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.

Boomer here, and American. At first, the show was confusing (modern language, actions and music.) However, once I just accepted the mode of presentation, I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised with finding out new and interesting nuggets, including an expanded context for the creation of the Church of England and other historical information (like the card game!) Much of this info might be old hat to UK viewers, but I ended up enjoying the series.

Regarding the criticisms about "dumbing down" history for modern audiences: perhaps this series should be viewed as a gateway for younger audiences to relate, i.e., "approachable history" that draws them in. I grew up on the insufferably dry stuff, and find a bit of fresh air here. There is an applicable quote from one of humanity's best poets: The Times They Are a-Changin'

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.

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.

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.