The Tudors
The Act of Succession
TV Flash files “The Act of Succession” as hour 14 of 38 in the TV Flash guide — The Tudors (2007–2010) on Showtime, season 2, episode 4, aired 2008-04-20, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E04: listed hour 14 of 38 in the The Tudors guide, hour 4 of 10 in season 2. It aired 2008-04-20 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Checkmate” (S02E03). Next is “His Majesty's Pleasure” (S02E05).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Questions of faith dominate the court. As the infant Princess Elizabeth is baptised, Thomas Cromwell unveils the 'Act of Succession', declaring that only children of Henry and Anne are legitimate successors to the English throne. A law is passed where every royal subject must take an oath, on pain of death, recognising the validity of the King's new marriage and the supremacy of Henry VIII in all matters. Although Charles Brandon reluctantly does so – thus restoring him to the King's favor again – Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More refuse and are imprisoned in the Tower. Catherine of Aragon lives now in total seclusion, and Lady Mary is sent to be a maid to the baby Princess Elizabeth, her half-sister. Anne soon discovers the identity of the King's new mistress and secretly has her brother George banish her. Pregnant again to Henry's delight, Anne, at her father's prompting, tacitly approves of the king's infidelity while she is with child, albeit those of her own choosing and posing no political threat to her.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Act of Succession sit in the The Tudors guide?
S02E04 is listed hour 14 of 38 — hour 4 of 10 in season 2, season 2 episode 4.
When did The Tudors S02E04 air?
The Act of Succession aired 2008-04-20 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…