Season 4 (2010)
On April 10, 2009, it was announced that Showtime had picked up The Tudors for a fourth season, which contains 10 episodes and began airing on April 11, 2010. It is the final season of the series. Maria Doyle Kennedy, Natalie Dormer, and Annabelle Wallis reprised their roles as Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour, respectively, in individual dream sequences in the final episode.
| No. | # | Title | Setting | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (million) |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 | "Moment of Nostalgia" | Summer 1540 | Dearbhla Walsh | Michael Hirst | 0.88 | April 11, 2010 (2010-04-11) |
| Whitehall Palace, London 1540. Thirty years into the reign of King Henry VIII and it’s been a long, hot, summer: London is experiencing intense heat and there has been no rain for two months. But while his subjects wilt, the King’s vigor remains undiminished. The Reformation goes on and Henry has just married the beautiful Katherine Howard, his fifth Queen, who is a mere seventeen years old. Katherine is different from earlier wives in more ways than age: though born into an aristocratic family, she had been left by her impoverished father in the care of her aunt, who raised her in a large household with little education or supervision. Joan Bulmer, the new Queen’s childhood friend, is hired as a lady in waiting; she knows too much scandalous detail about Katherine’s sexual past to be outside the court. The Queen’s ‘low’ background, combined with her youth and beauty, arouses a lusty familiarity in certain members of Henry’s court. Her most notable admirer is the King’s handsome and ambitious new groom Thomas Culpeper, who makes no secret of his desire for the new Queen during an extended hunting trip visit by the royal entourage. Culpeper unleashes his sexual frustrations by raping an unfortunate local peasant woman and then murdering her aggrieved husband. Meanwhile, Charles Brandon and his wife, Catherine Brandon, are separated after Charles's actions in defeating the Pilgrimage of Grace. | |||||||
| 30 | 2 | "Sister" | Winter 1540 | Dearbhla Walsh | Michael Hirst | April 18, 2010 (2010-04-18) | |
| Thomas Culpepper - principal groom to Henry VIII - continues to make eyes at his King’s young bride, Katherine Howard. He is not alone; the teen Queen inspires many admirers in Henry’s court, not least the King himself who spoils his new wife with an endless supply of extravagant gifts. Lady Rochford gets plenty of gossip about her new mistress from Katherine’s old friend and indiscreet lady-in-waiting Joan Bulmer who hints about their sexual adventures as young ladies. When Rochford sleeps with Culpepper soon after, he doesn’t hide that the Queen is his real desire and she helpfully suggests that she aid him in seducing Katherine. On a drinking binge with his cronies in one of London’s nastiest neighborhoods, the arrogant Lord Surrey persecutes prostitutes, smashes windows and causes general mayhem. Not content with stirring up trouble after dark, Surrey intends to be the scourge of the Seymour brothers – Edward and Thomas - whom he considers mere commoners. As part of the Christmas festivities Henry invites his previous wife Anne of Cleves to the palace. He is pleasantly surprised by her beauty - something he missed when they were married - and delighted by her graciousness. But where once he was the life and soul of such parties, the aging King goes to bed early and the party grows boisterous in his absence. Never before have two of Henry’s wives had such fun together, nor have so many of his male courtiers enjoyed openly ogling their Queen, nor has Princess Mary ever hated a Queen as much as she hates Katherine Howard, since Katherine's cousin, and mother of Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn, was on the throne. | |||||||
| 31 | 3 | "Something for You" | Spring 1541 | Dearbhla Walsh | Michael Hirst | April 25, 2010 (2010-04-25) | |
| Henry VIII is in great spirits. Buoyed by the happiness that a young wife brings an aging man, he is noticeably more tolerant and forgiving than the Henry of old. He pardons a criminal, visits Princess Elizabeth and plans a visit to the North of England – his first visit to the territory that hatched the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ rebellion. Charles Brandon is ordered to go ahead and make preparations. Scenes of rebellion are now closer to home. Unknown to the doting King, his wife Katherine Howard has begun a serious flirtation with Culpeper with the assistance of her lady in waiting, Lady Rochford. Cuckolding the King is a capital offense, but Henry can play by different rules and takes his pleasure in the bed of Anne of Cleves, the ex-wife he once thought ugly. A large and impressive entourage accompanies the King, Queen and Princess Mary north to the city of Lincoln for the royal visit. In his appreciation for the warm welcome he receives, Henry gives a speech forgiving the city for its earlier revolt, and the Lady Mary gives a speech. Feeling benevolent and powerful once more, the King longs to be with his young bride but his troublesome leg-wound makes him tired and irritable and confines him to his room. Thomas Culpepper, on the other hand, is young, passionate and fit for a Queen. | |||||||
| 32 | 4 | "Natural Ally" | Summer/ Autumn 1541 | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | 0.90 | May 2, 2010 (2010-05-02) |
| Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire was the only royal property captured by the rebels during the Catholic uprising known as the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’. In a symbolic gesture, it now welcomes Henry and his large entourage. Rejuvenated by the affection he has experienced in his tour of the north of England, Henry feels a stirring sexual energy towards his Queen. Charles Brandon, on the other hand, senses death as he remembers the hangings and punishments he oversaw as the King’s representative during the Northern rebellion. In a castle full of ghosts, Queen Katherine sees something like one when a young man arrives at her door. He is Francis Dereham, one of the men she had sexual liaisons with before she married the King... and he wants a job. Threatened with blackmail, she has little choice but to give in. Katherine Howard’s past begins to catch up with her on another front. | |||||||
| 33 | 5 | "Bottom of the Pot" | Winter 1541/February 13, 1542 | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | 0.93 | May 9, 2010 (2010-05-09) |
| The King receives an anonymous letter accusing his wife of sexual relationships with two men, including Francis Dereham. Henry thinks the whole thing is a fraud but nonetheless orders an investigation, to be led by Lord Hertford. Queen Katherine is shocked to be confined to her apartments by the King’s orders, with no visitors permitted. The investigation into her past moves with speed: Francis Dereham is arrested and interrogated; Joan Bulmer is questioned, as is the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, at whose home Joan and Katherine lived as young women, where their immoral acts are rumored to have taken place. Dereham confesses that he and Katherine Howard had planned to get married and that he knew her carnally before she became Queen — a serious revelation, but not adultery. Uncharacteristically, Henry weeps when told of these discoveries. Nevertheless, his response is unsentimental and swift: Katherine Howard is removed from court and her title as Queen withdrawn. Her pleas for understanding and forgiveness are coldly ignored, but she knows she is lucky to escape with her life. Francis Dereham is brutally tortured as Lord Hertford seeks to establish whether Katherine committed adultery. Dereham denies the charge but points to Thomas Culpepper, who is promptly arrested. Furious that the betrayal was widely known, Henry isolates himself from his court. Later, Katherine Howard, Thomas Culpepper, Francis Dereham and Lady Rochford are all executed, and Joan is lucky to escape with her life. Betrayed, bruised but unbowed, the King gives a banquet, attended only by 26 beautiful young women. | |||||||
| 34 | 6 | "You Have My Permission" | 1542 | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | May 16, 2010 (2010-05-16) | |
| In a surprise decision, the King orders a new Act of Parliament which restores the succession rights of his two daughters, Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth, and, although they are next in line after their younger brother Edward, it is a powerful gesture of his love, which will have historical consequences. The King dispatches Hertford and his arch enemy the Earl of Surrey north to warn the King of Scotland that any further acts of aggression will be responded to with the might of England’s armies. But Surrey is no man for issuing warnings, and the body count is high at the Battle of Solway Moss. Meanwhile, both the ambassador of France and the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire seek the support of Henry in attacking each other. To the surprise of his court, Henry sides with the Catholic Emperor, for the first time since he was married to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. The Catholic alliance signals a weakening of the Reformation’s influence in English politics. Realizing that the tide is turning, Bishop Stephen Gardiner goes on the hunt for suspected Calvinists. Single once again, Henry takes an interest in the twice-married Catherine Parr, a woman closer to his own age than his usual fancies. She has in mind to marry Thomas Seymour, but within hours of her husband’s death, Seymour is hastily transferred to Brussels as permanent Ambassador, and the King proposes marriage. | |||||||
| 35 | 7 | "Sixth and the Final Wife" | 1543 | Jeremy Podeswa | Michael Hirst | 0.95 | May 23, 2010 (2010-05-23) |
| Henry marries Catherine Parr, his sixth and final wife. The wedding is notable for the presence of Henry’s daughters, the now restored Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. Catherine is determined to be a loving stepmother to the King’s children, who are fond of her in return. Plans are made for the invasion of France, and Charles Brandon is named commander of the English armies. The emissaries of the Emperor Charles, with whom Henry has formed an alliance, are entertained in great style at the English court where, to their surprise and delight, Princess Mary addresses them in Spanish. As the Catholic influence increases, Bishop Gardiner begins to investigate the new Queen’s religious beliefs. She is rumored to be a secret Protestant and he intends to expose her. But any such suspicions are excused by the courage and commitment she shows in nursing the King when he is once again struck down by his ulcerous leg. There has never been a Queen so attentive to Henry at his most vulnerable. The war effort is elaborate and costly. Three hundred ships have been requisitioned to take guns, wagons, horses and the army to France. The King may not be in peak condition but he is determined to lead his armies into battle, to recapture both the lands he once held and a glimmer of his youth. To the shock and horror of Bishop Gardiner, the King appoints Catherine regent in his absence, protector of the realm and guardian of his children. The new Queen rises to the opportunity with ease and is well liked and respected by all. | |||||||
| 36 | 8 | "As It Should Be" | 1544 | Jeremy Podeswa | Michael Hirst | 0.99 | June 6, 2010 (2010-06-06) |
| The year is 1544. Under the supervision of Henry VIII, the Earl of Surrey and his men attempt to undermine the French fortifications at Boulogne. Clearly pleased to be once again in the field of battle, the King dines and entertains in style at his tent some distance from the action. But progress is slow and conditions are appalling for his soldiers. Over two thousand men die of disease and starvation and another three thousand fall ill as ‘the flux’ sweeps the King’s camp. When hope of success seems all but lost, Treviso, the King’s engineer, explodes a mine that spectacularly brings down the city's walls. The French surrender to a gloating Henry, who returns to England in triumph and commands festivities and celebrations throughout the land. Charles Brandon, who has been separated from his wife for some time, finds happiness with a young Frenchwoman, Brigitte, who returns with him from France. While Henry too has been rejuvenated by the siege of Boulogne, given a taste once more of the vigor and vitality of his youth, he may have pushed his already weakened body too far. | |||||||
| 37 | 9 | "Secrets of the Heart" | 1544 – 1546 | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | 0.72 | June 13, 2010 (2010-06-13) |
| King Henry VIII is aging rapidly: the recent siege of Boulogne has taken its toll, his ulcerous leg is constantly in pain, and he now requires glasses to read. Political events continue to be tumultuous and exhausting. The profligate Earl of Surrey, a noble not known for his sense of judgment, loses 600 men in an unprovoked battle in France, endangering Henry’s recent success at Boulogne. News arrives that the King of France is preparing for war and, worse, that the Emperor Charles, England’s recent ally, has seized English ships and properties. The rising influence of Bishop Gardiner is signaled by the appointment of a Catholic, Wriothesley, to the important position of Lord Chancellor. Nonetheless the Lutherans continue with their radical reforms, the latest of which is women preachers. One such preacher, Anne Askew, is imprisoned and tortured by Wriothesley and then burnt at the stake for her perceived heresies. Sir Richard Rich brings bad news to the Princess Mary; her best friend, and long-time confidant, Eustace Chapuys, is dead. Mary avows that it is all her fault for not being a boy, and declares, that, if she becomes Queen, then she will return England to the true faith. Sensing their rise in authority, Gardiner and his allies are determined to trap Queen Catherine. Brazenly, the Bishop suggests to the King that he has proof of her heresy. Henry confuses the Bishop with the reply that even if this were true – and he probably knows that it is - he would spare her life. The Earl of Surrey, however, is not so fortunate. Defiant on his return to court, he fails to convince Henry’s Privy Council with his explanation of how so many men were lost under his command in France. His rank is withdrawn and the King refuses to see him. Surrey’s wild antics and attitude have won him no friends among Henry’s closest advisers, and he is arrested on charges of treason. After a quick and one-sided trial he is sentenced to death. | |||||||
| 38 | 10 | "Death of a Monarchy" | January 1547 | Ciarán Donnelly | Michael Hirst | 0.68 | June 20, 2010 (2010-06-20) |
| Henry is forced to surrender Boulogne, his great prize, as part of a peace treaty with France. But where, in the past, he might have felt anger, his feelings now turn melancholic with the news that King Francis, his long-time friend and sometimes foe, is dying. There is a slow, quiet and nonetheless inevitable shifting of allegiances as Henry’s own health begins to fade. Factions are forming at court as thoughts turn towards a successor. Some see Prince Edward, Henry’s son by Jane Seymour, as his natural heir while others, notably Bishop Gardiner, are determined to restore a Catholic to the throne in the person of Princess Mary. Under the orders of Gardiner, an arrest warrant for Queen Catherine is issued on the grounds of heresy. However, when Wriothesley and his men come to arrest the Queen – believing that they are carrying out the King’s orders - they are brutally rebuffed by Henry in a complex psychological game that leaves everyone uncertain of his allegiances and beliefs. For his overreaching ambition, Bishop Gardiner is expelled from court. Hearing that Charles Brandon is very ill, the King summons his old friend to court. It is to be their last encounter: Brandon dies soon after and Henry is greatly shaken; his longest and most loyal ally is now gone. Henry also commissions artist Hans Holbein to do a portrait of him, but soon rejects the realistically sickly depiction and demands that Holbein repaint it. He sees the ghosts of his past wives with his children: Katherine of Aragon, who tells him that Mary should have been married and have children of her own by now; Anne Boleyn, who proclaims her innocence of the crimes she was beheaded for and the ill-fated death she and her cousin Katherine Howard had suffered; and Jane Seymour, who tells him that she is upset at young Edward's treatment and that Edward will die young. Realizing that his own death is now imminent, Henry retreats more and more into himself and sends Queen Catherine and his beloved daughters Elizabeth and Mary away from Whitehall Palace, telling them that he will not see them again. Instead of remaining outside the King's chambers as Queen Catherine and Princess Mary do, Elizabeth is the first to leave; Mary expected no different. As Henry sits alone in his room reflecting on his monumentous reign, he is summoned back to see his new portrait, of which he approves, and turns and leaves the room as the titles roll. |
Read more about this topic: List Of The Tudors Episodes, Episode List
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