Arts & Entertainment

a
J

'

SC

A crowning glory ie
historical dramad

The Tudors Season One Box

By Zinnat Ali

Sue award-winning
historical drama, The Tudors, may not be
historically accurate, but the show still
proves “it’s good to be king.” Filmed in
Ireland, the set is a lush background for
sex, scandal, and intrigue—and that’s

just what this show delivers.

As the season starts, Henry VIII has
been married to Catherine of Aragon for
some time, yet their union hasn’t produced
the male heir Henry sorely desires (they
do, however, have a daughter—the future
Queen Mary I). While Catherine prays for

her husband to return to her bed, Henry
preys on his wife’s ladies-in-waiting.
And when he’s not sleeping with (and
impregnating) women he’s not married
to, Henry is busy contemplating going to
war with France over the assassination of
his uncle, figuring out how to convince

the Pope to grant him a divorce from
Catherine, and being tempted by the sly
seductress, Anne Boleyn.

Having learned a lesson when the
king quickly tires of her more beautiful
sister, Mary, Anne Boleyn teases Henry
as best she can, forcing her way into
his thoughts and desires, but stopping
short of giving over her maidenhead.
It’s not long before she has secured her
family’s place at court and is whispering
suggestions of Lutheranism in Henry’s
ear. She plays him like a lute, and is
one of the main agents of change on the
show.

Series creator Michael Hirst
(Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age)
captures the fascination surrounding
Henry VIII, bringing the era to life on
screen through electric drama, luscious
costumes, and historical intrigue. And
while history purists may find fault with
the altered timelines—the merging of
siblings (Henry’s two sisters, Margaret
and Mary have been combined into
one character with Margaret’s name
and Mary’s story), and the fictional,
scandalous sub-plots—it’s easy to
forgive these little gaffes with this well-
written series, as the fabricated elements
of the story ring true.

The characters are also fantastically
cast. Contrary to the typical image
of Henry VIII as a lecherous old
glutton, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Bend

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Nintendo Wii Free to Play + Free WiFi + Fully Renovated

BRON = la 0 ale r=] 6)

oie 9 eae wars 16

All UFC and Canucks PPV

Canucks games come down for a
chance to win FREE Drinks and Swag
TNO GCOVEFL

Coyote Ugly on the bar

Friday nights

“Discouts for Staff
and Students «pub only

Texas hold'em Poker

on Sundays

57 BLACKIE STREET NEW WESTMINSTER BC
ea o\0 oy 70 Oh F: 604.522.0544