Sir Thomas Boleyn to Henry VIII: "Majesty, no one has calves like yours" was my favorite moment in episode one of THE TUDORS, which is well written and quite well cast. Henry Cavill, sex symbol of I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, is the hottie in this series, with the most nudity, and that leads me to the sex life of the 16th Century. The sex in this series is very Cinemax At Night, and I wonder how accurate this can be with bared bosoms and bottoms. This is a period where there was no plumbing, people bathed once a year if lucky, most childbirth deaths were due to unsanitary conditions and people had to smell really badly. Wasn't sex more groping and grappling under garments than a softcore and tastefully nude romp? I also think everyone looks too clean.
That said, I'm curious to know where the plot will go even though I know the history and politics quite well. Henry Cavill is Charles Brandon, Henry's best friend who secretly married Mary Tudor, Henry's sister (Richard Todd and Glynis Johns in Disney's wonderful THE SWORD AND THE ROSE; why isn't that on DVD?), but so far there's no Mary Tudor; he's dallying with the daughter of the Duke of Buckingham, played by Stephen Waddington, whom I last saw beheaded in SLEEPY HOLLOW.
But it's fun; I'll stick with it. Great opening sequence, to boot.
