Tudors Online

I just posted my review of episode three and was a bit shocked by how many questions I had from the episode.

- Why was Henry so easily accepting of Elizabeth when just a few weeks prior he hadn't even been sure he was his child. How did we skip around that fact?

- Why did Brandon have such a huge change of heart about breaking his promises to the northerners when just the week prior he had told the King he'd tell them all kinds of things and not keep the pledges?

- Why does Sir Francis Bryan have an obvious death wish (taking up with Edward's sister)?

- Why are all the brothers of the Queen total jerks?

I can only think of possible explanations for the first two.

If you remember a lot of how Henry acted towards Mary last season, it seems that pattern is repeating here. He had stripped Mary of her birthright, denied allowing her to even communicate with her mother, made her a house servant, yet when he saw her on his visit to Elizabeth, he bowed to her. Despite all the crap that was going on, she was still his daughter and there was still a love for her. I think that this kind of has extended to Elizabeth in this past episode. Whatever the issues with her mother, she is still a very little child, that combined with how happy he has been with both Mary and Jane, it would have really looked horrible to everyone if he would have just dismissed this little girl from court. Even though he said about the fact that she may not be his daughter, I think in the back of his mind he knows she is but due to the craziness that happened with Ann, he can't always show that type of affection in public except for under such circumstances as the above.

I think that Brandon's major moral dilemma is the fact that he has now been ordered by the king to kill basically everyone that was involved with the rebellion, showing no mercy. Before Henry was all about punishing just the leaders now he wants vengeance on the whole lot. He could have lived with himself if he would have just had to bring justice upon the leaders but on everyone else, that seems to be a different story. Besides, with his hatred of Cromwell, I'm sure that a part of him can understand where the rebels were coming from even though it would be treasonous to say that he agreed with them.

Just my couple of cents on the questions you raised!

Can we ever understand Henry's emotions? :p I think when he declared that Elizabeth was not his he was acting like a spoilt child. Out of all of his children I think Elizabeth resembled him the most, she was undeniably his daughter. I'm sure Henry would of been informed of Elizabeth's intelligence and many other accomplishments, this would have surely softened him towards her. I agree with Lady Tudor too, if Henry was overly affectionate towards Elizabeth, people would have whispered. In truth he was a devoted father, in his own way.

Brandon's story is just so messed up haha It was NEVER the Duke of Suffolk who met with the rebels anyway, Henry sent Norfolk not Brandon. I don't know why but Brandon's character is really annoying me lately. I haven't liked him since Season 1. In season 2 he randomly developed a hatred for Anne, had her removed and is now after Cromwell. He confuses me, if he were truly a Catholic then I doubt he'd go and murder all of those Northerners, but I am sure Henry's wrath would be enough persuasion.

Jane's brothers were horrible men. They only get worse, especially Thomas! But don't worry Edward is beheaded soon enough (by his own nephew) and Thomas doesn't fair any better really. I AM biased, but I dislike the whole Seymour faction, I suspect the real Jane was similar to her brothers - but thats just my opinion.

I think that plays Henry pretty true to form. He was very changeable all his life. Look how fiercely he loved Anne, and then just callously had her killed. He would have killed Katherine too if he thought he would have gotten away with it. The older he got the more irrascible he became, and everyone walked on eggshells around him for fear of setting off his temper. As for Elizabeth, she was very like him in appearance and boldness, so I'm sure once Henry allowed her back into his presence he was enchanted with her.

Sounds like they're playing the Seymours true to form too. They were every bit as conniving as Thomas Boleyn and Norfolk. They pushed Jane towards Henry, and then tried to rule through Edward when he became king. But I too am biased as I don't like the Seymours either.