It’s funny that it is being criticised for being too clean. I often hate watching medieval movies/tv shows because they are so dirty. I feel dirty watching them and all I want to do is throw them all in the bath and brush their hair LOL. Sounds like The White Queen might be the best way for me to get my head around the War Of The Roses LOL. I like my actors to look clean. It is one of the reasons I haven’t watched Les Mis yet, too much dirt

Olga said

I recently decided never to read a certain new female historians books because I saw her giving an interview where she said “they didn’t know about hand-washing”. Even recalling it makes me want to poke her in the eye. Twice.

I watched the fourth episode today, I do have a complaint, Elizabeth Woodville always seems to be alone. I know this makes it easier to practice witchcraft, but really there never seems to be a servant around. Even the food magically appears on plates. perhaps she had house elves.

Anything is possible if S.W.M.N.B.N is involved, it’s a wonder she hasn’t made out the Richard was a rampart homosexual……Oh wait a sec she’s already done that with George Boleyn, ahd that made my blood boil to be honest.

Olga said

I object to that, he wasn’t a “rampart homosexual”, he simply had a lover. If you want to look at actual bigotry you can look at Mantel and The Tudors tv series. And Philippa Gregory didn’t come up with that theory, that was Retha Warnicke.

Fair comment it was a little strong I must admit. sorry Olga my bad.

I can cope with the cleanliness – it reminds me of Errol Flynn cavorting round Ye Olde Sherwoode Foreste in bright green tights. I usually embroidery when I watch TV so little things like zips pass me by. I was slightly astonished that they seemed to have given the blood they use for battle scenes a good wash but there we go.

There’s only been one scene I’ve really enjoyed – episode 1 I think, where Jaquetta took on Cecily. Apart from that it’s brain candy at best, so-bad-it’s-almost-funny at worst. If they could just take that final step to so-bad-it’s-funny it would develop a cult following.

As with TOBG the books are better than the adaptation. Even if I don’t enjoy PG’s research I do enjoy her style of writing and I do think she did a good job with Margaret Beaufort in The Red Queen (there was something not quite right about her, which I think PG captured well).

But the thing that is really, really bugging me is the number of women wandering around with their hair uncovered. I’m not sure how many of the portraits of the time are really later copies and might have been changed but I think church brasses and funeral effigies are usually contemporary – from these we know that great ladies covered their hair!

I shall go back to my corner and carry on sulking for the next five weeks now.

well, the rich women anyway.. the less fortunate classes would have worn a cloth cap or head scarf to cover thier hair..Kinda like Last of the Summer Wine.

The problem with those horned and conical headdresses is firstly, they were damn heavy, and secondly, they look stupid. I agree they should have their hair covered but then the hairdressing department would have nothing to do.
I really wonder where the heck they were going with Margaret of Anjou checking out her naked son, what the hell?

I am still enjoying it more than the Tudors. It’s such a nice change not to see all of the actresses breasts every three minutes.

Margaret and her son Edward have been given a ‘Disney villains’ air in this show. The makers have even given young Edward the ol’ Pre-Raphaelite dark rings under the eyes treatment, suggesting (according to some writers) a ‘depraved and decadent sexuality.”

Olga said

I nearly drowned myself after watching Season 3 of the Borgias.

Margaret could be quite ruthless in her nature and I knew she was bringing up Edward to be just as ruthless. If memory serves Margaret who secured a victory against the Yorkist followers had a number of prisoners brought before and asked her son what he should do to them. His answer was to slaughter the lot of them. Not to mention that Margaret (who I felt could be quite spiteful at times) had a paper crown made for the Duke of York when she had defeated him and chopped his head off which she stuck on a pike, complete with paper crown above the gates of York.

There was probably a reason for her ruthlessness. There were also rumours kicking around that Edward was not even Henry’s son anyway? In fact Jasper Tudor has been mentioned a few times in connection with just who was the father of Prince Edward.

Thank You Olga I wasn’t sure as I said.
I watched the first series of the Borgias, but I got bored with it after 3 episodes I just found it exremely dull and tedious.

Sharon said

Yes, Boleyn Elizabeth was paraded out naked when she was seven months old. Henry was looking to a marriage between Elizabeth and the third son of the French king. When the French diplomats came to inspect her, she was first, brought out fully clothed. Then she was shown to them naked. The reason being so they could personally refute any rumors of physical defects.
I can’t stand any of those headdresses of that era. I don’t know how those women could stand up let alone walk with a three foot upside down ice cream cone atop their head.
The Borgias gave me the creeps. I watched it for a few weeks, but I always came away feeling dirty, like I had to take a shower after each episode. I gave up early on in the first season.

The Ice cream cone hats, provided some entertainment for the men in court when it was too wet and cold to go out anywhere. They would get all the ladies together get them to kneel together on the floor and play ring toss with them, the first man to get 10 rings on one of the hats gets to have a bit of fun with the best looking bird in the villiage. Wouldn’t of been any use playing it down here in Rochester castle, the only bird around here is Dolly Clackett and she’s been offering it for years LOL….
As for the Borg………………………………..oh sorry must have nodded off for a few moments there. Yep I with you on this one like I said I watch 3 well 2 and a half episodes in the first series and that was it. I found it monotinous and boring.