I am finding the Showtime series, the Tudors, being one narrative of the life of Henry VIII of England that makes plausible the inner motivations of the king, not just the political ones. It is one of the most “authentic” stories of that time, if one can overlook the conflation of certain characters, and the frequent wild anachronisms in dress. The court scenes are quite elegant and certainly a lot cleaner than the actual court or Henry VIII probably was. The costume designer has taken considerable artistic license which when it was confined the mainly the women’s headpieces I could tolerate. One can forgive the sewing of the sleeves to the bodice as in modern times. However, Queen Anne Boleyn appeared in the latest episode in a high necked dress that reeked of Victoriana. It also showed St. Peter’s Basilica with the completed dome and forecourt neither of which were complete in the time of Paul III. [1590 and 1667 respectively]
However, this is the most plausible interpretation of Henry VIII, I have ever encountered, in print or in film. It shows the evolution of “King Harry” from a playboy prince who acceded to the throne young, and spent the early part of his reign leaving the affairs of state to others to the autocrat who ruled with absolute power, and too often motivated by emotional whims. However, I believe it is accurate in revealing that despite his despotic nature, Henry was a quite a thinking man, and hints that one of his motivations for changing his feelings about Anne Boleyn was his regret over the execution of his former advisor and chancellor, Thomas More.
