The Tudors: Season Four (www.the-usher.com)

Moment of Nostalgia
King Henry VIII finds his new wife in a teenager named Katherine Howard, but the young queen soon causes jealousy among the king's court.

Sister
Due to his age, Henry is forced to leave the Christmas celebrations. In the meantime, the Seymore clan becomes the target of Lord Surrey.

Something for You
Henry forgives the citizens of the North who rebelled against him. Meanwhile, rumors about an affair between Henry's new wife and Thomas Culpepper spread.

Natural Ally
After the king's pardon, the North surprises Henry with a warm welcome. Back at Henry's court, Queen Katherine is being blackmailed by a former lover.

Bottom of the Pot
Henry discovers Katherine's affair and punishes her with banishment.

You have my Permission
Henry decides to put his daughters back in his line of succession and surprises with an unexpected political alliance.

Sixth and Final Wife
Catherine Parr becomes Henry's final wife and is able to stabilize Henry's household.

As it should be
The defeat of the French in Boulogne comes with a high price and costs the lives of thousands of Henry's men and the king decides to return home in triumph

Secrets of The Heart
Henry's health worsens after his military campaign against France and he suffers constant pain from his ulcerous leg. Meanwhile, Bishop Gardiner accuses Henry's wife Catherine Parr of being a heretic.

Death of a Monarchy
King Henry learns that his friends King Francis and Charles Brandon are dying. Confronted with mortality, the ghosts of his former wives pay him a visit and Hans Holbein paints a last portrait of Henry.

The final season of the historic drama is here but can the final two wives of King Henry VIII be as entertaining as the previous ones?

When series creator Michael Hirst decided to dramatise the life of one of England’s most famous and notorious kings, Henry VIII viewers knew they would be in good hands. After already bringing us the early life and golden age of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, Hirst was no stranger to the impact that the Tudor family had on English history. With the first three seasons dealing with Henry’s battles with the Spanish, the French, the Catholic Church and his own people, ‘The Tudors’ main storylines was always his Queens.

The first three seasons had seen him divorce Catherine of Aragon, behead Anne Boleyn, watch his beloved Jane Seymour die after child birth and annul his arranged marriage to Anne of Cleves. The final season sees the monarch head towards his own death and the relationships with his final two wives. His marriage to his fifth wife, the extremely young and vivacious Katherine Howard takes up the first half of the season. With Henry’s health waning and Katherine just a way of making him feel young again, betrayal rears its ugly head again leading to terrible end for the new Queen.

The latter part of the season deals with Henry’s final war with the French and his failing health. It is his final marriage to Catherine Parr that takes centre stage however. Dealing with his new wife and bringing his daughters Mary and Elizabeth back into the line of succession, this is Henry in his last throws, still a very powerful man but one who is realising his own mortality. It is Michael Hirst and his writing team that bring this fascinating historical soap opera to life with all the gusto it deserves but it is the actors that breath the life into the characters.

Henry Cavill is one of Britain’s rising stars and continues to bring a real edge to Charles Brandon. Henry’s best friend and his conscience, Charles struggles with what he has had to do in the name of his king and Cavill shows again what a great actor he is and is going to be. Tamzin Merchant and Joely Richardson well cast as Henry’s final two wives, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr and Sarah Bolger continues to show why the young Irish actress is a talent to take note of as Henry’s eldest daughter Mary. It is Jonathan Rhys Meyers who has transformed the man seen as an overweight, greedy, power hungry ruler into a very sexy, powerful man who you can believe would have had six wives. This could be the career role for the Irish actor but he has the talent to continue enchanting audiences and improving his craft.

Season four of ‘The Tudors’ successfully brings the critically acclaimed series to an end in some style. With its high production values, outstanding cast and excellent writing, ‘The Tudors’ will be remembered for much more than its sex scenes and Jonathan Rhys Meyer’s unwillingness to go fat for the role. Roll on Michael Hirst’s next project.

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