Jonathan Rhys MeyersThe Tudors: Season 2

Good.

The discs come in a plastic snap case. The discs play fine.This is the kind of show I really enjoy watching. Wonderful locations, excellent characters, and coherent story and character arcs. The beheadings begin in the first season when Buckingham loses his head, proving no one is safe from the crazy king. The smart characters run for the hills and stay far away from the king. In the second season Sir Humphrey, Ann Boleyn's brother, several other men, and then Ann Boleyn all lose their heads. Cromwell loses his head in season three. In the fourth season Culpepper and the king's skinny blonde wife lose their heads. Before losing her head the blonde wife looks up at the clear blue sky and whispers a memorable line. "Life is beautiful."Like the Merlin series the Tudors featured many actors that went on to have wonderful parts in Game of Thrones.If you’re looking for good stuff to watch consider miniseries like The Astronauts Wives Club (2015), Band of Brothers (2001), Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000), Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (2003), Into the West (2005), Lonesome Dove (1989), Manhattan (2014-2015), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), Pride and Prejudice (1995), Taken (2002) and The 10th Kingdom (2000), which are all terrific because they have clear beginnings that establish an objective, then strong middles and conclusive endings where the goal is achieved, like a good novel.Other shows I’ve really enjoyed include Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Cowboy Bebop (1998), Downton Abbey (2010-2015), Firefly (2002), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), Granite Flats (2013-2015), The IT Crowd (2006-2013), Jericho (2006-2008), Merlin (2008-2012), The Prisoner (1967-1968), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010), Stargate: SG-1 (1997-2007), Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2009), Star Trek (1966-1969), Star Trek Voyager (1995-2001), and The Tudors (2007-2010). I didn’t list any contemporary series I’m following that don’t have an end date yet, not conducive to binge watching from beginning to finish.If you like reading try some of my favorite fantasy and sci-fi authors: Richard Adams, Palo Bacigulupi, Suzanne Collins, Abe Evergreen, Diana Gabaldon, Hugh Howey, George Martin, Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, and Andy Weir.

I didn’t like that I had to pay to finish the movie I guess I didn’t realize that was going to happen?

There will be spoilers here - a caveat. Please read on.Meet Henry VIII as he was as a young man: a political rock star -- handsome, robust, wild, spoiled, and hot-tempered. Everything he wanted, he got -- except for that elusive male heir...The Tudors (SII) is an absolutely gorgeous visual ode to one of the most controversial chapters in Western political history. The series itself is a dazzling celebration of Tudor-era music (a precursor to our own pop music), stunning costumes, lovely, lusty women and handsome manly men, breathtaking castles and Tudor manors. Season II is even more provocative, dangerous, and sexy than the first season. Bravo, Showtime, for producing such a lush, thoughtful, and beautifully produced series that is above all an intelligent meditation on the shifting nature of politics and the dangers of gross imbalances of political power.I am a literary scholar who specializes in this period and I love the adaptation, despite some of its loose treatment of dates and persons. The series captures the tumultuous *spirit* of Henry's era. The series allows us to peer into this astonishing historical moment, the instant when England broke from the Church of Rome. The future of politics and the state of nations would never be the same. Another plus: Henry's queens are brought to life beautifully by Maria Doyle Kennedy (as the pious and determined Katherine of Aragon) and by the newcomer Natalie Dormer, who excellently plays the controversial Anne Boleyn as a fierce social-climber haunted by her past and troubled by her father's rabid political manipulations. Dormer's Boleyn has a look deep in her eyes that shows us that she knows, in her soul, that she is doomed. This is a testament to Dormer as a young actress; she shows us the "arc" of Anne Boleyn as Anne/Natalie matures from a young and ambitious mistress to-the-king to a neglected, then persecuted, wife and lonely mother (to Elizabeth I, future great queen). JRM is also splendidly original as Henry: brash, lustful, and temperamental. We can believe in his Henry's burning love for Anne as well as his eventual hatred for her and his willingness to have the mother of his child executed.This series is in my opinion the finest vision of this time period, superior to A Man for All Seasons, Anne of the Thousand Days, the Elizabeth I series with Helen Mirren, and numerous others. This series has sparkle and spirit in addition to rich intelligence (evidenced by its well-composed screenplay), smart casting choices (though Joss Stone is still a question mark for me as Anne of Cleves), and sensational locations. Bravo!

I simply cannot get enough of this amazing series so I have watched it from beginning to end TWICE!! Yes, it is a soap opera and what is wrong with that? The history is fascinating and even though so many reviewers here report how 'historically inaccurate' the show is, they always fail to describe exactly how so. Okay, so JRM is smaller than the actual King, so Natalie Dormer has blue eyes whereas Anne Boleyn had brown, so Henry's sister Margaret may/may not have been the sister to marry the near-dead King of Scotland, SO WHAT?? If you need to write a history report about the Tudors and want to forego your research by watching this series instead of reading a book, you will likely run into problems with some of your accuracy. BUT if you are watching for fun, you will be blown away by the costumes, the lifestyles, the quest for power, and how easily some will turn on each other (even their own children) to attain position and wealth. There are few completely blameless people in this entire series as almost everyone is involved in one way or another of conspiring against someone else to elevate their own status or agenda and thus SPOILER: everyone here basically gets their just desserts (perhaps with the exception of Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris and Anne's father) This is the best of all the other historical dramas that have come after and the Tudors sets the bar for all others to follow. The best part is, if you do enjoy the series, it will inspire you to pick up some of the countless history books written about the Tudors. If there are inaccuracies in those books you would have reason to complain but here, just how well they reenact a very complicated history should be acclaimed and not criticized.

The media could not be loaded. Season 2 definitely continues to keep the audience interested. Henry VIII finally married Anne Boleyn, but eventually gets rid of her for failing to provide him with a male heir. This season is filled with blood, lust, and betrayal. The audience is kept on the edge of their seats as we see Henry VIII take both his personal and political ambitions to new heights. The Special Features do not disappoint. HD and audio is also pretty good.

Neben Krimis und Thriller, gehören historische Filme und Serien definitiv zu meinen Favoriten. Insofern ist „Die Tudors“ wie für mich gemacht, die Geschichte von HENRY VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) hat mich sofort begeistert und ich habe Staffel um Staffel verschlungen.Man sollte allerdings vorsichtig sein, denn die Geschichte basiert nur auf dem Leben von HENRY VIII und der Ereignisse in seiner Regentschaft. Da wurden fiktive Elemente eingebaut, tatsächliche Begebenheiten wurden aus dramaturgischen Gründen umgeschrieben und der Handlung angepasst.Nachdem der Papst in der letzten Staffel HENRY VIII die Einwilligung zur Auflösung seiner Ehe mit KATHARINA VON ARAGON (Maria Doyle Kennedy) verweigerte, steht die zweite Staffel ganz im Zeichen dieses Disputs. 1533 verstößt er dann trotzdem seine Ehefrau und heiratet stattdessen ANNE BOLEYN (Natalie Dormer) und sorgt damit für jede Menge Konflikte …..Mehr möchte ich zum Inhalt gar nicht schreiben, nur noch so viel, es werden jede Menge Intrigen gesponnen, jeder verrät jeden und auch der König selber ändert seine Meinung laufend. Das alles ist wirklich super spannend gemacht, Kampfszenen oder Ähnliches gibt es kaum zu sehen, die Serie lebt voll von der Story und den interessanten Charakteren.Diese werden von erstklassigen Schauspielern dargestellt, allen voran JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, der den unberechenbaren König „Henry VIII“ genial speilt. Man weiß nie, ob man ihn nun mögen oder hassen soll, meistens fällt man als Zuschauer von einem Extrem ins andere.Da macht es einem NATALIE DORMER schon einfacher, sie spielt das Biest „Anne Boleyn“, die man einfach nur hassen kann.Ansonsten haben mir noch JAMES FRAIN (Thomas Cromwell), MARY DOYLE KENNEDY (Katharina von Aragon) und HENRY CAVILL (Charles Brandon) ziemlich gut gefallen.Mein Fazit: Alle die auf historische Serien stehen, dürften hier auf ihre Kosten kommen, „Die Tudors“ ist eine wirklich klasse Serie. Natürlich darf man die Geschehnisse nicht immer für bare Münze nehmen, hier treffen Fiktion und Fakten aufeinander.Die Serie wurde spannend und ohne Längen produziert, was beachtlich ist, denn die Spannung baut sich fast ausschließlich über die Geschichte auf, das ist zum Teil wirklich dramatisch, weswegen wir auch die 2. Staffel in einem Rutsch verschlungen haben. 😊

Muy interesante la visión inglesa de su rey, con sus méritos y defectos, y la explicación de su pequeña e inicial historia, contemporánea con la, entonces grande de nuestras coronas de Castilla, y de Aragón, de nuestro Carlos V.Quizás algo exagerada la parte sexual, algo, y no valorada o explicada, la ventaja que para ellos representó, antes que nadie en Europa, el inicio de la escasa libertad de los siervos y nacimiento de los "comunes".

Having seen the 'First Season' I got hooked on The Tudors so much so that I had to buy and watch the complete series.I can truthfully say, that the 'Second Season' does not disappoint.The young and handsome Henry VIII continues his effort to marry Ann Boleyn in the hope that she would produce him an heir to the throne. He eventually succeeds, but Ann gives birth to a daughter. This is a turning point in their relationship as Henry starts to look for pleasures elsewhere. When she is with child for the second time joy and expectations are rising high. Unexpectedly for her, Ann finds her husband intimately with another woman. This upsets her so much that she loses her unborn baby boy. From then on man and wife gradually grow apart. After a series of twists and turns Ann Boleyn is executed and Lady Jane Seymour takes her place as Henry's new queen.Although the 'Second Season' spreads across ten 45-minute-episodes over 3 discs, which is a huge amount of history, I've found it interesting, entertaining and educational all the way through. It is reasonably paced, exciting and suspenseful. Great cast and play as well as spectacular costumes can only increase the enjoyment of watching.So far so good. However, when I wanted to see the 'Extras' indicated on the cover I was very disappointed to find out that it was not at all in the box as it used to be. In order to get the special fetures I have to go on [...], register, read their policies, agree and type in the code given with the film in a leaflet. I do not like to give away my personal details for yet another website/organization who then would bombard me with unwanted offers or information endlessly. I do not wish to be coaxed into this by having the possibility for 'entering exclusive competitions' or 'earning special rewards'. Once I bought the film, I should get the Extras as well without any additional hustle.

Interessé par l'histoire de la Renaissance, j'ai fait il y a un an l'acquisition, un peu par hasard, de la saison 1 des Tudors, par curiosité certes mais aussi à cause d'un prix attractif pour 3 blu-ray. Bien m'en a pris, car j'ai tout de suite été subjugué par la réussite de cette série.Dans l'ordre croissant des appréciations :- un excellent découpage en 10 épisodes (54 minutes) d'un scénario passionnant qui tient tout le temps en haleine (même si quelques libertés sont prises avec l'Histoire).- les prestations des acteurs (en tête: Sam Neill dans le cardinal Wallsey ou Jonathan Rhys Meyers dans le role du roi Henri VIII !)- une mise en scène, des costumes et des décors somptueux.- une qualité de lumière et de photographie exceptionnelle.- au dessus de tout: une image blu-ray tellement belle et fine (peut-être ce qu'il y a de mieux en blu-ray !) qu'on a l'impression de pouvoir toucher les étoffes ou les bijoux des costumes aussi bien que d'admirer de véritables tableaux d'époque. Un test pour toute installation de haute définition.Aprés une telle réussite, on ne pouvait qu'attendre avec impatience (et peut-être un peu d'appréhension !) la suite de cette série, mais la saison 2 se maintient au même niveau que la première. Tout juste peut-on regretter la disparition de l'éblouissant Sam Neill puisque le cardinal meurt à la fin de la saison 1. Cette perte est compensée par l'apparition de nouveaux personnages qui densifient encore l'intrigue.Pour les amateurs d' Histoire, une fresque remarquable sur les quatre grandes puissances européennes de l'époque: l'Angleterre (Henri VIII), la France (François 1er), l'Empire Austro/espagnol (Charles Quint), l'Eglise Catholique (la Papauté à Rome).Pour les cinéphiles, une intrigue longue et passionnante sur un Roi haut en couleur et avec un rendu technique et artistique exceptionnel. Dans de telles conditions, espérons une saison 3 et pourquoi pas "4".