I just finished reading an article about the BBC period drama, The Tudors, and how historically inaccurate it is. The fact that some of the Tudor personalities wear Elizabethan clothing and are transported in Victorian carriages has caused some historians to heavily criticise the show. One such critic is Dr David Starkey, who describes the show as “gratuitously awful”.
I myself am a big fan of the show, although I have to admit that the ‘creative license’ the writers have used at times has annoyed me. I think that the reign of Henry VIII was exciting and bursting with intrigue, deception and drama- definitely no need for further embellishment! But reiterating the words of Dr Borman, the head of interpretation for Historic Royal Palaces, the show has successfully reflected the atmosphere of Henry VIII’s court and ignited interest in the period.
I think this is a positive thing as long as the public does not use the show as a ‘reference book’ and are aware that to learn the facts about the period they need to refer to a reliable historical source.
We must keep in mind that ‘The Tudors’ is not a documentary, it is a television drama and its main purpose to entertain.
What are your thoughts?
Click here to read the full article.
The inaccuracies annoyed me at first, especially because they seem deliberate. There is so much about The Tudors that is historically spot on, that it seemed bizarre that they’d err so spectacularly with devices like Victorian carriages and crazy dress-up box-ish costumes when they obviously knew what was what! Now I think I’ve, a) gotten used to them, and b) come to realise that the writer and director must have sacrificed the truth to meet their vision for the show, to create the effect and atmosphere they were after. And it’s been successful, so the formula must be working! Onto season three now … However, though I’m less prone to throwing things at the TV in fury these days, I still wonder about the wisdom of meddling with the bare facts of the most passionate, treacherous and dramatic chapter in English history.
Sorry, I just don’t get it. It would be so easy to capture a bit more authenticity without sacrificing anything at all! I get so distracted by all the anachronisms that it destroys the story line for me.
I for one love the Tudors, yes there are some very obvious mistakes, but what this series has done for me is bring the characters to life and has basically driven me to find out the truths about the era and the people, I have watched all 4 seasons again and again and will watch them again and again, but always keeping in mind that the real facts are probably even more interesting!
I love the series The Tudors, I am actually in love, so much I bought all the seasons and have watched several times each season and always realize that things had not noticed before. First I’m crazy for Jhonathan Rhys Meyers, he is perfect! And the series is simply a great attraction, as is curiosity and willingness to learn more and more about the reign of Henry III. Who watches keep in mind that the TV show is not a documentary but a very attractive series.
I enjoyed it very much Cristiano. As you say, it is not a documentary but it does encourage people to find out more about the Tudors which is great! 🙂
While the innaccuracies annoy me, I loved the show! My favorite being Anne Boleyn of course!