By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 27 seconds ago

henry cavill

Before Netflix introduced viewers to the royal court of King George and Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, Showtime brought the world of King Henry VIII to life. The Tudors debuted in 2007, and at the time, there had never been a period drama that put so much emphasis on sex, from the politics surrounding it to the English nobles’ never-ending pursuit of more.

Henry the VIII went so far in his pursuit of a male heir and the right to marry whomever he wanted that he created his own religion and forever altered the course of the Catholic Church in the process, which could make for a very dry and boring history lesson, but this is a Showtime production, which makes it the perfect binge for those who want to explore an era so scandalous, it hasn’t been topped in nearly 500 years. 

The Affair That Created The Church Of England

Natalie Dormer And Jonathan Rhys Meyers Bring Down The Catholic Church In The Tudors

The Tudors starts off with a young King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) following his mandated marriage to Katherine of Aragorn (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her inability to produce a male heir. Henry spends his days running around with his friends, Charles the Duke of Suffolk (Henry Cavill in his last pre-Superman role) and Sir Knivert (an underutilized Dead Like Me’s Callum Blue), or spending time with his mistress. It’s not long before a faction of his own court seeks to undermine his authority by deploying Mary Boleyn to win Henry’s attention and pull him into scandal. Mary’s unable to hold his interest, so her father sends in Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), and the result is the most catastrophic affair in history. 

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer’s chemistry absolutely sizzles on screen throughout Season 1. If you’ve only ever seen Dormer as Margery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, you saw a small glimpse of what she can do when she sinks her teeth into a meaty role. Anne Boleyn may be doomed from the very start of her relationship with Henry, but that doesn’t stop Dormer from playing her as the one in control up until the very last tragic moment, where she realizes how far Henry will go to get what he wants. 

Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and Jane Seymour (Annabelle Wallis) in The Tudors

Real history forms the basis for The Tudors but the show plays fast and loose with timelines, personalities, and even mashes together real people, in the case of Burn Notice’s Gabrielle Anwar as Henry’s sister, when in reality he had two sisters. The historical conflict between Henry and the Catholic Church drives the political drama, bolstered in Season 1 by Sam Neill as Cardinal Wolsey, and then Thomas Cromwell, played to absolute slimy perfection by James Frain. If you can’t tell, this telling of English history is brought to life by a never-ending stream of famous faces you’ll recognize, including Henry’s later wives, played by singer Joss Stone and Nip/Tuck’s Joely Richardson. 

The Tudors Launched Careers But Not The One You’d Expect

Henry Cavill and Gabrielle Anwar in The Tudors

Throughout all four seasons, The Tudors consistently cuts the big historical picture down to Henry’s immediate perspective. You’ll hear about major conflicts taking place with the French, but it’s mainly offscreen and takes a backseat to Henry’s pursuit of his next romantic conquest. The result is a show that starts out fun and breezy, but as his mental health falls apart, it becomes darker, more grim, and what was fun when he was in his 20s becomes more pathetic later in life.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers does an amazing job in capturing the rise and fall of Henry VIII, which is why the show has remarkably consistent critics’ ratings across different websites. Staying within 60 percent on both Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, though audience ratings tend to be higher, approaching the 90s, because everyone loves courtly romance wether it’s from the female perspectives of Bridgerton or the male perspective of The Tudors. 

Tragically, it’s also the height of Jonathan Rhys Meyers acting career. The talented star has been battling alcohol addiction for years amid personal family tragedies, leaving the breakout stars of The Tudors to become Natalie Dormer and Henry Cavill. When you watch the show, you’ll see why each was tapped for major franchises the moment production wrapped. 

The Tudors helped set the tone for later historical dramas by tossing aside real-world historical details when they interfered with the story, giving the first seasons the feel of medieval Entourage. Available to stream on Paramount+ and anywhere else that includes a Showtime add-on, it’s a fairly quick binge with under 40 episodes, and it moves fast enough that, unlike Henry, you won’t get bored.Â