A Lion Amongst Wolves

The Pilgrims of Grace have marched to Pontefract Castle, the Gateway to the South. There, Lord Darcy and his besieged men learn that these cross-bearing rebels only wish to petition the King for the restoration of their beloved abbeys and the removal of those they deem responsible for these acts of heresy. First and foremost in the eyes of these Pilgrims is Thomas Cromwell, now the second most powerful man in the kingdom. Cromwell has risen high from his day's as Woolsey's lacky. Like the elderly Lord Darcy who appears to have defected to the side of this upstart Pilgrimage, Cromwell will be hard pressed to find himself a happy ending if he doesn't move quickly!

Henry is laid low by medical troubles from an old jousting wound, which only exacerbates his generally foul mood. Recognizing ignorance in his doctor's care of this fearfully painful wound, Henry's patience is worn so thin that we can see his kingly rage leaking through upon any he suspects of incompetence, dissidence, or intrigue... which does not bode well for the leaders of the Pilgrimage or for Cromwell. Henry has sent Charles Brandon to deal with this upstart rabble while he tends to his own healing with the help of the lovely Lady Misseldon. Which places Brandon in a truly precarious position. His sympathies lie with the common people on these issues, and he too has long held Cromwell responsible for the many ills arisen during this Reformation that Cromwell has spearheaded since day one. Yet, Brandon must somehow decisively flatten this rebellion or answer for his failure with his head quite literally upon a plate.

This troublesome Pilgrimage of Grace certainly finds favor with the distant Pope who promotes Father Reginald Pole to Cardinal and sends him to France as his official legate. Pole is instructed to raise money and arms to support this holy crusade in England by any means necessary. Pole may have gone too far though in reminding these powerful leaders that he himself is descended from the last of the Plantagenet line through his mother. The Plantagenets may have ruled England before the Tudors, but Henry Tudor rules now and will not look kindly upon this long lost distant cousin or his treasonous thoughts.

Princess Mary, Henry's first child and daughter to the staunchly Catholic Queen Katherine, is back in her father's good graces, but should others within England or far removed choose to support her potential claim to the throne simply because of her chosen faith will Henry view it as treason? Elizabeth, unfortunate daughter of Queen Anne, still lives outside the good graces of her unforgiving father with not even the legitimate right to call herself Princess. Queen Jane still bravely but most gently presses her own opinions upon the King when her reason and conscience prompt her to do so.

How doth the King? He paces painfully within his gilded cage awaiting still an heir in which he can rejoice. Frustrated by this lack and enraged by his own ill health, the King sees incompetence, disloyalty and treasonous disrespect everywhere he looks. His Majesty will come from the safehold of  his chamber with Lion's fearsome roar and bladed claws aready! It seems as if it is only a matter of time before heads will roll!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My Thoughts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadows gather under the Tudor rose. Intrigue is everywhere, and I find myself waiting with bated breath each outcome. We are fortunate to have so skilled a troop of players brought together to transform dry history into tasty dishes truly worthy of a King's feast. Michael Hirst has done an amazing job in writing all three seasons of The Tudors on his own. Hirst has a true gift for injecting life and perspectives that modern viewers can relate to into historical fact. We are also given insight into the lives and choices of people who made their way through a society whose rights and wrongs we only dimly comprehend today.

For example, Lady Ursula Misseldon in the prior episode was given the choice to become the willing mistress of the devious Sir Francis Bryan, or watch her intended husband and her own family pay the price of her delicate sensibilities. So, when opportunity presents itself, Lady Ursula gives herself to one of the few men in the kingdom more powerful and fearsome than Bryan, the King himself. A bold and clever move by Misseldon to avoid the unwanted attentions of Bryan. She takes a decorous delight in chastising Bryan for his casual and uninvited touch during a public setting. Telling him quite plainly that he can no longer have her, for now "Cesar's I am".

In today's modern society, such maneuverings would not be necessary for a common woman, yet we can see quite clearly how vital such political decisions would be to even a woman of wealth and birth during the Tudor era. Queen Jane and Princess Mary are certainly not above the need to trade something of value to themselves for what they may need. Although neither is in quite the position of the lower ranked Misseldon, both Jane and Mary walk perilous tight-ropes in capturing and maintaining the King's favor. Henry, quite literally, holds their lives in his hands, and he has proved himself most intemperate in matters of love and family.

It is especially fascinating to see strong women develop in this historical unfolding, and humbling to be reminded how many women gave up so much during their lifetimes that women of today might live their lives as strong and outspoken equals to men in society. The stage is being set for the rise of Bloody Mary and the contention of Good Queen Bess. Huzzah!

The Tudors excels in delivering history to viewers in an exciting and enticing package. From the smallest details of furnishings and daily apparel to the larger particulars of historical fact and political maneuvering, Tudors brings to life the people and happenings of a bygone era. From the lowliest commoner to the King himself, we are reminded with each episode that these were real people with secret joys, desires, and sorrows known perhaps only to themselves. Henry is portrayed here as more of a self-indulgent tyrant than a savvy politician.

Henry Tudor had an undeniable profound effect upon the world around him, but that doesn't mean he made the choices he did because he thought it would be best for his kingdom. I think portraying him in this very human and flawed manner rings far more true than glorifying his actions and choices by hiding them behind noble intentions. As Henry begins to feel backed into a corner by the consequences of his choices, blame becomes the weapon most ready to his hand. On a smaller scale every day, most of us can probably relate to dealing with someone, in a position of authority or not, who also finds fault in others when they would be best served to improve their own behavior!

We are shown a King who might very well have felt hard beset by all around him, great or small, and completely baffled why his life is so cursed. We the viewers can sense an end is nearing. Will it be as bloody and fearsome as the image of majestic beasts in a snarling fray promises? How will the wolves manage when they realize they have a lion by the tail? Be'ware, Good Gentles for this mighty lion has dire claws to match his fierce roar!