Tudors is the suckage.

…Separated at birth?

The only thing that sucks more than The Tudors is the new 90210.

No, I think the only thing that sucks more than the Tudors is the Other Boleyn Girl. Now that BLEW.

And I’m sure you had the same problem I did- after our intense love/lust affair with HBO’s Rome, the expectations for the Tudors were so high. Man what a letdown.

Although I have to admit I totally want to do Charles Brandon.

Ash is right, ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ majorly sucked, and Morgan is right, 90210 makes me want to barf, but I mostly have to agree with Wandering Coyote. The inaccuracies, modernisations and liberties taken by the writers are only frustrating if you really let them get to you. If you just sit, pretend to be ignorant, and watch it – it’s not bad.

Sorry Velaluna, but I am now nearing the end of season one, and I am now more sure than ever that The Tudors sucks.

I do give them a hat tip for a well played Cardinal Wolsey death scene however.

But regardless of inaccuracies, modernisations and liberties, the show is hella boring and badly written. I still don’t care about the characters, nothing has been resolved, and the only reason I stick around is because I have Tivo and can fast forward through the most tedious bits. Like anything to do with Thomas More. Jeremy Northam is awesome and they’re doing NOTHING with him.

I give you that there are a lot of historical inaccuracies and modernizations, but be honest: would you watch couple of seasons of something in old English with all the formal and tedious historic details? Really? Honestly, it is just a show – not a history channel special.

Even though history was always my passion, I am not out for blood in this case – I see an entertaining period drama; gorgeous costumes and sets. I am amused enough to keep watching.

If it were just the historical inaccuracies, I would be fine with it. But it’s a seriously boring show that is poorly written!

It does look beautiful, I’ll give you that. I am amused enough to keep watching while fast-forwarding through the particularly stupid and boring scenes.

i just think how good looking everyone is is HORRIBLY UNREALISTIC!. In Elizabeth, at least they made Mary look ugly like people kind of looked, back then. When Ray Winstone played Henry VIII, he did a great job: big, fat, burly, gross. But this Tudor show has to go. I can’t stand it. And and as an American, I love anything British, just about. ..

Well …

A) you suck at life
B) the tudors is the best thing to happen to television
C) go draw something you art fag

Dear Margot:

Old English refers to English as it was spoken from the years 600 AD through 1000 AD (or so). Please do not refer to The Tudors as Old English.

[I know how old this post is, but I've also been looking for people with similar views and have stumbled upon it.]

Yay, to your ending question.

I am a stickler for detail, so many movies and series are ruined for me, especially after I’ve read up on them. And even more so, if it ’supposedly’ depicts something I am most passionate about. Soft-core porn disguised as History [which is inaccurate] ; is what I call, ‘The Tudors’[Series].

The only character, who looks close enough [if I had to choose] Is Natalie Dormer. Though, those blue eyes ruined that for me as well.[They could darken her hair color, but contacts , apparently, are just over the line.] And every time I see a thin, black haired, brown eyed, tanned, Queen Katherine, I could scream.

Also, the majority of people who watch it, who do not look up facts , to at least compare and check for accuracy, have been walking around, talking about it as fact and giving wrong information to those who do not know. I asked one my friends, who has been watching it, and she says, “Why would I need to look anything up? It’s on the screen all-ready. Books are boring.”

Henry was an intelligent man who spoke eloquently. He was a musician, a poet, and an athlete, who was a ‘hopeless romantic’.[Though a tyrant after the graces of Queen Anna de Boullan]And ,!Welsh!. He was about 6 feet tall and had russet, red – gold hair. He also did more then roll about between the sheets.

This rich historical scandal , in the times of poetic speak, manners,when marriage was thought of as business, war, and strong-minded, strong-willed women who must fit to the norm and do what is bid them, or die; has been through the Hollywood ringer and is now a puddle goop. If not for the names,the name of the series, and period costumes, it would would be nearly unrecognizable.

The Tudors [Series] and The Other Boleyn Girl [Movie], are disgraceful.

the show is not so bad, it could be boring sometimes but it has its moments

I’m 4 episodes into season 1 and I’m quitting. This show definitely blows. Rome was way better!

These posts are all very old now… but I am left wondering if you watched any of season 2, Karen?
Because, like me, you do like Natalie Dormer, I am curious if you were more entertained with Anne’s story arc?
Although I personally like the show, I understand the dislike – you’ve made valid points.
But Natalie was BRILLIANT in season 2 and the writers did incorporate more actual dialog of the day into the show.

Kristian, you make a really good point! This post is really out of date.

Yes, I have been watching The Tudors. Sort of lazily, and still fast forwarding through the more ridiculous scenes. But I’m still watching. So it can’t be all bad, right?

I liked everything that Natalie Dormer did on that show and I hope to see a lot more of her in movies and tv. The dialogue has definitely gotten better and they dialed down the unnecessary sex scenes. I still think Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is terrible. James Frain as Thomas Cromwell has been a surprising disappointment. A role like that could be getting best supporting actor noms but Frain’s had none because he’s totally flat.

I’ve seen a few episodes of Season 3 and Jane Seymour has been delightful and sympathetic. And I really am enjoying everything about Lady Mary’s storyline. The father-daughter drama is more interesting than romantic drama right now. I’ll have to tune in and do another post once the season is done.

wow…. i googled “the tudors sucks” to see if anyone else shared my views and i’m so glad i found this post. i’m halfway through the second episode and already the ridiculous dialogue and utter stupidity of the entire show is making me want to gag.

‘your grace, my love… oh your grace…. do you consent.?’
WTf is this garbage?? the writers of this show need to be shot.

HOW IS THIS PIECE OF SHIT NOT CANCELLED YET???

um, why did they have joss stone playing anne boleyn?? Cause wasn’t anne boleyn meant to be ugly and joss stone isn’t.

the bit that freaked me out was in series 1 when henry’s sister had tb or something and started coughing blood all over the floor. the other girl in the room at the time just screamed and ran off, she didnt do anything. why???

ohh yeah and is Rome any good to watch??

I 100% agree! The historical inaccuracies are overwhelming. For example, Charles Brandon married Mary Tudor, not Margaret and they had 3 children and where married for more than a few episodes. I think the show would’ve done a little better had they accentuated on Henry and Mary Boleyn’s relationship. She didn’t just give him a BJ in France, I’ve read that he loved her and had a boy and a girl from her. Did anybody read “The Other Boleyn Girl” ?! It’s a joke that these writers didn’t include these things. I also agree about JRM what the F is on his face? Is it supposed to be a beard, mustache… what?! Will someone please tell me. And Henry VIII was about 150 lbs heavier and uglier.

I LOLed when you said Sam Neil: I liked you better in Jurassic Park. Thumbs up to that. I cannot stand him as Wolsey. I can bare to watch him!

can’t*

I agree partially with all of you about the historical inaccuracies, but I also agree with the ones who say that this show isn’t suppose to be a history channel documentary. I actually quite like this show. I think it’s the angle that this series is filmed at that you guys dislike. During this time period, there was male dominance. A lot of the time, it really was just jousting and all this “masculinity” that you seem to hate so much; Women did not play a very large role

However, I fully agree that Jonathan Rhys Meyers doesn’t look like Henry VIII in any way. He needs the red/gold hair. But his weight isn’t a very large problem until when Jane Seymour enters. Henry VIII was a very athletic person, meaning he would have an athletic build; it is only later in his life that he becomes fat

Natalie Dormer is amazing and Ash, I also would totally do Charles Brandon

I thought, in the first season the whole court appearance was boring as hell! I fast forward through most of that. I heard that the writers said this is a more “sexier rendition”. Um, just because you’re on showtime, and you show a lot of people having sex doesn’t by any means implies that it’s a “sexier rendition” Especially if it’s wrong info…

If you think it sucks then why keep watching? if you are that bored, then why not jsut switch the TV off.
If it was that bad it would not be a success. Yes, it is over sexed and yes it has some historical inaccuaracies, but then it is a drama and not a documentary. Henry did not put the weight on till after his accident in Jan 1536 and even then it took another fall and the inability to be as active as he used to for him to really put the weight on. Yes, he should have started to be shown fatter by now, but since we have gotten used to JRM as Henry, what is the problem. Use some imagination!

And Ray Winston did not look like Henry either. He is small and fat and showed Henry as fat from the start and he got just as angry in the later scenes and raped his wife, so what was so good about his portrayal. And Aske was a soldior in Henry’s army in his Henry VIII, so that is not correct either.

there are a few things wrong, but for the most part it is correct and it is great drama and although I am a historian I take it for what it is something to enjoy on a Friday night.

And to all you American’s who love anything Brittish and then make fun of it, get some history of your own!

You’re a historian?

Seriously. This show SUCKS.

I’d rather peel my skin off with a potato peeler than watch this show.

natalie dormer is NOT hot (on the show at least). they make her look like she has a pig head. she also sucks reeealy bad at crying

i like waffles

A-fucking-men. I love period dramas myself, and having stumbled upon The Turds- I mean Tudors, I thought I had found a goldmine- oh how wrong I was. I agree completely with all your points, extra emphasis on the sex scenes. What. The. Fuck. If I wanted so much sex I’d watch a porno, jesus.
The acting is mainly terrible, yes, but I think Sam Neil was pretty ok, compared to Pretty Boy Meyers, who couldn’t even fucking gain weight, and seemed to actually be losing it with every episode.
I’m not even going to get started on the innacuracies.
Thanks for this!
/rant

ok guys i think i need to straighten this out for you. 1) the reason they put jrm as henry was so they can hook people(mostly women..) because lets face it.. hes hot. hes even said it himself that he sucks @ acting and he gets jobs because of his looks. 2) for every one person who hates the show there is about ten people who LOVE it. thats why it hasnt been canceled. 3) the reason why the show is as it is is because it is to intruduce history to young (not that young duh..) viewers to history. in other words so they can see that history can be interesting. 4) they initially had something TOTALLY different from what the tudors is now. but main people up in showtime had something else in mind (what the tudors is now) and it just stuck. they need their jobs. it aint so easy you know. 5)i know for a fact that the conversation scenes ARE boring which is where the tudors plumits. AND I TOO fast foward through those scenes too. but if you ever just stop and listen to it you will see that all the things you say are “missing” are in the “boring” parts. 6) im pretty much stoping it at six for two reasons. A) henry’s six wives and B) i have only one last thing to say: I too have fallen into the seduction and plot(not the series’plot of showtime) of the tudors. and now im hooked and addicted. its in my constant thoughts. I AM NOT defending the show and im not trashing it either BUT i just wanted to straighten this out for you and lay out all (or more like some but i hate typing) of the facts. i respect your opinion on the show but take what i put on the table into consideration. PLEASE. Thank You from a little house in london. ※

THANK YOU!!! People! this show is not supposed to be a history documentary. ITS A DRAMA!!!! Its more about henry going through his wives and his struggle for a male heir and his arrogance for getting what he wants than the specific historical details! just because he isnt fat from the begining(which really didnt start till like sometime jane seymore came)and he doesnt have red hair doesnt make it blow! this is for entertainmenr purposes. and the reason it shows all that jousting and masculinity (which apperantly you guys hate and it can be interesting &im a woman come on) is because thats the way henry was. the show isnt all about henry though he is focused on more because he is the tudor they are the wives and court. ∞∞∞

i have to agree with miss lilly and katt whom i will assume is a woman as well. my wife loves the show and when i told her if the innacuracies bother her she said “why its just a show showtime isnt a history channel.” and i agree with her. it doesnt matter!!!!! p.s karen i love say it with pie.

YES!! to Karen for telling it like it is. The show bites the big baloney, no doubt. And for the point that it is a drama, not history, yes, I agree, but does it have to be a huge sucking vacuum of a drama?

The things that puts The Other Boleyn Girl, Hollywood-style, ahead of Tudors for me with less suckage are
1) no Joss Stone
2) Eric Bana has some height at least and
3) it is under 2 hours and not over 2 seasons long.