The McGuffin Review: The Tudors - Episode VI

Posted by Cory Johnson on 05.06.2008

Wolsey is screwed, Catherine starts to crack, and Henry tells the Pope to WHAT??

Previously on The Tudors….Henry became determined to get an annulment from Queen Catherine, and equally determined to have Anne Boleyn, even promising that he would not have sex with her until they married. Thomas Boleyn and Lord Norfolk continued to plot against Cardinal Wolsey. The King’s sister, Princess Margaret killed her new husband, the King of Portugal and married Charles Brandon. This led to Henry banishing both of them from court. King Charles of Spain released King Frances of France, much to Henry’s surprise and anger, as he thought that he had an alliance with Charles. Wolsey attempted to get the papal inquiry to rule in Henry’s favor for a divorce, but did not succeed.

Hever Castle-Boleyn Family Home
Anne dryly reads a love letter from Henry to her father and Lord Norfolk. Norfolk is ecstatic about Henry’s desire for Anne. Her father asks how she likes her charge; Anne says that she did not like Henry at first but now finds him….Norfolk cuts her off, telling her not to get confused by her own ruse. Wolsey must remain the target, her father adds.

Wolsey tells Henry that he is going to ratify the new treaty between Henry and the French (again? that trick never works). Wolsey has summoned the French cardinals to grant him the authority to annul Henry’s marriage, as the Pope is still a prisoner of King Charles. Henry informs Wolsey how impatient he is, and wants to take Thomas Wyatt with him, as he, “once possessed a jewel I would have”-Anne Boleyn of course. Wolsey spots Anne waiting for Henry and asks what a silly girl like her could say to a King.



Anne is shown into Henry’s chambers and runs to his arms after bowing. Anne asks if Henry will ever get an annulment. Henry asks her what is wrong, and Anne asks why only Wolsey is attending to this, when Henry could dispatch, well, everyone. Henry laughs and shushes her. Henry tells her that we can always speak freely, as that is love. AWWWW.

Queen Catherine receives the Senor Mendoza in her chambers and asks him to take a message to King Charles, as Wolsey opens her letters. Catherine wants Charles to know that Henry is trying to divorce her. Mendoza promises her that Charles will know.

Compton Wynates, Warwickshire
Thomas Tallis sits under a shade tree; Will asks him what he is thinking about. Tallis says that he is listening. Will tells him that he loves him; Tallis asks what about his wife and tells him that he is leaving with Wolsey for France. Tallis says that he will miss Will.

Thomas More asks Wolsey what he hopes for this mission. Wolsey hopes for a balance of power in Europe. Wolsey also hopes to be appointed, in essence, the Pope. None of this passes by More, but when he lets his speculation show, Wolsey orders him out.

Anne is depressed in her bed, and tells her brother George that she cannot trust him with her secrets anymore.


The Palace of King Francis of Valois-Paris, France (sheesh, build Versailles already)
Wolsey is lavished with fanfare upon his arrival, More is with him. Frances calls Wolsey the Cardinal of Peace, the true and loyal friend of France. Wyatt asks Tallis to set a poem of his to music. Apparently Henry’s daughter Mary is now betrothed to the young Duke of O’leans. More says that this is just all so very….French. Great line.

Anne helps Catherine prepare for bed. Catherine knows what Anne is doing and warns her that she cannot have Henry’s true heart, which is hers. Anne did not speak a word in her defense, just bowed and left. Catherine felt desperate here.

Cromwell presents Henry with letters from Wolsey and informs him that Pope Clement has escaped. Henry is shocked. Henry asks Cromwell to arrange a message to the Pope. Cromwell suggests Dr. Knight.

Thomas Boleyn is balancing the books when he has an “a-ha” moment.

Henry and Will play poker. Will wins and Henry says that he hates cards, court, and time. Will says that they should go for a hunt and pleads for Brandon’s return. Henry is not ready to forgive. Henry says that he is not banished forever, just as long as he breathes.

Henry rides into the woods with Anne on his horse, talking of picnics (that right Boo-Boo Bear, picnics). Henry tells Will that things can never be as they were. Will is smart enough to nod. I think that this is the first scene where Henry wasn’t riding at a full gallop.

Brandon receives Thomas Boleyn who proposes that Brandon join Norfolk and Boleyn to overthrow Wolsey. In exchange, Boleyn promises to return him to court. Margaret was listening the whole time and reminds Brandon that Wolsey had once been kind to him. Brandon had forgotten.

Henry and Anne eat, while Will sits very much alone.


Wyatt wakes Tallis up to read him the first lines of his poem. We cut to Norfolk, Boleyn, and Brandon toasting. Tallis loves the poem. Wyatt says it is about a girl that he loved and she loved him in return. Wyatt says that if this girl gets her way, it will send our whole country into a roar.

Wolsey is served by a girl who offers herself to him, but Wolsey says that he is not young or alive enough to take her up on her offer. Wolsey tells her that she deserves better.

George shows Anne a drawing of falcon with Anne’s crest swooping in on a pomegranate with Catherine’s crest. Anne crumples the drawing and tells George that this is dangerous. Cromwell tells Anne that Henry has sent Mr. Knight to the Pope about the divorce. Mr. Knight was Anne tutor (the teacher, not the dynasty, y’know, they could use another word here). George hits on a few of the ladies in waiting and tells them they will know him one day. George teases them, saying that if they tell him who they are fucking, he will tell them if it is a good idea, and he is a builder of fortunes if they wish to be rich and famous (wasn’t that in the Muppet movie?)


Henry dispatches Mr. Knight to the Pope. Wolsey signs the treaty with the French and suggests to Frances that they make peace with Charles. Frances isn’t having this, as Charles held him prisoner and “squeezed my balls”, not to mention that he is still holding the heir to the French throne captive. More asks Wolsey if he is pleased with the progress he is making and Wolsey says that he is tired. Wolsey worries about others whispering to Henry while he is gone and More says that after the conclave, nobody will have more influence.

George arrives home, obviously drunk, yelling for servants that are nowhere to be found. He staggers into his room to find the two ladies in waiting that he was propositioning earlier naked on his bed, each tightly holding onto the others nipple. George literally falls into bed with his tongue wagging.

Henry enters his hall, Anne bows before him and before they can kiss, Catherine is announced. Anne goes to leave, but Henry holds her steady as Catherine storms out. Henry tells Anne that he is eating with her father and Norfolk tonight, because it brings him closer to her. Henry gives Anne a token of his affection and tells her that he loves her neck. Anne swoons. Court erupts as Henry leaves and everyone gawks at Anne. Henry gave Anne a necklace.


Norfolk says that Wolsey’s interests are not always Henry’s. Boleyn tells Henry that Wolsey has been stealing money from Henry for his great college at Oxford (your history Wiki of the week). Henry is shocked, as Henry considers Wolsey his friend. Norfolk pleads Brandon’s case.

Anne washes Catherine’s feet when Catherine notices the necklace and demands to know who gave it to her. Anne says that it is from Henry. Catherine calls Anne a whore in Spanish. Anne shocks Catherine by saying that she is not a whore, and she loves Henry and he loves her. Catherine laughs and tells Anne that she is only something new, and Henry will grow tired of her. Anne cannot take this and asks Catherine what will happen if Henry does not. Catherine erupts, saying that she is servant and was not given permission to speak and dismisses her. Anne barely bows before leaving.


Mr. Knight is stopped on his journey to the Pope and brought to Wolsey. Wolsey is stunned to discover that Henry wants to marry Anne Boleyn. Guess that silly girl comment was ill-timed. Henry’s letters are practically the writings of a lunatic, asking the Pope to sanction bigamy if no way to annul the marriage can be found.

Henry screams at a kneeling Brandon, telling him to beg for his forgiveness. Brandon begs for Henry like a puppy. Henry tells Brandon to follow him to his inner room. They arm wrestle; Henry says that if Brandon beats him, he may return to court. Henry is ripped. Brandon lets Henry wear himself out and finally puts him down. Henry throws a little tantrum at losing, but laughs and tells Brandon welcome back.

More and Wolsey debate the proper course of action. Wolsey asks if More is with him or against him. More says that nothing will compromise his beliefs. Wolsey says that More does not wish to get his hands dirty.

Wolsey waits for the French cardinals to arrive long into the night. King Francis arrives to tell Wolsey that the cardinals are not coming. Wolsey deflates.

Wyatt finishes his poem about Anne.

Wolsey returns to England and Cromwell informs him that Henry is waiting for him, and not alone. Anne is waiting with Henry with a crown on her head. She is shooting daggers at Wolsey. Henry tells Wolsey to get on with it, as Anne knows everything and he can speak freely. Wolsey tells Henry that he did not secure the annulment while in voiceover, Mr. Wyatt reads his poem over everyone's reactions.


Analysis
Wolsey is hanging by a thread, having twice failed to secure Henry's annulment. It is only a matter of time before he becomes completely useless to Henry and loses his position. Sam Neil is amazing in this role and really it's the little things, like dismissing the whore or blessing a random girl. He just glides.

Catherine looked like a weak kitten for the first time this week. I loved her scenes with Anne, but she was not convincing in the least, as if she knows that she is losing the battle. Perhaps this is by design, so that she is not so incredibly sympathetic as a character.

Anne continues to present as a torn character and we still do not know how she truly feels about Henry.

As for our main character, Henry looks like an idiot teenager chasing Anne. His idiotic annulment claims aside, he is rubbing his affair in Catherine's face and looking like a jerk in the process. Yes, the King of England pouts when he loses in anything, so I am sure that not getting the annulment is driving him crazy, but he looks really bush league here (no pun or politics intended).

Nothing wrong with the any of the technical aspects this week, you could not tell that any of the models or backgrounds were not authentic. The editing on this show is always crisp and the scenes always flow nicely.

Things I Wonder
How long until Wolsey has to do something completely desperate to save his job?
How much is Wolsey going to kiss Anne's ass now?
Why did Wolsey turn that girl down, because of his woman at home or because he was about to become acting Pope?
More really has that virtue thing down, huh?
Was it a conincidence that the Pope escaped, just as Wolsey made a play for power, or was that something Charles did in response to Catherine's letter?
When does Margaret come back to beg? Why would I enjoy that?
What happened to Mary Boleyn?
What is going to bring Mr. Cromwell's Lutheran beliefs forward? Will there be a showdown with More?
How come we never see Will's wife? I know that he is gay, but I'm curious (about the wife).
Can Wolsey somehow spin the money he has diverted from Henry?
Is there a creepier father than Thomas Boleyn?
How long until George Boleyn gets killed?
How will Henry get his annulment now?



Thanks for reading, comments and feedback always appreciated. I'll be back next week with The Tudors Episode VII. This is Cory, keep watching

The 411: Perfectly fine set-up episode that showed that Wolsey doesn't have a friend in the world that isn't French, and served as Henry and Anne's public coming out party. That said, this episode was missing that something special to put it over the top.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]