DVD Reviews

The Tudors: The Complete Third Season – DVD Review

By June L. Jan 4, 2010, 16:38 GMT

TV’s most sexy and scandalous hit drama is back with The Tudors: The Complete Third Season. Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Elvis) stars as a young King Henry VIII, a ruler whose reign changed the course of history forever. Now for the first time on DVD, the complete third season of this delicious and daring drama from Showtime is available in a 3 disc DVD set including every broadcast ...more

Ah, The Tudors…..love and romance are balanced against politics and cruelty, and change and philosophical differences seem only take place with ruthlessness and bloodshed.  Henry the Eighth of England is at the height of his power in the world, and yet obstacles continue to keep him from achieving his greatest dreams.

Not always completely accurate in historic details, the Tudors does re-create a fine sense of the times of growth for England when the King’s word was law.  It was also a time when families vied for the attention of the King to advance their political careers. 

These two elements serve as the setting for this third installment of the series.  In lavish and detailed filming, viewers can learn about the times and the people surrounding one of history’s most famous rulers. 

As series three begins, Henry VIII has beheaded his Queen, Anne Boleyn and is now looking for her replacement in the demure Lady Jane Seymour.  A wedding soon takes place, and it seems as though the Court will finally become a happy place.  As Queen Jane, the lady works to reconcile the King with his two daughters, Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth, bringing them together at last as a family. 

While the Court seems to exude good will and family joys, Henry is plotting to pay back the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace for their uprising against his new church.  Under the guise of listening to their wishes, Henry orders the leaders executed. 

On the home front, Henry is overjoyed at the birth of his son, but his joy is turned to grief within days as the beloved peacemaker Queen Jane dies. 

As Henry mourns for Queen Jane, those around him see this as a chance to push for their changes or policies, playing on his grief and sorrows.  At the forefront is Cromwell who seeks to bring about a full Reformation of the church, setting it free from the Pope’s influence by marrying Henry to a Protestant wife.  This is not an easy task, as Henry’s reputation is not good. 

Finally Anne of Cleves is brought on the scene, and both agree to the politically advantageous marriage.  Once Henry meets Anne, he is disgusted with her person, and while he admires her intellect, he cannot bear to touch her, so he has the marriage annulled, and moves on to a new mistress, the beautiful 17 year old Katherine Howard.

The Tudors: The Complete Third Season is presented on three discs containing all eight episodes.  Running time for these are 6 hours and 53 minutes and are available in both English and Spanish audio.  In addition to the episodes there are very nice specials included.

There is a featurette The Tudors Timeline that takes a look at the entire Tudor line of Kings (and Queens) within a historical context.  Using a PC there are interviews with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anabelle Wallis, Henry Cavill, Joss Stone and Max von Sydow.   In addition the special features include the first two episodes of the new series United States of Tara.  

Visit the DVD database for more information.