{television} the tudors; season one (2007)

This superb and visually lush Showtime series provides a look at the world of the Tudors in the days when King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) was a handsome, charming, athletic 25-year-old. Inheriting absolute power at a young age, the king indulges his voracious taste for ladies-in-waiting, hangs out with his entourage of young nobles and makes momentous political decisions. The stellar cast includes Jeremy Northam and Sam Neill.

ireviewnetflix.com rating: **** This was much better than I thought it would be. While it did drag a bit towards the end, I really enjoyed the show even during the slow moments. I was really disappointed by HBO's Rome and was worried that I would be disappointed by this Showtime series, but I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed. One of the most satisfying things about this show is the phenomenal cast, especially the hot boys. While lead actor Jonathan Rhys-Myers is very cute (as a young King Henry VIII, perhaps the most infamous king of England ever, second only to King George III, and he's only infamous because of the impact he had on American history), his co-star Henry Cavill (as Charles Brandon) is one of the most beautiful men on the face of the planet. It was also great to see Callum Blue (of the greatly missed Dead Like Me and the short-lived Related) again. James Frain is also wonderful as always. Steve Waddington is also great as the short-lived Edward Stafford. And who doesn't love Sam Neill (of Jurassic Park fame)?