The Tudors(2007)

1 - Moment of Nostalgia

A long hot summer, thirty years into the reign of King Henry VIII, and well into middle age, Henry takes his fifth wife, Katherine Howard. The Queens low background combined with her youth and beauty, arouses a lusty familiarity in certain members of King Henrys court most notably his handsome young servant Thomas Culpepper.

1 - Civil Unrest

King Henry marries for the third time, taking as his queen the demure noblewoman Jane Seymour. A growing number of his subjects protest the kings decision to abandon the Catholic Church.

1 - Everything is Beautiful

The King makes himself head of the Church of England while the Catholic Church fights a losing battle to control Henry VIIIs desire for an annulment. Anne Boleyn demands that Henry break off contact with Katherine, so the noble Queen is banished from court. On top of that The Reformation is underway.

1 - In Cold Blood

Henry prepares for war with France but receives cautious counsel from the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, who urges a treaty; the king learns that his queens lady-in-waiting Elizabeth Blount is pregnant with his child.

2 - Sister

Thomas Culpepper - Henry VIIIs newest servant - continues to make eyes at his Kings young bride, Katherine Howard. Her servant suggests seduction. While the King shows his age by going to bed early during the Christmas celebration the young but not so innocent members of his court party on.

2 - The Northern Uprising

The uproar over the kings break with the Catholic Church turns into a full-blown rebellion that comes to be known as The Pilgrimage of Grace. Immobilized by an old jousting injury, Henry sends Charles Brandon to deal with the uprising and focuses his attention on the Lady Ursula Misseldon.

2 - Tears of Blood

Christmas at the Tudor court is a time for ringing in the new. Mistress Anne Boleyn has replaced the banished Queen Katherine. The Kings chaplain, Thomas Cranmer, makes a fact-finding visit to Lutheran Germany while Henry withdraws both the authority and taxes of the Catholic Church at home. And a royal visit to France finally convinces Anne to consummate her relationship with Henry, even as his best friend Charles Brandon suggests that she is no virgin.

2 - Simply Henry

Henry contemplates an alliance with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Spain despite his Field of Cloth of Gold ceremony celebrating allegiance to France, and executes a rival; Elizabeth gives birth to the kings illegitimate son.

3 - Something For You

Buoyed by the happiness that a young wife brings an aging man, Henry is noticeably more tolerant and forgiving than he once was. Such goodwill is well appreciated by the peasants of the North who gratefully accept Henrys forgiveness for the Pilgrimage of Grace revolt, during a Royal visit. But the Kings benevolence may yet be tested by his new Queen: Katherine Howard has submitted to seduction by the young and handsome Thomas Culpepper.

3 - Dissention and Punishment

Henry reconciles with his estranged daughters Mary and Elizabeth in time for the Christmas holidays, but betrays and brutally suppresses the rebellion against him after making conciliatory promises to the uprisings leaders.

3 - Checkmate

Henrys patience finally wears out and he marries Anne in secret, appoints his Lutheran chaplain Thomas Cranmer the head of the Church of England, and strips Queen Katherine of her title and status; the king and new queen have their first child, and are disappointed that its a girl...whom they christen Elizabeth.

3 - Wolsey, Wolsey, Wolsey!

A visit from Charles V forces Henry to conceal his growing disaffection from Queen Katherine, who is the influential Spanish monarchs aunt - even as Henry comes face-to-face with the seductive Anne Boleyn for the first time.

4 - Natural Ally

Rejuvenated by his tour of the north of England, Henry feels a new man and longs after his new Queen; unaware that her affections are diverted elsewhere. Katherines past begins to catch up as an old liaison comes looking for a job threatening to reveal all about their sexual history. Someone beats him to it when an anonymous letter is sent to the King containing accusations of adultery. Although unconvinced of the rumor, Henry confines Katherine to her apartments pending a thorough investigation.

4 - The Death of a Queen

The leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace uprising are put to death, but Brandon is disturbed by the cruelty and mercilessness of the suppression; Henry celebrates the birth of a son but his joy is short-lived as Queen Jane dies within days.

4 - The Act of Succession

Sir Thomas More refuses to accept Henrys command that his people swear an oath of allegiance and recognition of the Kings supremacy to both church and state. Anne is made aware of the Kings womanizing ways, and arranges then gives her blessing to his next mistress. Also, Anne has a confrontation with Lady Mary, Henrys daughter.

4 - His Majesty, The King

As a reward for his denunciation of Martin Luther, the Pope christens Henry “Defender of the Faith,” but a brush with death causes the king to seek a solution to his lack of an heir. Princess Margaret marries the decrepit King of Portugal reluctantly, but the union is short-lived; Henrys desire for Anne Boleyn intensifies when Anne goes home to her family estate.

5 - His Majesty's Pleasure

Attempts to legitimise the Kings marriage and increase his power hit unmovable obstacles as Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher insist that only God can be head of the church. Imprisoned in the Tower of London they face likely execution unless they take the Oath of Allegiance. Meanwhile Henrys wandering eye continues to roam.

5 - Arise, My Lord

Henry is shocked when he learns that his ally, Emperor Charles V of Spain, has released Frances King Francis I from prison. Hes equally surprised when Anne Boleyn turns him down after offering to make her his sole mistress.

5 - Bottom Of The Pot

Lord Hertfords investigation into allegations of the Queens infidelities moves with speed. Deeply upset by revelations of his beloved young wifes sexual past, Henry weeps. But once adultery is uncovered, his response is swift and decisive.

5 - Problems in the Reformation

Henry remains in seclusion while mourning the queens death, an opportunity that enemies of the crown seize to murder several friends of the court; Cromwell is disturbed when Henry doesnt resist his new churchs similarities to Catholicism.

6 - Search for a New Queen

Matchmaking begins in earnest as Cromwell schemes to secure the Reformation by marrying Henry to a Protestant wife - but the kings marital reputation precedes him; the condition of Henrys wounded leg turns life-threatening.

6 - You Have My Permission

Unmarried once more Henry reflects on his dynasty and orders a new Act of Parliament which restores the succession rights of his two daughters, the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary. His roving eye undaunted by age or experience, he notices the attractive soon-to-be widow Catherine Parr. After the disastrous mismatch of his last marriage a mature woman is just what he needs.

6 - The Definition of Love

As the Reformation gathers pace Sir Thomas Cromwell becomes ever more powerful as propagandist-in-chief of a new moral order. Royal confidence has given way to doubt. Henry is haunted by the memory of the executed Thomas More while Queen Anne Boleyns insecurities border on paranoia. Her husbands affairs continue and an effort to have her daughter Elizabeth betrothed to a French royal fails when the French King refuses to recognise that the infant Princess is of legitimate birth.

6 - True Love

As King Henry gains in confidence, his displeasure with the way the Catholic church handles his request for an annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon grows. As a result, Cardinal Wolseys position is weakening, leaving him vulnerable to his enemies.

7 - Sixth And The Final Wife

Henry marries Catherine Parr - his sixth and final wife. A loving step-mother and compassionate companion, Catherine is liked and respected by all at court save the Catholic Bishop Gardiner who suspects her to be a heretic. Henry prepares to invade France.

7 - Protestant Anne of Cleves

War looms with France and Spain aligning against England with backing from Rome, so Henry agrees to a politically fortuitous marriage with Anne of Cleves (Joss Stone), a plain and unsophisticated German aristocrat he has never met.

7 - Matters of State

The English Reformation is in full swing.

7 - Message to the Emperor

Englands population is suffering, both from a lack of food and from a lethal plague called The Sweats. As a result, King Henry feels depressed and not his usual, confident self. He starts having doubts about the future and his ability to rule the country. Fortunately for him, a change is coming up.

8 - The Undoing of Cromwell

Henry moves swiftly to annul his loveless marriage to Anne of Cleves, and beds a new mistress, 17-year-old Katherine Howard; Princess Mary falls in love with Duke Philip of Bavaria; Cromwells fall from favor is sudden and dramatic.

8 - As It Should Be

The siege of Boulogne is a long, expensive and difficult military campaign that is finally won by Henrys troops at great financial and human cost. Rejuvenated, Henry rejects the idea of marching on to further conquests, preferring to return to England in triumph.

8 - Lady in Waiting

At Henrys command Jane Seymour is made a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn, to the discomfort and suspicion of the Queen. When Henry is seriously injured in a jousting match all thoughts turn to who might succeed him. There will be far-reaching consequences if Annes pregnancy does not deliver a healthy son.

8 - Truth and Justice

A papal envoy has come to discuss the annulment of the Kings marriage to Katherine of Aragon, as requested by the King. The outcome of these discussions will determine Cardinal Wolseys future career as well as the Kings romance with Anne Boleyn. These discussions will also influence the nature of the relationship between England and Rome.

9 - Secrets of the Heart

Henry VIIIs health is on the slide: the recent siege of Boulogne has taken its toll on his aging body and his ulcerous leg is constantly in pain. Bishop Gardiner and the Catholic Church are once again in the ascendant at court but, tired of conflict, Henry demonstrates little enthusiasm for the ambitious Bishops accusation that Catherine Parr is a heretic.

9 - The Act of Treason

Anne has lost a son and with it her last chance at a lasting marriage with Henry. The Kings affections are shifting anyway: the Seymour family are awarded rooms at court and seem likely to replace the Boleyns as royal favourites. Several in the court begin to move against Anne who is accused of adultery. Arrests are made of suspected lovers and of Anne herself. All, including the Queen, are sentenced to death.

9 - Look to God First

Cardinal Wolseys fall is quick and pitiless. Stripped of office and authority, he is banished from the court and sent far from his much-beloved King. His unlikely successor is Sir Thomas More, a man unlike the overbearing Wolsey in every way but one...his loyalty to Henry.

10 - Destiny and Fortune

Queen Anne is imprisoned in the Tower, awaiting her execution. The king granted her wish for a special executioner, but he is delayed and the execution has to be postponed. King Henry proposes to Jane Seymour now that his marriage to Anne has been declared null and void. He hopes she will gave him a legitimate, male heir.

10 - The Death of Wolsey

Cardinal Wolsey is down but not yet out. Although exiled, he tries to gather last-minute support from his old enemy, Queen Katherine. She hesitantly agrees to his plan, as she finds herself in a situation similar to that of the fallen Cardinal. But their plot is intercepted by the Kings new advisors and Wolsey must pay the ultimate price.

10 - Death of a Monarchy

Finale - Henrys thoughts turn to his own mortality with the news that his long-time friend and sometimes foe King Francis, and his unshakable soldier Charles Brandon, are each dying. As he faces death, Henry encounters the ghosts of his former wives who each get a chance to confront him. Hans Holbein paints a last, iconic portrait of the Tudor King.