THE TUDORS

If you like European history, especially history about its royals, than this is the perfect show for you. THE TUDORS is about the early years of King Henry IIX, and his many wives. This March, THE TUDORS debuts its second season, which kicks off with how he changed the course of England's religion. After falling in desperate love with Anne Boleyn, or at least desperately wanting to sleep with her, Henry decides he must get rid of his wife, Kathryn of Arragon. Of course being a devout Catholic, Henry knows that divorce is out of the question. So, what else is a king to do but to change the rules to suit his own desires. This begs the question of why he had to behead other wives, when he could have just divorced them.

Herein lies the reason a show like this is so good. We all know that real-life is better than any soap opera or movie drama, and King Henry is a perfect example of that. History buffs will love it for all the factual information it provides, and for those who aren't so hip on learning another country's background, there is plenty of high drama. Oh, and did I mention all the nudity and sexual content that goes along with all the political intrigue? Being a Showtime program, THE TUDORS doesn't shy away from the randy exploits King Henry was known for; in fact, they are a big part of the show. That being said, it can get a bit confusing, if you don't know all the facts surrounding the situations going on.

While the show is good about going through the timeline of events, without having at least a minimal amount of knowledge on the subject can cause the viewer to get a little lost in all that's going on. And make no mistake, these people created drama wherever they went. With all the backstabbing, lying and secret alliances you may think you are watching a strange version of SURVIVOR as opposed to THE TUDORS. All in all, this is a show worth watching; it's entertaining, educational and takes a modern look at the aristocracy of the time. While I may get frustrated from time to time, wondering who each character is, I still find myself eagerly anticipating the new season.