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 This
episode was a must-see. If you missed it and are by
chance reading this review as a means of catching up - stop what
you're doing and watch the episode via OnDemand. Try as I
might to adequately explain how powerful and significant this
episode was - I'm sure I'll fall short.
One aspect of doing
a historical show is that the viewer often knows how the story will
play out. With The Tudors - we know what fate will befall
lovely Anne Boleyn. We also knew that our dear William Compton
would meet his untimely death due to the sweating sickness.
That said -
watching Compton succumb to this illness was not an easy task.
Compton has been one of my favorites since the start of the series.
He was a strong friend to Henry, albeit one who was often
overlooked. And it appears he had finally found love with
composer Thomas Tallis. But it was not meant to be. Shortly
after Thomas left for Paris with Wolsey, Compton fell sick.
When Thomas returns
from his travels abroad - he is devastated by the loss. He
visits William's grave and breaks his mandolin against the wooden
cross marking the grave. While later composing a song for his
departed love, he runs into two women. In an obvious effort to
ease his pain - he begins a relationship with one of the sisters,
Joan. According to history - Thomas actually married a woman
named Joan. His real wife outlived him by four years.
Not sure if this is meant to be the same Joan - considering that she
also died in this episode due to the sweating sickness.
Before I move on -
in all of my research I've not been able to find any mention that
Thomas Tallis and William Compton had a relationship. Do you
have any details you want to share? If so,
send us an email. We'd love to hear from you.
From what I've read - it appears that they couldn't have had a
relationship simply due to timing. Tallis came to court in
1543 and Compton died in 1528.
Despite being such
a depressing episode, there were also some moments of pure hilarity.
I loved that Anne had lunch with Wolsey and Henry. And that
later in the episode she writes a letter pledging her support and
admiration. Even Wolsey knew it was a lie. It also
appears that she is now becoming a more public part of Henry's life.
Later in the episode we even find her attending a business meeting
between Henry and the new French ambassador. She gives the
ambassador a greyhound dog as a gift. She names it Wolsey.
Funny and clever girl. What was also amusing during that scene
was that the King was being heckled by someone in the woods.
"Go back to your wife" the guy screamed. I love that no one
went to get the guy until Henry made a gesture. Maybe they
agree with the heckler?
 With
that, the sweating sickness finally reaches the King's castle.
I had heard rumors of Henry's intense fear of illness and I think
that was beautifully portrayed in this episode by showing his
massive medicine cabinet. He had an ointment or a pill for
pretty much everything you can think of.
One thing that became very apparent to me in this episode is just
how much the King loved Queen Catherine. He was constantly
concerned for her safety and well-being. Aside from that,
there were several touching scenes between Henry and his wife.
Especially during the times of prayer. I agree, now more than
ever, with the Queen when she said that she had Henry's heart.
I believe that she truly did. His desire with Anne was for
something he couldn't have. And also for what he needed - an
heir.
Readers of these
reviews will also know I've been a longtime fan of Brandon. I
am baffled by his random affair in this episode. It came out
of left field and there was no explanation for it. Is he
having problems with Margaret? Last we saw them - things
seemed well between them. Is the purpose of this dalliance to
show us that Brandon is still the same guy he has always been?
If it's not - I'm confused.
And the dear Anne
Boleyn. Natalie did a fantastic job this episode. It was
wonderful that she finally had some substance to play with.
The scene where she was comforting her maid was superb.
Oftentimes while watching The Tudors - I forget that Anne has other
sides to her personality. Sides that are different than her
being manipulative. She risked her life by putting her arms
around her maid who was affected by the illness. And given the
opportunity to do it again - one must suspect that she would have
done the same thing. It makes me wonder if the only reason
Anne is manipulative is because it's part of the duty she must
fulfill for her father. I'd like to believe that this tender
side of her is the more real part of who she is. But as is
evident from the poem that Thomas Wyatt was writing in the last
episode and as he so clearly mentioned - if she gets her way, it
will put the entire country in a roar.
Anne becomes
terribly ill with the sweating sickness. After being told by
the King to head to her father's home (far away from the Castle), we
find that Anne is having trouble breathing. She gets out of
the coach and begins to walk. If we are to believe what the
doctor said earlier in the episode - about exercise being a
potential cure for the illness - it's quite possible that this walk
home is what saved Anne's life.
Not only is Anne
near death, but it appears several people in the King's Court are
ill and/or have died. Wolsey has also been affected but he,
like Anne, make it through. William Compton's common-law wife
does not.
Henry also appears
to be having symptoms - but one must wonder if in his case, it's
simply paranoia. He is hallucinating and seeing things.
From maggots in his food to the devil when he is confessing at
church. Despite all the death and destruction around them - it
appears the only key player we've lost this episode is our dear
William Compton. :(
And finally - after
a prolonged break - the King and his mistress are back in each
others arms. I tend to think that if Anne wasn't in love with
the King before, she certainly is now. Having made it through
such a trying time when almost everyone around them died, they seem
overjoyed to be able to be near each other again.
Until next week
....
(images are
copyrighted by Showtime Networks, Inc.)
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