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« The Tudors
Episode Recap: Season 2, Episode 10
The problem with shows based on history is that rarely is there a surprise. Considering that the minute we met Anne, we knew her expiration date, I think The Tudors took a wise approach in making her execution episode (and, sadly, the second season finale) more of a mood piece than even trying to shock us with gratuitous blood or emotional outbursts. After all, we already got that last week.
Henry, save for one angry moment, was surprisingly unconcerned with the fate of his wife and daughter. Perhaps his love for Jane Seymour and change, shown through his rebirth in the "Fountain of Youth" (a scene that, abnormally for this show, made me want to retch) simply put the blinders over his heart. Hell, even Cromwell got all shaky over what was going on, and he's not exactly the type to dwell on bad decisions. At least we saw Henry truly happy at the end of this episode. OK, so he was happy because he was tearing into some sort of goopy dish hidden by a stuffed swan (and no, I have no idea what that was supposed to represent, and I'm usually all about symbolism), and not, for instance, staring into Jane's dreamy eyes, but regardless, it's nice to see Jonathan Rhys-Meyers show us a range beyond self-doubt and righteous indignation.
But let's be honest here; this episode was Anne's. Happily, we were spared the ranting that Master Kingston mentioned and so only got to see her at the point where she'd accepted her fate. This show usually does go for the bombastic, but Natalie Dormer's performance was subtler and more understated than I was expecting. The idea that she would help choose her executioner instead of trying to change the King's mind until the last minute was a serious maturation over the character we'd seen previously. It could be, though, that watching her brother beheaded simply broke her spirit.
Her nearly hysterical laughter at hearing that her execution had been delayed, and at the idea of having, "such a little neck," was disquieting, as was her subsequent breakdown at learning that she would have to wait yet another day to be beheaded. She pretty much swung between numb acceptance and despondent acceptance the whole episode, with the exception of the one moment where she asked if there wasn't some meaning in the continued postponements. Her memory of playing with her brother and father as a child (but not Mary) hurt, especially when contrasted with her father's reaction to his release. Charles Brandon was right to ask him if it was all worth it, but what was he really expecting Boleyn to say?
The only piece of the episode that felt out of place was the conversation between Lady (Princess?) Mary and Chapuys. It was obviously utilitarian — we needed the exposition — but the dialogue just rang very false, what with Chapuys calling Elizabeth a "brat", and Mary looking as though she'd been injected chock full of Botox (seriously, one would think that the restoration of her own legacy and the delegitimization of her hated half-sister would give her more than just a mildly amused smile). Similarly, Elizabeth's governess explaining that she would no longer be a princess and advising an underling to marry a rich, stupid man, was just odd, and even less necessary, given what we learned over the course of the rest of the episode.
All in all, a satisfying season, though I must say that since Sir Thomas More's execution, the show has sorely missed Jeremy Northam. The show has already been renewed, so let me just end by saying, "The Tudors is dead! Long live The Tudors!"
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Jun 1, 2008 10:12 PM
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When the show focused on Anne, it was very, very good. When the focus moved away from her, it was at, at best, meh, and some of it was bad. I didn't care for the Fountain of Youth scene either - struck me as very un-king like, especially when you consider this king (at least in real life) was 45 years old when Anne died. I didn't care for the scene between Mary and Chapuys either and that dialogue in the scene where they were clearing Elizabeth's residence made no sense. I also didn't like the way the governess was treating her - she's not yet three years old and has no way of truly understanding what's just happened to her. You treat the girl like a pampered princess then suddenly expect her to fall in line when you suddenly start treating her like a common bastard?
The scenes with Henry and Jane were better, but I still don't get the attraction, especially since her family is showing very Boleyn-like tendencies. Maybe it's that we've had two seasons to watch Henry and Anne's relationship slowly grow and then crash. It almost seems as though he's looking for anyone but Anne.
As I said before, when the focus was on Anne, the show was very, very good. I teared up when she remembered her childhood with George and their father, and when she waved to her father as he walked out of the Tower and her expression when he didn't acknowledge her. By the time she was on the scaffold (?), I was crying. I really wish that the show had ended with that final, haunting freeze on Anne's face. In a way, that was even worse then all the gore from last week. And I don't even like the historical Anne - I've always been more sympathetic to Katherine.
The final scene - what was the point? Henry is now a glutton? He's making merry as the woman he once loved dies? I wish that scene had come before Anne's execution, or maybe intercut with it. Maybe it would have had a greater impact if we heard the voiceover of her last words declaring him a good and noble prince while he made merry, seemingly unconcerned with the woman he condemned to die.
I also thought it was interesting that we actually got a date stamp on the episode at the beginning, then again the morning of the execution, although I thought it was interesting that the first day was simply May 18, 1536 and the second day was Friday, May 19, 1536. I wonder at the difference. Is there some significance that we're supposed to be aware of that the day she died was a Friday?
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Jun 1, 2008 10:56 PM
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This was a great episode - I was in tears for most of it. Natalie Dormer is a fantastic actress and played this part wonderfully. I didn't expect to feel sympathy or empathy for Queen Anne but to my surprise I did and by the final scene I felt great hatred for King Henry. Perhaps hatred is too strong a word but you get the idea...
I think with regard to Princess Mary she has learned at this point to keep her emotions very close hence the seeming lack of reaction to the news of Princess Elizabeth's "bastardization". As to the scene with Elizabeth, perhaps this was to give the everyman's perspective on the goings on - and also to set the groundwork for the woman that Elizabeth grows up to be. I too shared the governess' disdain for Henry on hearing that Elizabeth was being made to pay for her mother's imprisonment out of her houshold allowance. Not sure if this was strictly Cromwell's doing or if he wasa cting on instruction from the King but in any event - what an *ss!
I also felt that Jane Seymour was being very naive and I wanted to yell at the screen that she should run away - especially during the scene where Ann was preparing for her execution and they showed Jane preparing to see the King. I can't help but wonder what her fate would have been had she not died after giving birth.
I can't wait for next season to see the next installment of this wonderful show although I will miss Natalie Dormer & Maria Kennedy Doyle.
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Jun 2, 2008 12:32 AM
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Swans mate for life. Showing the swans symbolizes his marriage to Anne. Having the swan slaughtered is showing Henry breaking that bond and moving on.
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Jun 2, 2008 1:44 AM
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Okay, I will take a dive into deep water, and suggest a reason for the swan dinner...
Swans mate for life. Henry was seen several times observing the swans, first when he was happy with Anne, later on, as he decided to rid himself of her, and the day she died.
I believe he had the female swan killed and ate her, in some perverse ritual symbolizing the end of their relationship, as he was now forcing the male swan to do.
Just a thought.
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Jun 2, 2008 7:24 AM
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A great episode, despite a strange ending. I did get the symbolism, but it just made me sick. He really cared for no one but himself. Glad someone pointed out above that Henry was 45 when she died. They've dropped the ball in making him look like the old (and ever-fattening) man he was. Hopefully next season he'll be gray and obese. haha!
Someone mentioned above how they didn't sympathize with historical Anne but that Natalie Dormer's performance made them feel for her. I agree that Natalie played the part beautifully, but I wouldn't say I didn't sympathize for historical Anne. I'm always skeptical with how history portrays people. It was the king's world and if he wanted everyone to believe she was a whore and a witch then her mark on history could be a bit skewed. I'm not saying she was an innocent, but I definitely think she was more a pawn in evil plot of her family and it could have driven her a bit mad. Regardless, she did not deserve the price she paid. I think she did the best she knew how and was pressured from every angle of her life to be a certain way. It couldn't have been easy for her, especially as the years went by and a son was not to be.
As for Jane, I hope we don't see too much of her next season. I find her story to be boring. She has a kid and dies. I'd like to skip ahead to Mary I and Elizabeth I! I felt bad for Elizabeth b/c she was only a toddler and had no clue what happened. she had to live with the shadow of her mother over her for the rest of her life. Mary showing delight for her bastardization didn't seem right to me either. Historically I've heard her to be a very pious woman (who later went mad, but who can blame her) and I would think she wouldn't hold a child responsible for the acts of her father. Anywho, it might sound out of left field but I'm glad she was a terrible monarch and people were glad when she died. Everyone wanted Elizabeth to reign anyway!
Phew. Now I can cancel Showtime! The movies on that channel aren't that great. See you all next season! Thanks Leah for the great recaps.
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Jun 2, 2008 8:57 AM
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hi all. Oooh, so much to comment on! First, thanks TraceyJean for your comments last week with some more historical context. Much obliged.
Like all of you, I agree that this was Natalie Dormer's episode to shine. Her Anne Boleyn brought quiet dignity. Her Christian faith, so underplayed in previous episodes was brought forth to bear. I wonder if the showrunners wanted to evoke the quality of martyrdom--an innocent who dies unjustly?
Some of my favorite lines:
Henry: "I like the prospect of change."
Mary: "Is the harlot dead?"
Chapuis: "The brat is now officially a bastard."
Elizabeth's governess to the servant: "The world is a slippery place. My advice, find a rich man too stupid to know about politics. That way, if you don't die from childbirth which is most likely, or of the plague which is very possible, you may be happy."
Anne: "I confess my innocence before the Lord."
Thomas Boleyn at hearing that he would be spared but stripped of all titles and benefits: "I am to keep my 'old-man'."
Charles' response: "Tell me, Boleyn, was it all worth it?"
Some other moments which I found to be notable: the contrast of the executioner celebrating his next execution and eating with such abandon, and his asking forgiveness of Anne after hearing her charitable words. The fact that just before her death, her marriage to Henry is judged to be void and annulled...so how can she be guilty of "adultery" if she was never "married?"
Leah: and at the idea of having, "such a little neck"
This is a historical reference to her detractors who found her to be homely, and gossiped about her "long neck."
Historical question: if I remember correctly, Henry had a limited change of heart about Anne's terms of execution. As someone guilty of treason, she was to be hung, then disemboweled while still alive, her intestines set to fire, then quartered and her body parts dispersed. Henry "commuted" that to a simple beheading. To ensure that she not suffer, he contracted the expert executioner from Calais and had a sword specially made and sharpened so that the cut would be quick and painless.
One of the scenes that moved me was Charles' son. He was so eager to see death, but upon watching Anne's faithfulness to the King and her dignified demeanor, he, along with a formerly jeering crowd, shed tears. Those final scenes with Anne...Wow!
I liked that the show did not show the actual bloody beheading, like last week's executions, but had her watching the birds in flight. How ironic that her last thoughts were of being cradled and snuggled by a father who in real life so cruelly betrays her. The cad did not even have the b*lls to wave back when she forlornly waves farewell to him. She was probably happy that her father was spared (at her expense!). What an idiot.
Leah: Elizabeth's governess explaining that she would no longer be a princess
I think that the governess was being brusque intentionally for the protection of the princess. If you recall, her words were couched in a context of making the princess disappear from the attentions of the King. I think they truly feared for her life, and wanted to protect her from Henry. So, they had to make her "common" and she had to learn quickly. No room for sentimentality, or she would not survive.
I think it's almost karmic that everyone who desired death for someone else eventually died, and the one little one (Elizabeth) who did not became eventually the greatest reigning monarch of England. You go, girl-princess Liz!
Okay, one last observation and I will sign off. The issue of the last scene with Henry the pig... excuse me, the VIII. In addition that what the others have already commented about the symbolism, I want to suggest another layer here: one of the side-products of Henry's reformation was the idea of the divine providence of the king. I think that Henry thought himself a little god who was above the laws of nature and of the gods. He is a god! His appetites and desires are never to be limited by the rules that delimit mere mortals. But in satisfying his carnal wants--whether gastric or sexual--he destroys all that is beautiful and meaningful. And for him, "so what?" Whatever he does, as long as he is happy, to h-ll with everything else! He destroys mates for life, but he also destroys beauty. He is a beautiful man on the outside, but that last scene exposed the ugly pig that is within. Poor Jayne!
Hey, Leah, don't cancel Showtime. There is the goodness that is Dexter coming down the road! To Krista, Leah, TraceyJean, Sangeeta, Ladyofthelake, and so many others here: thanks for making an awesome season of The Tudors an even more awesome experience!
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Jun 2, 2008 10:53 AM
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Well, lucky for me, I watched this last week so I can add my thoughts! (Satellite didn't work out--my new place is facing the "wrong" direction, so I had to reinstate cable--which won't happen until this Thursday!)
Ahem.
I guess I'm in the minority--I really didn't care for that looking into the distance expression on Anne's face as the Executioner called for his sword, nor for the memories of her childhood. NOT that I wanted to see blood and gore (we did see enough of that last week), but I was more interested in seeing the looks on everyone's faces instead--was Brandon jubilant? Or did he feel that Anne shouldn't have had this fate (inspite of his hate for her); Who else was there?
And now that we've seen the finale---I really thought we'd see Anne tried--only because Percy and the Duke of Norfolk, her uncle and the one whose idea it was to insinuate herself in Henry's life and become his next Queeen, were among those who found her guilty of the crimes she was charged with. But no. No Percy, and No DUKE OF NORFOLK!!! Couldn't they have at least brought Henry Cszerny for a guest spot???? Was that too much to ask for?
And I agree, this episode was ALL Anne and those were the BEST parts.
I also rolled my eyes and wanted to retch as Henry walked into that pondscum laden pond that was purported to be the Fountain of Youth. YUCK. And I sooo didn't get the symbolism of the Swan at the end, but felt sick to my stomach.
Krista: "As for Jane, I hope we don't see too much of her next season. I find her story to be boring."
Since we're getting both wives 3 and 4, let's hope not. Then again, Michael Hirst may change history and have Jane live longer than the week she actually did after birthing Edward.
And poor Cromwell--his tears made my own eyes tear up--I really LOVE Frain, who plays him and I'm upset that he'll most probably be gone at the end of next season, as Henry will blame him for "forcing" him [Henry] to marry Wifey no. 4--Anne of Cleves. Then again, Henry was starting to behave most erratically by that time. Who knows what will be in store for us?
I would have thought, though, that since Henry repudiated Anne Boleyn and she was to await her execution, that she would no longer be allowed to wear her fine gown or don the jewelry she removed as she stood on the scaffold. I honestly expected her to be wearing the black drab gown.
But I really love this series!!! Can't wait to see what's in store for us next season and who will come back.
~Sangeeta
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Jun 2, 2008 11:02 AM
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mdaily: The fact that just before her death, her marriage to Henry is judged to be void and annulled...so how can she be guilty of "adultery" if she was never "married?"
Excellent point! I definitely forgot about that show of hypocracy. You'd think they'd wait until after she died to do that. Although it wouldnt' have mattered b/c even if it wasn't null and void she'd still be dead and he'd be free to marry. He probably just wanted her to know before she died that her daughter was a bastard and out of the line of succession. Luckily, the little Elizabeth that could was his greatest successor!
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Jun 2, 2008 11:52 AM
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You said you did not understand the pie eating scene. King Henry was well known for his gluttony. Women and food. He will eventually become very overweight. He was known as good looking and charming as a young man and fat when he was older.I think we will watch him start to fatten up!
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Jun 2, 2008 12:17 PM
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"Everyone wanted Elizabeth to reign anyway!"
Well, the Protestants, maybe, but the Catholics (and Mary was one) couldn't stand her. They plotted against her all her life! I can understand Mary's reaction to the news that Elizabeth was to become a bastard. She was old enough to remember her beloved mother and how ill Katherine (Catherine? I can never remember which) had been treated. She despised Anne and, therefore, needed no other reason to hate Elizabeth. Plus Mary was old enough to feel the sting of being called a bastard, so she probably wanted Elizabeth to experience that as well. She also hated Anne for going along with Henry's destruction of the mother Church. To top it off, Elizabeth physically resembled Henry, while Mary resembled her mother. Every time Mary saw Elizabeth, she was reminded of her mother's humiliation and of her festering hatred toward Henry.
As for Thomas's question: he asked if he would be allowed to keep his Earldom. Until the end he was a greedy son-of-a-b#tch.
As for next season's Henry, I wouldn't count too much on the morbidly obese monarch we've learned about in history class. I can't imagine JR-M donning a fat suit or gaining a ton of weight for this role, and I remember the show's runners saying they wanted a hot, sexy Henry. (At least that's my hope--lol!)
It's obvious the historical Henry believed he was God's right hand man, incapable of error. The fact is, though, he wasn't capable of thinking beyond his obsessive need for a legitimate male heir. His own father had hammered the idea into his head, and it was a man's world, after all, so it didn't take Henry long to become besotted with himself. Watching JR-M portrayal of Henry has been fascinating and revolting at the same time. His weeping over and cursing Anne because of the ridiculous charges of adultery and treason--well, I found myself amazed at Henry's ability to lie to himself and to throw anyone aside so he can live with himself. His impromptu baptism was more about cleansing his conscience than it was about his craving for eternal youth and vitality. That scummy water says a great deal about the rottenness inside.
And poor Anne! As I said, it was a man's world. Like her sister, she was manipulated by her male family members and used as a commodity to gain them power and money. She was forced to seduce and intrigue the king, when all she wanted was to marry for love. She was smart enough to realize that marriage was the only way she could have any protection; unfortunately, for her, she seemed to have forgotten Henry's fickleness for women.
I'm like most of you. The less we see of the lackluster Jane the better. She's so boring compared to the fiery Anne, and now that we know Henry's game, the seduction is just tedious.
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Jun 2, 2008 12:48 PM
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Sangeeta: (Satellite didn't work out--my new place is facing the "wrong" direction, so I had to reinstate cable--which won't happen until this Thursday!)
 Hey, at least you can look forward to more Tudors next season (and check out Dexter via On Demand).
TVFan: I remember the show's runners saying they wanted a hot, sexy Henry.
Yep, I was going to comment the same thing. People come to this program to see hot sexy people, and for good or bad, the model of sexy culturally is a slim, muscled man or a slim, "well-endowed" woman. Ah, culture... So, I doubt that the program will show Henry in his historically physical incarnation, at least for now.
TVFan: As for Thomas's question: he asked if he would be allowed to keep his Earldom.
Thanks for the correction. I heard "old-man" which I found hilarious. Earldom sounds better but less funny.
Sangeeta: No Percy, and No DUKE OF NORFOLK!!! Couldn't they have at least brought Henry Cszerny for a guest spot???? Was that too much to ask for?
Sangeeta, I feel your pain! How great would that have been to have shown the trial and had the Duke as one of Anne's primary accusers! I dare say, such a scene would have had us yelling at our TVs! But alas, 'twas not to be...
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Jun 2, 2008 1:05 PM
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I'm going to miss Anne and Natalie's interpretation of her terribly. The Tudors just won't be the same without the Boleyn clan.
I watched the clip on showtime of Natalie's trip to the Tower of London and Anne's resting place. It sounded like they said her body was placed there but not her head? Anyone know if he head and body are buried in the same place?
On a side note: I think the worst job in this time period would be the poor sap who had to run along beside the kings horse. How much would that suck?!
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Jun 2, 2008 2:44 PM
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embolg, her head was buried with her. From what I've read, the coffin provided for her was too small for her head to lay in there in the proper position (on top of her shoulders), so her head was tucked under her arm in the coffin.
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Jun 2, 2008 4:11 PM
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tvfan1957: "Everyone wanted Elizabeth to reign anyway!"
Well, the Protestants, maybe, but the Catholics (and Mary was one) couldn't stand her. They plotted against her all her life!
I guess what I meant was that by the end of her reign, she had burned as many people as she could find who wouldn't go back to the true church. From the historical perspectives I have read, many catholics were tired of the constant burnings and just wanted some peace. Elizabeth was all about letting people worship what they wanted and tried to unite the country. Of course people still plotted against her, but I do think many of them were glad for the end of Mary's crusade.
tvfan1957: I can understand Mary's reaction to the news that Elizabeth was to become a bastard. She was old enough to remember her beloved mother and how ill Katherine (Catherine? I can never remember which) had been treated. She despised Anne and, therefore, needed no other reason to hate Elizabeth. Plus Mary was old enough to feel the sting of being called a bastard, so she probably wanted Elizabeth to experience that as well. She also hated Anne for going along with Henry's destruction of the mother Church. To top it off, Elizabeth physically resembled Henry, while Mary resembled her mother. Every time Mary saw Elizabeth, she was reminded of her mother's humiliation and of her festering hatred toward Henry.
If what you're saying is true, what a hypocrite! If she were a true Christian she would have understood that Elizabeth had no more control over her life than she did. Imagine being so petty as to blame your hardships on a child! I guess she wasn't the perfect Catholic girl after all!
Love reading everyone's thoughts on all this. It's great to hear from many different perspectives. If only the monarchs of King Henry's time were as forgiving of differing opinions as we are!
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Jun 2, 2008 4:12 PM
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