The Tudors: Complete Season 2 [DVD] [2008]

It’s a very welcome return for The Tudors in this terrific second season of the show, which picks up once more on the earlier years in the reign of King Henry VIII. And once again, it pulls few punches, by turns violent, passionate and dramatic. It’s absolutely not family viewing, but it does grab you by the collar and simply not let up.

What’s more, The Tudors is once again powered by arguably a career-defining performance by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He’s quite superb as the young King, capturing the obsession of Henry VIII in his quest for a male heir to the throne. He’s matched by a strong supporting cast, too, particularly Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn. And with lavish production values grounding the show, it’s a sumptuous, surprisingly edgy slice of historical drama.

That said, once again, the show takes some liberties with history, and inevitably attracts attention for doing so. But those liberties are taken for a reason. The drama is never less than compelling, and it’s worth cutting The Tudors some slack for the decisions it makes. After all, the end result is genuinely gripping and engaging television, and come the final credits on the ten episodes here, chances are you’ll be thirsting for more. For even though you may know how the story ultimately ends, The Tudors is ample proof that the journey there is really what matters. --Jon Foster