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Reviews
Princes in the Tower (2005)
A superb, unmissable drama
In 'Princes in the Tower' Channel 4 have shown the BBC just what historical drama is all about. A meticulously researched piece of work with beautifully rounded characters that follow the historical events and evidence ie not the Tudor spin, in a roller-coaster ride of absolute excellence. All of history's archetypes and stereotypes have been laid to rest, particularly Richard III, and the real murderer of the Princes finally exposed. Mark Umbers plays a mesmerising Perkin Warbeck and his famous line to describe his father's (Edward IV's) character which I won't repeat here (I want you to enjoy it for yourselves when it comes) is one of the best lines I've heard on TV. A masterpiece! Give us more Channel 4!
The Tudors (2007)
Dummed down, woefully miscast and just too inaccurate to suspend our disbelief.
This is historical drama at its worst - all style and no substance. Why do they continually dumb-down historical dramas and make them all pure fantasy? How can we suspend our disbelief? Rhys-Meyers - a good actor - is woefully miscast as a short, dark-haired Henry whose voice continually breaks into effeminacy, and the Duke of Buckingham - Steven Waddington who would have made a great Henry - big lad with red hair! - is allowed to play a premier duke and true heir to England's crown in a thick Yorkshire accent. And Sir Thomas More is played as a paragon of virtue and not the psychopath who tortured men, women and children in a shed in his garden. The Tudors is a bawdy romp so if this is what you enjoy then tune in. Sorry, but I have switched off.