Blood, Sex & Royalty

Some reviewers are complaining that this docudrama has been altered for millennials. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that millennials are roughly 30 to 40 years old. Perhaps they're thinking of Gen Zer's.

That said, I would definitely agree that this series has been modernized. I certainly wasn't expecting to hear pop songs and newer slang. However, after an adjustment period, I rather enjoyed it.

I've read a lot of historical fiction and nonfiction about Henry VIII, Anne, and the other "characters" as well as watched movies, documentaries, etc. I very much appreciated hearing the tale told from Anne's POV, and if the modernization makes it more accessible to newer audiences, great. We already have so many traditional forms of this particular section of history; it was rather refreshing to see the creators try something different.

I also really liked the blend of re-enactments with the historians commentary. Overall, I believe this rendition humanized Anne much more than many others have.

I honestly started to turn off the television after a few minutes and it was only my laziness that kept me going.

Then I got intrigued.

It isn't inaccurate, but it feels a bit incomplete historically.

ON THE OTHER HAND, who's to say which interpretations (head canons) best fill in the points between the facts we have?

It isn't what I expected.

ON THE OTHER HAND, once you realize it's basically a mash up of the Tudors and Gossip Girl, you're all right.

I certainly hope no "hip" teacher will try to use this in their history classroom, but ON THE OTHER HAND, I'm perfectly ok with kids finding this on their own.

Figuring out the bare bones of history while being highly entertained.

Again, my impulse was to turn it off, toss it out, put it far away from myself. But if it opens the door and someone decides to read more on the Tudors? It would be a win.

This is about Anne Boleyn. The second wife of Henry VIII of England. And how their romance became the reason why and how the Church of Ebgland was established. Though set up as a documentary with comment from history specialists and tough they have their facts right, the thing that bothers me most is the portrayal of events. Anne speaks to the vieuwer directly breaking the 4th wall, wich becomes amnoying. Furthermore the costuming is historically incorrect especially when the women aren't wearing headdresses. Anne is shown multiple times with her hair loose or simply tight back with a hairpin. She was famous for wearing the then fashionable 'French Hood'. With wich she is shown only once in this series. But also the Gable Hood was in vogue then and none of the ladies is wearing that Tudor style icon. It was regarded inappropiate for women to go in public with their hair uncovered. And Catherine of Aragon is yet again portrayed with darkbrown hair, when in reality she was a reddish blonde with blue eyes. It is something that is often done in series and films about the Tudors to emphazise that Catherine was from Spain.

As a history buff of course i watched this. Its worth noting this is fir entertainment rather than educational. The interviews with the historians are great but again remember this has been made for entertainment. Modern use of language and slang. It gives you the very basic bare bone facts but that's all. It's entertaining but that's it. Take it with a pinch of salt and do your own research. Queen Anne Boleyn is one of, if the the most interesting queen in history. An amazing woman who is often mis-represented in history. The actress was a good in the role as Anne, the other actors I didn't really take too. It's only 3 episodes long which in my opinion is far too short and they tried to cram in far too much into these episodes.

With all the great quirky history series around at the moment - The Serpentine Queen, The Empress, and the black comedy/drama The Great. I think with this Blood, Sex and Royalty series, they wanted to make a quirky series that documented one of the most famous royals of all time - Anne Boleyn, and in doing so appeal perhaps to the ones not so much into their history.

However it just turned into a complete train wreck. As an English history buff, especially when it comes to the Monarchy, I felt quite insulted by this series.

Were they trying to make Blood, Sex and Royalty like an adult version of an episode of Horrible Histories? I'd much rather watch HH and actually learn something.

All that I can hope is that this series if it does catch the eye of English History novices, that they will continue onwards to explore more about the Tudor times and what was one of our most important times in history.