The Tudors
In Cold Blood
TV Flash files “In Cold Blood” as a desk essential hour — The Tudors (2007–2010) on Showtime, season 1, episode 1, aired 2007-04-01, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 38 in the The Tudors guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 2007-04-01 (60 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “Simply Henry” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “In Cold Blood”. In Cold Blood opens Jonathan Rhys Meyers's smolder: Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, accuracy arguments already in the corridor.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Henry's uncle, Ambassador to Urbino, is assassinated by the French and Henry seizes upon this event to plan a war with France to establish his immortal reputation and seize back the title of King of France. More interested in his own ambitions, the Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, manipulates the young king to propose a "Treaty of Universal Peace" with France instead. Thomas More, Henry's teacher and a humanist, is in favour of the treaty which further convinces a reluctant Henry to abandon his war plans. A summit is to take place in France, and—against Katherine's express wishes—their daughter Mary is to be betrothed to the Dauphin of France, also still a child. Meanwhile, Henry has a rival to the throne in the Duke of Buckingham, a blood relative to earlier Kings. Buckingham plots to murder Henry and thus grab the throne for himself, letting Thomas Boleyn and the Duke of Norfolk in on his plan. Boleyn's beautiful daughters Mary and Anne prepare to meet King Henry; meanwhile, Henry discovers that Lady Elizabeth Blount, his mistress and one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, is pregnant with his child.
Viewer FAQ
Where does In Cold Blood sit in the The Tudors guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 38 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did The Tudors S01E01 air?
In Cold Blood aired 2007-04-01 and is listed at 60 minutes.
How accurate is The Tudors?
Looser than some prestige cousins. Accuracy arguments are the aftertaste; the series never slowed the seduction to wait for them.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, and a court that dresses viciousness in velvet. The Tudors is Showtime historical soap — Jonathan Rhys Meyers smolder, Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn, and accuracy arguments that never once slowed the seduction.
The group chat has been in a Henry VIII discourse for four seasons and it is not going to stop because a history department typed in all caps. Michael Hirst's The Tudors (2007–2010) is Showtime historical soap: Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the crown with movie-star abs, Henry Cavill, Natalie Dormer's breakout Anne Boleyn, Sam Neill's Wolsey, Maria Doyle Kennedy, James Frain. Wives as foreign policy. Court intrigue as weekly addiction. Looser with history than some prestige cousins; accuracy arguments never once slowed…
Filed against
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII
Jonathan Rhys Meyers’s Henry VIII turned The Tudors into Showtime historical soap — movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, a court that dresses viciousness in velvet. Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn, accuracy arguments that never once…
- Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon
Henry Cavill's Charles Brandon smoldered through The Tudors as court muscle — Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, Showtime historical soap dressing viciousness in velvet. Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Natalie Dormer's Anne…
- Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn
Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn made The Tudors’ velvet viciousness a seduction — 2000s Showtime historical soap, Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, Jonathan Rhys Meyers smolder, accuracy arguments that never once…
- Sam Neill as Cardinal Wolsey
Sam Neill's Cardinal Wolsey dressed The Tudors' viciousness in velvet — Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, Showtime historical soap, Jonathan Rhys Meyers smolder, Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn. Accuracy arguments…
- Maria Doyle Kennedy as Catherine of Aragon
Maria Doyle Kennedy held the first marriage as Catherine of Aragon on The Tudors — Henry VIII with movie-star abs, wives as foreign policy, a court that dresses viciousness in velvet. Showtime historical soap, smolder, accuracy arguments…
- James Frain as Thomas Cromwell
James Frain’s Thomas Cromwell worked The Tudors like foreign policy in velvet — Henry’s court, wives as strategy, Showtime historical soap that never let an accuracy argument slow the seduction. Quiet menace with a ledger. TV Flash files…