Episode 7 of the Tudors Season 3 was one of the strongest and most poignant Tudors episodes to date. Jonathan Rhys Meyers performance this season has been exceptional. But in episode 7 fans really got a taste of the emotional turmoil he has been going through since the Lady Jane’s passing.
When Henry yells at the French Ambassador, regarding the Dutches of Milan, under clenched teeth, “I’ve had enough” I truly felt his pain. The look of animosity and resentment in the moments after those words masked the remorse he felt in his heart.
I had to laugh at all of the bartering that went on between Anne of Cleves brother and Cromwell’s emissary. When Cromwell’s emissary informs Anne’s brother that the king will forego a dowry and even pay for the wedding, her brother licks his lips and says the contract that promised Anne to another man was never ratified.
Sir Francis Bryan is still on the hunt for Cardinal Pole. When Sir Francis enters a brothel to assassinate Pole, Bryan realizes - just before his knife strikes - that the man fornicating is not Pole. The Cardinal was totally unphased by this attack and simply says to Bryan and his henchman, “Go with God my sons.” That must happen to him like every week. “Ah, saved from another accidental assassination in the whore house. Go with God suckers.”
Henry is none too pleased about the failure to kill Pole. He says to the Duke of Suffolk, “I swear that man should be filleted alive and I should wear his skin as a shirt.” All I can think is that maybe if Henry hadn’t gotten rid of Katherine of Aragon, who made his shirts, he wouldn’t have such problems with his wardrobe. I know I prefer cotton, but hey maybe Henry got a 500 year early screener to “Silence of the Lambs” off of Tudor iTunes.
Henry later falls into the rut of a mustache-twirling villain by saying, “He will rue the day he allowed the pope to use him to threaten me.” I’ve got to think that Michael Hirst was waiting his entire life to sneak in a “rue the day” line into a script.
As for Henry’s love life. He’s been smitten by performance anxiety. He says to the Duke of Suffolk regarding Anne of Cleves, “What if I can’t…” As his words trail off, the Duke responds, “What if you can’t what?” And, there you have it. Impotence dates back even to the Tudors’ era – and, probably even farther back than that. That’s something Robert Langdon has yet to uncover.
The wedding between Anne of Cleves and Henry painfully depicts Henry’s downfall, both physically and emotionally. Usually given to loud-boisterous ceremonies, the king instead decides to have a small minimalist wedding. When he fails to sleep with Cleves, he tells his physician that he knows he is filled with virility having had two nocturnal emissions. The physician reiterates the line, “TWO NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS.” He sounded almost jealous. You could imagine him thinking in his mind, “If only I could have one nocturnal emission, I could die a happy man.”
Episode 7 ended with what can only be considered one of the saddest depictions of Henry’s emotional downfall. Usually able to bed any woman his heart desires, the King is instead reduced to masturbation. This sounds like a trivial thing. However, after seeing a vivacious Henry over these past three seasons of the Tudors, this scene made fans truly feel the weight of Jane’s loss and Henry’s emotional suffering.
There is only one more episode left in the Tudors Season 3, and with it comes The Tudors Season 4: The Final Season. It’s so hard to say goodbye.
I’m sorry.. The girl that plays “katherine” is butt ugly. She has no curves, a mishapen face, and terrible eyes. Thats terrible casting. I would not bang her at my drunkest moments, let alone fall in love with her.
AWFUL!
Hahahahahahaha
this is the best show ever. i really wish they would put it back on
How can they add nightmares to haunt him when this story has technically already been written. It is based on actually accounts. Talk about history providing a spoiler alert.
ok why would henry find anne of cleves so bad, look at his first older wife, catherine, she was no beauty either and much older, why couldnt he just remain married to anne of cleves and continue his affairs as usual without having to upset whole nations over this which could ultimately be his demise. Why on earth would he find that horrid girl who played “katherine Howard” attractive at all, yikes! It is very hard to even look at that girl, very upsetting, indeed. Even the girl who replaced jane seymour was more like a sister to Henry, there was no chemistry between them either. I miss all the fire between Henry and Boelyn, thats when the show was the best!! /I know her part is done but, i agree why not some hauntings or nightmares of her. At least cast some new actresses for this show that have chemistry with henry
katherine howard needed to be a beautiful girl, what happened?! why why why why why why why did they chose that girl for the part?! ugh! no offense but that girl is not up to par to play katherine howard, there are so many attractive young actresses that could of been cast, I Like HER NOT, haha. Well i think anne of cleves is not ugly at all, but very nice and this has really upset me about this show, i think all the women cast on season 3 are not right at all, none of them, with the expception of anne of cleves. From how i loved this show with jrm on the first and second seasons, with anne boelyn’s character i thought the show would be clever and cast some interesting women again, What happened? did the show have new casting crew for the 3rd season becuase it was painful to watch that Henry would be interested in that “katherine”, she is not attractive, and it was obscene that he would be with her! That last scene on horseback, it was hard to even look at her!!!!!! I like how they had some famous actors season one and two as well, why did three have to be such a let down. I am a such of fan of this show, bought the dvd’s and even ordered showtime again Just to watch Tudors again, but it could have been so much better
Still love Meyers and i will watch season 4 but please please please RE CAST KATHERINE HOWARD, she isnt the right person, there are plenty of young actresses that could pull her off, i cant look at that girl she is very awkward i cant believe that they would cast her, didnt they screen test her, this is an important part for the show and it is such a let down (that girl should of been a background maid who is like 12 not Katherine Howard are you kidding me!!!!! Another thought about Mary, she isnt right either, i hope she is re cast as well. Miss anne boelyns character, couldnt Henry have nightmares about her or ghost sightings, that way they could have her come back for some interesting footage.
Dangling participles are not considered acceptable in standard English, so they should be avoided in writing. Recast offending sentences so that the subject of the attached phrase is clear
Wow. You have to love people who leave comments on people’s sentence structure and english, who then have the nerve to write “danging participles.”
CJ:
Why don’t you let everyone know what a “danging participle” is? I’m sure in your 5 cent remedial high school (if you even graduated) education you heard of spell check.
I believe the phrase is “he who is not guilty cast the first stone.” Well CJ, you’re guilty. Learn to read first. Then write. Trying to do both will probably be too much for your pedestrian brain to handle.
Alright, I just MUST make a comment on this person’s post. Number 1: IT IS A F*ing show on SHOWTIME! Not on Nat Geo or the History Channel. Of course it is going to go for the sex appeal factor. Number 2: If you are an English Major, you really need to ask for a refund on your college tuition. I have re-read your post a couple of times now and still have problems with your sentence structure (or lack thereof), your danging participles and your overall attitude of being a pompous ass. Please make sure that your are not butchering the English language while you are criticizing someone else. Spell check is built into your computer software, but it will not catch things like “… related to some form on educational and intellectual purpose.” Did you intend for that “form ON” to be “form OF”?
Sorry sister - I don’t mean to piss on your parade,
but seriously, get over yourself.
Seriously, the rhetorical language is utterly embarrassing and ridiculous, If you guys are going to talk about an English topic, one written on and explored by many English majors as myself, please, use proper grammar skills, such as correct speech, spell check, correct comma placements, and complete coherent sentences that make more sense. Otherwise, leave your input out and just read other bloggers. I do not watch television or even movies unless it is related to some form on educational and intellectual purpose. This show, however seems to pursue it, though its accuracy is far off base, as is most entertainment. Look at the “Other Boleyn Girl,” the accuracy of that movie compared with the actual part fiction/part non-fiction novel by Phillipa Gregory was a total debunk. A very disappointing viewing compared to her outstanding novel. If the creators were to follow the plot line to actual history, the show would last as long as Law and Order or ER, and well since they have only 4 seasons in which to accomplish that, I guess lack of funding, we have to imagine time quickly passing in order to fit in all the many wives of King Henry. But remember, after study this tyrannical leader, he wasn’t always the harsh King Henry, but the kind, boisterous, and free-spirited Prince Harry before he bore the burden of providing and establishing a dynasty in which his father sought hardship on the battle field to establish. It is a well done show, it needs to be more consistent in historical proof, but really, that is hard, and can be very much a bore to many who only watch it for its sexual, seductive excitement in which it mostly thrives from. It is by far, one of my favorite shows.
Does anyone know when Season 3 will release on DVD? Amazon already has it as pre-order! thx!
also- i don’t see henry through this show as spoiled or empty. i think the show has done a great job this season portraying the emotional, spiritual, and moral conflicts of all involved, particularly charles brandon and henry himself. for the viewers i know, the show made them want to learn more, and the fact that henry was originally trained to be in the clergy and not king gives whole new insight into his motives. but again, it’s JUST A PRIMETIME SOAP OPERA, so really, eat some godiva and enjoy the ride.
ok. i’m disappointed with the short season, and will probably cry when they bow out after season four. i can’t imagine how they will wrap up catharine howard so quickly, she deserves a season all her own! that being said, it’s an excellent tv show- and that’s what it claims to be. a dramatic tv show, not a documentary. if you want historical accuracy, read a book. when you watch a soap opera, you get entertainment. enjoy it, and try not to whine about historical inaccuracies.
and for the sake of all of us, if you don’t speak or type coherent english, please keep it to a minimum.and what are you talking about? elizabeth succeeded mary, why do you think she killed her?? wtf??
We’re not supposed to accept the tudor show as history, are we? Gross historical mistakes( Henry’s sister Mary married the french king Louis XII and NOT a portuguese king) and fictional slander SHOULD be presented as such and not as a (supposed) quality product! A pity, though. You can make excelent series based upon good history! You can twist the truth into fiction(Shakespeare did it) but you have to sell it as such! Bad, bad outcome for Henry and his gang: they are presented as XXI ct spoiled rich, empty boys…
What the H*** is this? Only 8 episodes? FAIL.
When I first time watching Tudors and I love it every bit of. And I can’t wait next Sunday Tudors start Love the King Henry and He is lover come to beauitful women for his queen. And I see the King Henry great actor very handsome to be king for countries. And I can’t wait see season four.
THE TUDORS IS A GREAT SHOW AND I WATCHING EVERY SEASON ONE AND TWO AND THREE AND WHAT NEXT SEASON FOUR BE LIKE? THE KING IS VERY HANDSOME and he marry four wives already so that mean marry number five wife. And what happen to young Liz and why Mary have to kill younger sister and she is about eight year old. And what reason older sister Mary do that for? Her father known about this was kill my mary. The season four is coming soon when is start for season four.