'Tudors' Emmy entry for best series debuts Sunday
If "The Tudors" breaks into the top 10 finalists for best drama series after a popular vote of TV academy members as I believe it will, Showtime plans to enter Episode 205 to the judges who'll decide the final five nominees. It's also being submitted in the races for writing, visual effects and supporting actor (Jeremy Northam as Sir Thomas More). Tune in to its premiere Sunday, April 27. The episode repeats throughout the week.
I've seen it and the rest of the remaining episodes, by the way, and agree that this is a solid choice. I have a shameful admission to make, though. While viewing, I fast-forwarded through most of the scenes. It's all about Sir Thomas More valiantly refusing to take the oath acknowledging King Henry VIII as the head of the English church. Like you, I've seen "A Man for All Seasons" 10 times, but worse, in my case, I played Thomas Cromwell a few dozen times at St. Joseph High School in Cleveland. I kinda know what More's saying during all those blah-blah-blah cries-to-heaven scenes and must take a pass. Another reason I couldn't watch those scenes: Check out the photo below. Doesn't it bother you that More is burning a candle needlessly when he's got all that daylight streaming in? Shouldn't he go to hell for that?
But this dramatic material (sans the candle bit) feels very important and has won success at past show-biz awards. "A Man for All Seasons" won six Oscars, including best picture of 1966 and best actor (Paul Scofield), of course. A few years earlier, in 1962, the Broadway stage version swept the Tonys, claiming four awards, including best play and actor (Scofield there too). Pretentious show-biz folks, who vote on these awards, gobble this stuff up.
Want to learn more about Episode 205? Beware: SPOILERS ahead, but there are also some nifty screen shots of big scenes when you CLICK HERE!
BREAKING NEWS: Jonathan Rhys Myers has switched his episode to No. 209 - READ MORE.
Photos below: Yeah, yeah, Henry's a weasel who wenches around his castles and countryside all the time, but, hey, he took time out to comfort Anne Boleyn after another one of her miscarriages and assures her that everything will be all right — just a few TV episodes before he whacks her head off.
Sir Thomas More goes before a holy tribunal to answer for his refusal to swear the oath. Once he's found guilty of treason, Henry is tortured by the decision he must make to chop off the head of his dear ol' chum too. In a chapel one night, he rages at a crucifix, "To you I confess and only to you! I love him. And I hate him. I hate in equal measure to my love because he is the spirit that denies me!" (This is a really nifty scene, by the way.)
But, alas, silly Thomas' noggin must still be lifted from his neck. Far away, somehow, when the ax falls, his pal Henry feels the pain.
