Blood, Sex & Royalty

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.

Blood, Sex & Royalty, the three-episode mini adaptation of Henry VIII-Anne Boleyn's story is a binge-watch. To be honest, I finished it all at once and totally enjoyed the flow. Netflix continues to add elements of drama into documentary, making it difficult to define its genre. Indeed it is a modern adaptation of a classical story, as shown in its characterization, lines, and background music. Although these innovations might offend some conventional historical drama lovers, the contemporary elements add modernism to the series.

Being one of the most legendary queens, Anne Boleyn's story has been told over and over again yet still captures the audience's attention. Netflix's adaptation selects the most splendid occasions of her short life and makes her narrate her story from her POV. Definitely, it is still a documentary with some authors and professors making comments at the proper time.

This time, Anne Boleyn is interpreted from a feminist perspective. The plot adds some dominant-submissive elements in it, with Anne trying to make the King of England follow her rules but prove to fail her ambition. Anne believes the whip is her instrument to tame a man, but indeed it is only a toy to please the arrogant King.

With her destiny dependant on the man's love other than her own power, Anne is doomed to fail. Even though Catherine is beloved by the people and have strong allies in Europe, she could not compete with Henry VIII's will. By contrast, Anne comes from a common aristocratic family, and her whole power comes from Henry VIII. Anne believes she is the heroine of a fairy tale and wins over the King's heart. Indeed, her untamed triggers the interest of an alpha man, protecting her from experiencing the destiny of a typical mistress like her sister Mary. However, her crown and relationship with Henry VIII are based on her promise of a male heir. Once she can not accomplish her promise, Henry VIII takes her life as the price.

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 love documentaries about the tudor period but this one is far from good. Surroundings, furniture, hair and clothes that do not fit into the 16th century. The (modern) music is the most annoyable matter of this show. It is just as bad as Reign that I stopped watching because of the settings and the inappropriate music. Must be just like Reign a production for the American audience. It is very surprising that the most famous historians of Great Britain are part of this terrible show. There are much better documentaries than this one, for instance The Six Wifes of Henry VIII or King Henry VIII Man, Monarch, Monster etc.

I personally don't find the acting as bad as some others say, the music doesn't fit the genre but for some reason I think it works. It's whole purpose is to explain the story of Anne Boleyn in a really simple way and even though I knew most of it already, it was still informative for smaller details. Literally the only issue I have with it is the fact that it only has three, 45 min long episodes so you finish it pretty quick and if you liked it, as I did, you feel like they should have tried to do an deeper dive into her younger life or even try and get another 3 episodes out with another historic king or queen and make it a 6 episode season.