This unique phenomenon, two tv series made in the same year, modeled on the same earlier series and treating the same historical characters. Apr 05, 2015 with the events of thomas cromwell and henry viii taking place over 500 years ago, wolf hall and any story about that history will be an interpretation. Episode 1 in cold blood assassination of the duke of urbino henry viii. The series is based eversoloosely on the life of mary stuart, otherwise known as the queen of scots. Having been determined to loathe the hugely popular bbc series, with its unfeasibly beautiful actors, dodgy. I am not an accomplished critic of the art of a television series, but i was inspired by watching season 1 of the tudors, with the excellent writing, beautiful photography, and having some historical accuracy, some, as the series was not fully accurate, and the writer, mr. The show plays pretty fast and loose with the historical facts. Contrary to the series portrayal of the household of the dowager.
There is a list of inaccuracies starting from the pilot episode and continue in every episode thereafter. This is perhaps quite relevant to appreciating historical context since. Historical inaccuracies of the tudors the tudors wiki. Historically, henry and catherine had 10 children together in the span of 12 years. This section is especially dedicated to the show reign 20, because i honestly never thought there could be a show that disregarded historical accuracy even more than the tudors. Question from rachel biggest inaccuracies of the tudors. The costumes are accurate to a certain extent, but nobody would have worn many of the revealing dresses shown. What historical inaccuracies are in the show the tudors. Victoria gives new life to the legendary queen bustle. So far ive not noticed any historical inaccuracies.
The rest of the series passed before my eyes in a haze. How factually accurate is the tv show the tudors, and is henry viii. How historically accurate is the tv series the tudors. The bbc has been accused of americanising and sexing up the past with its muchhyped drama, the tudors. Vikings michael hirst on writing a tv series solo, the. Reign has been a popular show on the cw for three years now but what has audiences so captivated. While i enjoyed the first four episodes of showtimes the tudors immensely, there were some historical inaccuracies which irked me greatly.
This outstanding series composed by 38 episodes results to be a magnificent costumer, set in henry viiis jonathan rhys meyers epoch. Bbc period show, the tudors, is historically inaccurate, leading. Neither of them married a cadaverously disgusting, ancient portuguese king and murdered him. Terrible tudors is a historical era sketch in the horrible histories tv series. Ive never been a purist with historical accuracy as long as the changes made have a real reasoning behind generally a narrative or symbolic one. The tudors is a historical fiction television series set primarily in 16thcentury england, created and written by michael hirst and produced for the american premium cable television channel showtime. In reign, there are many historical differences, about people and time periods differences. Aug 10, 2009 the bbc period drama set during the reign of henry viii, the tudors, is historically inaccurate despite it being in its third series, one of the countrys leading historians, tracy borman, says. The tudors, is historically inaccurate despite it being in its third series, one. The very name of the series is a lie how can it be about the tudors when it ignores owain twdwr and barely mentions henry vii. Historical discrepancies in the showtime television series the tudors. The tudors embellishes a bit of the history its based on to amp up the drama but there are a handful of storylines that are historically accurate. I loved the tudors but in the later series when henry began his torturing spree i found it. Mar 25, 2014 this unique phenomenon, two tv series made in the same year, modeled on the same earlier series and treating the same historical characters and events, is an amazing chance to look at different.
The tudors tv series, season 4 2010 cromwell 1970 henry viii and his six wives 1972 the six wives of henry viii 1970 a night t. How factually accurate is the tv show the tudors, and is. His historymaking feud with the pope, his marriage to ann boleyn, the reformation and the. Claire foy, but many fans may be wondering how much of the glamorous series is based on real life. Overall, the series is extremely interesting, even to the strictest of. The tudors 2007 tvma 4 seasons tv dramas all the splendor and scandal of englands 16thcentury royal court comes to life in this series that follows notorious tudor monarch henry viii. The team behind the tudors were not out to make a historical documentary.
Mar 28, 2008 the tudors battles with the truth the show joins rome and deadwood in a string of tv programs dramatizing important chapters in history. Mar 10, 2011 its a weird mix of accuracy and inaccuracy. May 30, 2014 the british screenwriter, known mostly to american audiences for his critically acclaimed drama, elizabeth starring cate blanchett, had strictly been a features writer specializing in historical dramas until opportunity knocked when he was approached by showtime to pen a television series based on the life of henry viii, the tudors. Halftruths, fabrications, and some historical accuracy weave a compelling story of the apparently manicdepressive king who was at the same time. The series goes on like this, casting truth to perdition and lying about the tudors and their courtiers at every opportunity. This drama series toasts the early days of king henry viii, who must juggle political pressure, family drama and his appetite for ladiesin. Historical accuracy in fiction is crucial, author hilary mantel has told an audience at the cheltenham literature festival. Historical fact in the series seems to manage about 30% accuracy, and all in. The bbc period drama set during the reign of henry viii, the tudors, is historically inaccurate despite it being in its third series, one of the countrys leading historians, tracy borman, says. Jonathan rhys meyers as henry viii in the tudors 20072010. These programs dont always get the facts right, but does. Theres a lot going on in the series, so ill just have to make the points i remember.
In the first season of the tudors, king henry viii, played by the strapping. The following is a list of episodes for the cbcshowtime television series the tudors. The miniseries format gives the story enough time to unfold and what a fascinating, engrossing story it is the great events of elizabeths reign, the facets of her character, her interminable marriage negotiations these are treated in detail and with commendable historical accuracy. No one is going to claim this is historically accurate, not even the series creator, michael hirst.
Versailles a guide to its historical accuracy historian and presenter of inside versailles, greg jenner, separates the fact from the fiction as series one of versailles comes to its end. Many historical dramas, whether television or movies are never truly 100% accurate either the styles were from a later time period, or the colors were not available to them at the time. Each season focuses on a different aspect of the rulers life. Faith and fear accuracy in historical fiction posted by exurbe on july 26, 20. In her article, the truth behind the tudors, borman writes. Im an avid history fan, but thoroughly enjoyed the tudors, i take it for what it is, a drama with some facts and some fiction, after all we dont know all that went on, we have to fill in some blanks ourselves. I grew to appreciate the tudors for its merits as an historical drama. Having been determined to loathe the hugely popular bbc series, with its unfeasibly beautiful actors, dodgy costumes and improbable storylines, i found myself becoming strangely addicted.
Wikipedia has listed various inaccuracies as character names, relationships, historical costume, physical appearance and the timing of events. I will assume then that the audiences watching the show are unfamiliar with mary stuart specifically or history in. Historical inaccuracies in the showtime television series. Jan 24, 2019 the tudors illustrates the rein of king henery the viii.
The first season deals about his relationship to cardinal wolsey sam neill and spouse catherine of aragon maria doyle kennedy when was born a daughter named mary tudor sarah bolger. The third series of the tudors hits our screens soon. Also specifically im curious about the details surrounding ann boleyns trial and execution. Overall, however, i felt that while its not up to the standards of historical accuracy that would be expected for an academic work, i dont think its terrible. Jan 15, 2017 the pbs drama gives new life to the british queen. Jul 26, 20 the borgias is definitely much, much more visually stunning than the european production. As a series, i personally find it a dumbeddown, tabloidstyle pastiche of history. The bbc period drama set during the reign of henry viii, the tudors, is historically inaccurate despite it being in its third series, one of the countrys leading. With the events of thomas cromwell and henry viii taking place over 500 years ago, wolf hall and any story about that history will be an interpretation. The tv series the tudors 20082010 depicts the reign of henry viii. The ghost of richard iii challenges william shakespeare over the historical accuracy of the play based on the kings life series 2, episode 1 edit. Creator michael hirst knows his history, as many actors and crew have stated in interviews for the tudors and vikings history channel series. Television dramas, films and novels offer a way in to history and can inspire an abiding passion for the subject. So much, in fact, that i had to make an entire page devoted to the liberties the shows creators took.
On the surface, cws historical drama reign gets a lot of things wrong. Surely the prospect should make any selfrespecting historian shudder. The series was a collaboration among american, british, and canadian producers, and was filmed mostly in ireland. Other details are accurate as her joints had been dislocated on the rack. The tudors is a salacious, obscene, yet intriguing pseudohistory of the reign of henry viii, king of england. Truth is, i remember more of english from catching up on the first season than i did from history of western civilization ii. Elizabeth i is picky about her portrait later reappeared in ridiculous romance series 5, episode 14 historical mastermind. Michael hirst, goes on record to say as much, to create a truly.
While i have, in fact, watched the series a couple of times thank you, netflix, its not out of any gratefulness to the historical accuracy of the show. As i stressed in my discussion, it had a much bigger budget, so had, in addition to better cg backgrounds and more elaborate costumes, better cameras and better postprocessing so the light is, as you stay, stunning. The tudors battles with the truth the show joins rome and deadwood in a string of tv programs dramatizing important chapters in history. The fourpart series examines the life of one of britains most polarizing figures. The lack of accuracy, however, is driving some history buffs crazy. The first series takes a look at the often overlooked, early political relationships as well as henrys trysts with such. But there are numerous liberties taken with nearly everything else. The tudors focuses on the life and romances of the young king henry viii. Series creator and writer daisy goodwin was inspired by.
A question for the general historical accuracy of the tv series the tudors. I agree quite heartily with the previous two responses. Visits to hampton court palace increased markedly when the tudors first appeared on our screens, and the series now has its own wikipedia site which attracts many thousands of hits. Historical fact in the series seems to manage about 30% accuracy, and all in all it comes across as a flashy, trashy soap opera, rather than a wellobserved, high quality costume drama. Aug 28, 2009 the third series of the tudors hits our screens soon. Like most historical dramas, they are exaggerated and added to in order to make them more interesting tv viewing. On 20 june 2010, the series aired its 38th and final episode.