(Credit: Julie Dennis Brothers/Showtime)
Who cares? Check out all that hot royal action!
Who's that?: Young Henry XIII is portrayed by heartthrob Jonathan Rys Myers (you may remember him from "Match Point" and "Bend it Like Beckham"). Either Myers' acting has improved since last season, or we're getting past his pretty boy exterior. This season's leading lady, Anne Boleyn, the King's mistress-turned-wife, is played by Natalie Dormer, whose breakthrough role in "Cassanova" opposite Heath Ledger put her on the map for period romances. And veteran thespian Peter O'Toole lends some credibility to the cast with his portrayal of Pope Paul II.
Ye olde "ooh" factor: Heaving bosoms in laced-up bodices are only the beginning. Because it's on Showtime, the clothing can actually be ripped all the way off (Hazzah!). With so many ladies-in-waiting hanging around, Anne Boleyn will have to work hard to keep her king's attention—and her head.
Ye olde "eh" factor: Two of the best characters from last season—Wolsey (played by Sam "Look, a dinosaur!" Neill) and court composer Thomas Talis (played by Joe Van Moyland)—are gone. The show juiced up history last season by making Talis gay (though there is no historical evidence to indicate that he was), and this season's new court musician, Mark Smeaton (played by David Alpay), also seems to fancy the boys. Maybe it's all those codpieces?
The verdict: Think "Masterpiece Theatre" meets "The Sopranos," with a little bit of "Desperate Housewives" thrown in. And anyone who stayed awake in high school will remember that Henry still have four wives to go...
