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Are there any fans (or even regular viewers) here of The Tudors? A British-scripted drama produced for Showtime and CBS that is loosely based on the life of Henry VIII.

I am absolutely loving it because I have been fascinated with this period of English history ever since learning about it in high school. Which other English King could be so bold as to have six wives?

Although it idoesn't make any claims to historical accuracy, it presents a very vivid and likely portrayal of all of the events involved. Season 1 mainly revolved around Henry's desire to nullify his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon in order to marry the "seductive witch" Anne Boleyn. Sam Neill played an excellent Cardinal Wolsey, the chief machinier of the wily behind-the-scenes moves while always keeping his personal ambitions in front.

We (in the UK) are now at the end of Season 2 where, after several miscarriages, Henry is tiring of Anne Boleyn and her ill-fated attempts to bear him an heir while Jane Seymour is entering the picture as a potential new wife. Anne is soon to be famously beheaded. Sir Thomas More has been victimised and executed for sticking to his principles in the midst of a fanatical zeitgeist whipped up by the King's marriage to Boleyn and also resisting the rise of Lutheranism, which was becoming inevitable as Henry had undertake steps to legally eradicate Vatican and Catholic influence over his politics and ensure the sovereignty of the King as the sole head of state. Peter O'Toole has played a fantastically cynical Pope Paul III. It has been great to see how these personal and private dramas have been played out against the backdrop of religious turmoil and political upheaval.

This is such a great and fascinating period of history. This drama is excellent because, as mentioned before, it is not strictly historically accurate but it strives very hard to reflect all the dramas, betrayals, tragedies, romances and deadly intrigues that go along with a story as controversial and convoluted as Henry VIII's. It's probably a good thing that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is handsome enough for the role in order to make it believable as the real Henry was decidedly an ugly fellow. It was because of him that England is a Protestant country today.

Of course the other thing about this drama is that it offers a great insight into how people actually lived in those days, the class differences between the haves and the have-nots, the respective prejudices and privileges high birth bestowed upon you, the snobbery and the snootiness, I love it. I like reading about olden days and the experience of life in those times.

I personally preferred Season 1 because the affrontery of Henry trying to nullify his marriage in favour of a "common whore" was really addictive to watch. The machinations it involved, I cannot describe it because it just has to be watched.

Roll on Season 3!

Brainiac, I watch when I can, I love period dramas! and the BBC make some great ones. This is definatley the sexiest Henry VIII I've seen and the most detailed. I'm not a big history fan, but when its made into the story of someones life its great. I'm watching Tess of the D'Ubervilles at the mo too. I wanna go see Brideshead the film which has just come out too, I love it all !

Yeah, BBC period dramas 'rule'. I checked out Meyers on Wikipedia and it appears he has played the title role in a US miniseries on Elvis Presley! I'll look forward to catching that if I can!

I've just seen the penultimate episode of Tudors (I Sky+ them all) and the tension is making me a nervous wreck, lol. Four people beheaded on trumped-up charges of having carnal knowledge of Queen Anne, including her brother! Things are coming to a head now, can't wait for next episode!

While searching for info on Sir Thomas Wyatt (Anne Boleyn's alleged former lover) I came across the Tudors Wiki, which is a really good cast and characters guide, episode guide, etc.

What I like about the site is that it tells you exactly what is fictional and what is supported by historical sources in the series. There is a lot of historical info too as well as cast and 'authentic' portraits where available. I think one of the best profiles is on Anne Boleyn herself.

I tell you, reading about Jane Boleyn really sent shivers up my spine! See what her profile says: "Legend has it that in her final speech on the scaffold in 1542: 'I die today for the witness I bore against my husband and Queen Anne. The things I testified to then were not true.'" She was one of the key figures in Anne Boleyn's downfall after she contributed to the false and trumped-up charges of sexual promiscuity and brother-sister incest, and allegedly confessed all her lies at the final moment. Her offences were so great that she eventually suffers a mental breakdown and goes insane. As it is illegal to execute the insane, Henry changes the law so she can be executed.

This is all really profound for me because I remind myself that these are based (loosely) on real events and all of these people were actually alive and did all this stuff at one point in time. This show is all about the lives, loves and romances of people who are now dead.

To think all of this craziness happened to actual real live people who are now DEAD.

It kind of reminds me of a verse from my favourite (and appropriate!) Kinks song:

All the stories that were told,
of Kings and days of old,
but there's no England now.
All the wars that were won or lost,
somehow don't seem to matter very much any more.
All the lies we were told,
all the lies of the people running round,
their castles have burned.
Now I see change,
but inside we're the same as we ever were.

Livin' on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?

I have watched and enjoyed the 2 seasons that have aired here...this year we will have the 3rd season which focuses on Jane Seymour....love it!

Oh my, so unfair! Has it already started over there? I haven't heard even a peep about Season 3! Looking forward to it here too. I have been waiting for it with great anticipation.

Well Im guessing it will be this year in the winter like the last 2 years...lets see.