Fans of period drama "The Tudors" can revel in season three, with the knowledge that a guaranteed season four in the wings.
Showtime has announced it will renew historical drama series "The Tudors" for a fourth and final season, according to Variety. © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos
Showtime will bring the series back for a fourth and final season.
Season two of “The Tudors” exceeded the first with more compelling storylines and building court drama. Season three sees a less vital and increasingly impatient King Henry grow tired of Anne Boleyn's replacement, Lady Jane.
The second season was defined by the unraveling of the Catholic Church and rise of Thomas Cromwell’s (James Frain) power and influence; it was Cromwell, a cunning self-educated man, who was an architect of the Reformation movement in England with the introduction of religious leader Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII's (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) court.
These actions are the frame for Henry’s courtside politics and affairs of love in season two, like season one, are a clever blend of actual history and creative commissioned entertainment at the hand of show creator and writer, Michael Hirst.
The cast and crew worked their magic at Ardmore Studios, near Dublin. The crew remains the same - and this season you will again truly appreciate the outstanding achievements of Emmy award winning costume designer Joan Bergin, who took the honor in 2007 for her exemplary work on “The Tudors.”
Her craftsmanship abounds in the gowns and adornments for Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) which are breathtaking. Boleyn had 17 major costumes along with jewels, shoes and headpieces and all these were handmade from scratch.
Bergin’s eye captured the smallest details of the commoners and various court denizens. “I did a lot of research into Spanish and Italian fashion from the period. I’ve amalgamated Tudor style with more European influences, so overall the look is softer. ..This season we’ve created in the region of 1500 costume pieces,” revealed Bergin.
Cromwell’s construction of a new religious order with Henry as ordained King and leader of the Church has drained all the once powerful Bishops and Cardinals dry, even the Pope’s (Peter O’Toole) terse edicts of excommunication are to no avail.
It was the polarizing character of Anne Boleyn that unites the sub-plots and overall driving action of season two. Henry’s lust gives way to his will, the Church is broken. Boleyn is now the wife and the scorn of the people who still regard Katherine of Aragon as the rightful Queen.
Boleyn’s seductress charms and well-played arsenal of feminine wiles come back to haunt her; the court beauties still seduced her willing King of enormous appetites.
Anne has come full circle, bears the scars and pays an ultimate price. “She’s on the knife’s edge through the season,” explained Natalie Dormer of her character. “The stakes just get higher and higher, there is no Plan B for Anne. ..it’s like ‘be careful what you wish for.”
There was so much to savor for season two of “The Tudors”; the performances were all keenly delivered and nearly upstage the immensely talented Irish star of the series, Rhys Meyers, with their well-written and enacted ensemble work. Notable moments were made by Natalie Dormer, Nick Dunning, Jeremy Northam, James Frain and Peter O'Toole in pivotal scenes.
The series also features stunning camera work by cinematographer Ousama Rawi and production design by Tom Conroy, who opened up the sets in this season and updated the interiors to reflect the ten years that supposedly passes between the seasons.
"There is more of a Renaissance feel to the decor and, of course, more shields and war mementos on the wall," shared Conroy. "I've also been over to England looking at the details of various National Trust Houses. For instance, I saw a basement window in Devon which I used as a tower dungeon window."
In one of the more visually arresting scenes, Conroy had to recreate a giant copper boiling pot where one unlucky cast member meets his fate. "We were looking for a large pot, but there wasn't any of a sufficient size around so we had to commission it," revealed Conroy.
"It's copper, but cleverly done to reduce the weight. We lit a fire under it and set up an elaborate pulley system for the actor to be lowered into the boiling oil, which of course was water with starch in it to create air bubbles. It was very effective."
Now, season three of The Tudors is in full-swing on Showtime.
Showtime has announced it will renew historical drama series "The Tudors" for a fourth and final season, according to Variety.
The 10-episode season will debut in the spring of 2010.
Series creator and executive producer Michael Hirst will also be back to write each episode, which will conclude the saga of King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and chronicle his final two marriages and subsequent mental instability.
The Tudors is one of the network's top-rated series, with the third season's April 5 premiere netting a cumulative total of 1.3 million viewers.
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