Rivals in the Tudor Court

March 28, 2011
Bogdan follows Secrets of the Tudor Court with a stilted prequel exploring the life of Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk, a coldly manipulative man whose desire for power and wealth keep him close to the throne for decades. Raised in an abusive and authoritarian household, Thomas manages a relatively happy marriage despite near-constant familial tragedies. Brokenhearted when his beloved wife dies, he remarries teenage Elizabeth for convenience and connections and later takes a mistress, the very young Bess, only to discover Elizabeth has no tolerance for such behaviors. Told from the points of view of Thomas, Elizabeth, and Bess, Bogdan's version of history is weighed down with wooden dialogue and uninspired characters, though genre fans may enjoy the time spent with pivotal yet lesser-known players in the orbit of Henry VIII, and, despite the flat-feeling narrative, there is a certain car wreck fascination quality to the goings-on.