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. 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. These programs dont always get the facts right, but does. Aug 28, 2009 the third series of the tudors hits our screens soon. I grew to appreciate the tudors for its merits as an historical drama. The bbc has been accused of americanising and sexing up the past with its muchhyped drama, the tudors. Jan 15, 2017 the pbs drama gives new life to the british queen. As a series, i personally find it a dumbeddown, tabloidstyle pastiche of history. How historically accurate is the tv 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. So far ive not noticed any historical inaccuracies. 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. What historical inaccuracies are in the show the tudors.
So much, in fact, that i had to make an entire page devoted to the liberties the shows creators took. 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. 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. It does show reasonably, i think, the feel of the court, and of henrys personality. 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. Michael hirst, goes on record to say as much, to create a truly. The lack of accuracy, however, is driving some history buffs crazy. The series is based eversoloosely on the life of mary stuart, otherwise known as the queen of scots. The show plays pretty fast and loose with the historical facts. Theres a lot going on in the series, so ill just have to make the points i remember. 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.
Historical inaccuracies in the tudors season 1 tudorblogger. 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. Having been determined to loathe the hugely popular bbc series, with its unfeasibly beautiful actors, dodgy. Victoria gives new life to the legendary queen bustle. I agree quite heartily with the previous two responses. 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. Reign has been a popular show on the cw for three years now but what has audiences so captivated. Elizabeth i is picky about her portrait later reappeared in ridiculous romance series 5, episode 14 historical mastermind. I will assume then that the audiences watching the show are unfamiliar with mary stuart specifically or history in. Creator michael hirst knows his history, as many actors and crew have stated in interviews for the tudors and vikings history channel series. 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.
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. 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. Vikings michael hirst on writing a tv series solo, the. Truth is, i remember more of english from catching up on the first season than i did from history of western civilization ii. The tudors battles with the truth the show joins rome and deadwood in a string of tv programs dramatizing important chapters in history. Faith and fear accuracy in historical fiction posted by exurbe on july 26, 20. This drama series toasts the early days of king henry viii, who must juggle political pressure, family drama and his appetite for ladiesin. Terrible tudors is a historical era sketch in the horrible histories tv series. Contrary to the series portrayal of the household of the dowager. Question from rachel biggest inaccuracies of the tudors. Historical inaccuracies of the tudors the tudors wiki. Overall, the series is extremely interesting, even to the strictest of. 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.
This outstanding series composed by 38 episodes results to be a magnificent costumer, set in henry viiis jonathan rhys meyers epoch. 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. The tudors is a salacious, obscene, yet intriguing pseudohistory of the reign of henry viii, king of england. How factually accurate is the tv show the tudors, and is henry viii. Claire foy, but many fans may be wondering how much of the glamorous series is based on real life. Jan 24, 2019 the tudors illustrates the rein of king henery the viii. Jul 26, 20 the borgias is definitely much, much more visually stunning than the european production. But there are numerous liberties taken with nearly everything else. The tv series the tudors 20082010 depicts the reign of henry viii. The tudors, is historically inaccurate despite it being in its third series, one.
Episode 1 in cold blood assassination of the duke of urbino henry viii. 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. Neither of them married a cadaverously disgusting, ancient portuguese king and murdered him. 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. 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. The tudors focuses on the life and romances of the young king henry viii. His historymaking feud with the pope, his marriage to ann boleyn, the reformation and the. No one is going to claim this is historically accurate, not even the series creator, michael hirst.
Jonathan rhys meyers as henry viii in the tudors 20072010. In the first season of the tudors, king henry viii, played by the strapping. The third series of the tudors hits our screens soon. The series was a collaboration among american, british, and canadian producers, and was filmed mostly in ireland. 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. Hundreds of viewers have complained about historical inaccuracies and needless sex scenes. The following is a list of episodes for the cbcshowtime television series the tudors. 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. Like most historical dramas, they are exaggerated and added to in order to make them more interesting tv viewing. Television dramas, films and novels offer a way in to history and can inspire an abiding passion for the subject. Historical discrepancies in the showtime television series the tudors. Surely the prospect should make any selfrespecting historian shudder. Series creator and writer daisy goodwin was inspired by. Halftruths, fabrications, and some historical accuracy weave a compelling story of the apparently manicdepressive king who was at the same time.
Bbc period show, the tudors, is historically inaccurate, leading. Wikipedia has listed various inaccuracies as character names, relationships, historical costume, physical appearance and the timing of events. Mar 10, 2011 its a weird mix of accuracy and inaccuracy. Historically, henry and catherine had 10 children together in the span of 12 years. 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. On 20 june 2010, the series aired its 38th and final episode. The costumes are accurate to a certain extent, but nobody would have worn many of the revealing dresses shown. Other details are accurate as her joints had been dislocated on the rack. In reign, there are many historical differences, about people and time periods differences. Despite the inaccuracies, the show, starring irish actor jonathan.
This is perhaps quite relevant to appreciating historical context since. On the surface, cws historical drama reign gets a lot of things wrong. How factually accurate is the tv show the tudors, and is. Historical fact in the series seems to manage about 30% accuracy, and all in. Historical discrepancies in the showtime television series the tudors while i enjoyed the first four episodes of showtimes the tudors immensely, there were some historical inaccuracies which irked me greatly. The fourpart series examines the life of one of britains most polarizing figures. While i enjoyed the first four episodes of showtimes the tudors immensely, there were some historical inaccuracies which irked me greatly. Obviously it gets the wellknown facts correctnamely that henry viii had six wives and was king of england. Each season focuses on a different aspect of the rulers life. Bbc period show, the tudors, is historically inaccurate. The series goes on like this, casting truth to perdition and lying about the tudors and their courtiers at every opportunity. Historical inaccuracies in the showtime television series.
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. If there is ever a choice between historical accuracy and soap operalike drama, im sure you know where the decision fell. 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. 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. 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. This unique phenomenon, two tv series made in the same year, modeled on the same earlier series and treating the same historical characters. 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. Also specifically im curious about the details surrounding ann boleyns trial and execution. The team behind the tudors were not out to make a historical documentary. A question for the general historical accuracy of the tv series the tudors. In her article, the truth behind the tudors, borman writes.
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