The Tudors is one of those unique series which has managed to captivate Americans. Now on its third and penultimate series, the reign of Henry VIII is becoming even more tumultuous. Last series, he wedded, bedded and then beheaded Anne Boleyn, casting her aside in favour of Jane Seymour. Now free to wed, Henry is still desperate for a son and Jane is a good candidate to birth him his much wanted child. But the country is in turmoil and the people of the north have gone up in arms as the Pilgimage of Grace to protest at the destruction of their religious buildings in Henry’s anti-Catholic purge.

As with the previous two series, The Tudors shifts between sex and death. It’s a start contrast between the love lives of Henry and his court and the pain and suffering he inflicts on his subjects and, in some cases, his own advisors. In series one it was Cardinal Wolsey, in series two it was Sir Thomas More and Anne Boleyn. Now it is finally the turn of Thomas Cromwell, a man who began as a pious servant of his king but has, in some ways, become just as bad as his master whilst also being the King’s only link to reality. Yet even his longstanding service is ignored and when things don’t go Henry’s way, it’s time to send another scapegoat to be sacrificed. Guess who it is this series?

The Tudors is, as always, a lot of fun to watch. The history might be muddled in places but that’s half the fun. Indeed, I frequently found myself wikipedia-ing the major characters to find out what really happened. The episodes are engaging and the series itself – of which there are just eight episodes – is just long enough to keep interest and also suck you in. Indeed I’m very keen to see the final series when it airs next year as season three ties up the storylines neatly but ends with the promise of Henry VIII’s final two wives.

Presented in HD, the Blu Ray discs offer some nice extra features, mainly in the form of featurettes and interviews. However the real reason for the purchase has to be the sumptuous sets and wardrobes which go hand in hand with a brilliant set of actors recreating one of the most turbulent period of British history.