Random Thoughts On "The Tudors" & Other Historical Fiction
Dean
I notice that Showtime is now running a series they're calling The Tudors. I'm not watching it, but The Queen is. She might even post about it at some point. If she talks me into it I might check it out myself.
I love historical fiction when it's done well--by which I mean, it's well-written and well-acted and well-directed, and works hard not to be historically stupid. Yes, there will always be artistic license--Shakespeare made use of it liberally--but let's at least try to get most things right, eh?
I must say I'm already moderately annoyed with "The Tudors" since from everything I read and hear about it, it is entirely about the early years of King Henry VIII. If that's true, why not call it "Young Henry" or something? Because when I first heard about it I thought, "Oh, it's about the Tudors, so it's going to go from Henry the seventh to Elizabeth the first?" Uh, no. It's about Henry the 8th, and only the early days of his reign.
Mind you, Henry VIII is one of the most fascinating and historically consequential figures in Western history. Furthermore, it's crazy that we mostly remember him as the fat old king who had a lot of wives. Sort of like remembering Elvis Presley as a fat-middled aged guy in a jumpsuit with a pill habit. So there's nothing wrong with a series on young Henry VIII, or that looks at the complete arc of his life. But why not call it that? The Tudor dynasty started with his father, and ended with Elizabeth I long after his death.
Oh well I'm probably just being snarky. After all I'm a big fan of Rome, which turns out to be only about the ascension of Julius Caesar and the days of Augustus. If it were really about Rome it would be about so much more than that.
On the other hand I very much wish someone would do a series like "Rome" and start with Romulus and Remus and end with, say, Justinian. I tend to think of Byzantium as the true heir of Rome myself, although past Justinian I think it becomes hard to think of there still being a Roman Empire. Still, that would be a grand series wouldn't it?
Anyway, "The Tudors" looks like it might be promising. I'm sure Rose will let me know if it's worth it. Either way, to honor it I offer this amusing (if obscure) British Invasion song:
(More of this amusing music here.)
Okay, so I also don't have a TV. But still.
But how can you live without things like Sesame Street for the kids? I know, I know, people lived without it for eons. But it's such a delight, and so helpful in certain ways.
TV is most useful as a babysitter. And that, we miss. But not the influence. We do rent DVD's and videos, though. Not everyone in our community does; some people just want nothing to do with anything that comes out of Hollywood or its equivalent. Is that so unreasonable? Videos are a rare treat around here.
I saw the first episode of "The Tudors" on some free preview channel and was underwhelmed. "Rome" has spoiled me for this sort of historical what-have-you for some time, I think!
The "Tudors" isn't anything spectacular as a title. However, from what I understand the show is about the whole family, not just Henry (though he is the central character) so the title is fitting.
Although I think a show about Romulus / Remus could be awesome, I also don't think it's practical. I'm not sure it would be possible to do and still keep it interesting television. Some things simply do not translate well to the medium.
As an aside, I have a real problem with people who look "down" on television like it's some sort of cultural wasteland. Frankly, that attitude is complete bullshit and smacks of faux-intellectualism. "Oh, I don't watch TV. There's sooo much garbage on it." Give me a break, please. There's plenty of shite on television, true -- but do you know how many truly crappy books are published each year in this country? Far more than television shows.
So if books (or whatever) are your medium of choice, that's totally cool. But don't pretend that makes you better than anybody else, or that you aren't also part of the "lowest common denominator."
Rant over.
Jesse: I wouldn't actually start with the legend of Romulus and Remus, which is obviously a legend. But there are plenty of real stories from before the age of Julius Caesar and after that are worth telling and would make good television. I'm sure I could help write it if someone wanted me to. :-)
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.