Entertainment
Raunchy Henry Cavill Drama Leaves You Cheering For One Of History's Most Notorious Figures
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Before Netflix introduced viewers to the royal court of King George and Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, Showtime brought the world of King Henry VIII to life. The Tudors debuted in 2007, and at the time, there had never been a period drama that put so much emphasis on sex, from the politics surrounding it to the English nobles’ never-ending pursuit of more.
Henry the VIII went so far in his pursuit of a male heir and the right to marry whomever he wanted that he created his own religion and forever altered the course of the Catholic Church in the process, which could make for a very dry and boring history lesson, but this is a Showtime production, which makes it the perfect binge for those who want to explore an era so scandalous, it hasn’t been topped in nearly 500 years.
The Affair That Created The Church Of England
The Tudors starts off with a young King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) following his mandated marriage to Katherine of Aragorn (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her inability to produce a male heir. Henry spends his days running around with his friends, Charles the Duke of Suffolk (Henry Cavill in his last pre-Superman role) and Sir Knivert (an underutilized Dead Like Me’s Callum Blue), or spending time with his mistress. It’s not long before a faction of his own court seeks to undermine his authority by deploying Mary Boleyn to win Henry’s attention and pull him into scandal. Mary’s unable to hold his interest, so her father sends in Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer), and the result is the most catastrophic affair in history.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer’s chemistry absolutely sizzles on screen throughout Season 1. If you’ve only ever seen Dormer as Margery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, you saw a small glimpse of what she can do when she sinks her teeth into a meaty role. Anne Boleyn may be doomed from the very start of her relationship with Henry, but that doesn’t stop Dormer from playing her as the one in control up until the very last tragic moment, where she realizes how far Henry will go to get what he wants.
Real history forms the basis for The Tudors but the show plays fast and loose with timelines, personalities, and even mashes together real people, in the case of Burn Notice’s Gabrielle Anwar as Henry’s sister, when in reality he had two sisters. The historical conflict between Henry and the Catholic Church drives the political drama, bolstered in Season 1 by Sam Neill as Cardinal Wolsey, and then Thomas Cromwell, played to absolute slimy perfection by James Frain. If you can’t tell, this telling of English history is brought to life by a never-ending stream of famous faces you’ll recognize, including Henry’s later wives, played by singer Joss Stone and Nip/Tuck’s Joely Richardson.
The Tudors Launched Careers But Not The One You’d Expect
Throughout all four seasons, The Tudors consistently cuts the big historical picture down to Henry’s immediate perspective. You’ll hear about major conflicts taking place with the French, but it’s mainly offscreen and takes a backseat to Henry’s pursuit of his next romantic conquest. The result is a show that starts out fun and breezy, but as his mental health falls apart, it becomes darker, more grim, and what was fun when he was in his 20s becomes more pathetic later in life.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers does an amazing job in capturing the rise and fall of Henry VIII, which is why the show has remarkably consistent critics’ ratings across different websites. Staying within 60 percent on both Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, though audience ratings tend to be higher, approaching the 90s, because everyone loves courtly romance wether it’s from the female perspectives of Bridgerton or the male perspective of The Tudors.
Tragically, it’s also the height of Jonathan Rhys Meyers acting career. The talented star has been battling alcohol addiction for years amid personal family tragedies, leaving the breakout stars of The Tudors to become Natalie Dormer and Henry Cavill. When you watch the show, you’ll see why each was tapped for major franchises the moment production wrapped.
The Tudors helped set the tone for later historical dramas by tossing aside real-world historical details when they interfered with the story, giving the first seasons the feel of medieval Entourage. Available to stream on Paramount+ and anywhere else that includes a Showtime add-on, it’s a fairly quick binge with under 40 episodes, and it moves fast enough that, unlike Henry, you won’t get bored.
Entertainment
BookCon 2026: Authors Rachel Reid, Stephanie Archer talk hockey romance and how it could change the sport for the better
With the fervor of Heated Rivalry, there’s a fierce desire among book readers for even more hockey. On Sunday, April 19, at BookCon, the “You Had Me at Hockey: A Look at One of Sports Romance’s Hottest Genres”, authors Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry, Game Changer), Emily Rath (Pucking Around), Ngozi Ukazu (Check Please), Stephanie Archer (The Wild Card), and Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat & Darcy) were joined by moderator and fellow author Bal Khabra (Collide) to discuss the rise and continued success of hockey romance.
Khabra kicked off the panel, asking just how hockey became so popular. Ukazu joked that it was as if the genre “escaped containment,” like when the Omegaverse went mainstream, while Reid described the mystery around hockey, saying, “what [the players] are doing seems impossible.” Archer also added that the sport itself is exceptionally hard on the body, and the celebrity around players, especially in Canada, is fun to play with.
But there’s more to the genre’s success than the tropes. “It has to be said,” Rath argued, “that the cornerstone of why this is so popular in publishing is racism.” She went on to say that straight, white women’s voices dominated the romance genre for so long, pointing out that hockey is also the whitest sport. Among major league sports, the NHL is the most predominantly white. In 2022, ESPN reported that 83.6% of league players and staff were white, compared to the NFL, where 25-27% of players are white, or the NBA, where white players make up 17.5% of the league.
Mashable Top Stories
Zooming into the genre, the authors also spoke about the writing process. They dove into the deeper aspects of their work, even the smut. Rath said, “I think the least sexy thing you can ever do is write a sex scene.” A similar sentiment came up during Reid’s Saturday panel, where she described using the sex scenes to further the emotional arc. When readers ask authors if they can skip the spice, Archer says of her own books, “No, you can’t skip the sex scenes. You’re missing so much character development if you don’t go on the journey with them.”
The panel turned to the future, too. Many of the authors write BIPOC and queer representation into their novels, in a genre that often centers on whiteness and homophobia. “We’re writing the world as we want it to be,” Rath said.
Reid has found that there is progress toward a future that these authors and their readers want to see, saying that the NHL is interested in working with them. “People on the inside, they really want to work toward change and want to make this happen.”
With the hockey fandom at an all-time high, there’s a whole team behind these authors ready to drive change.
Entertainment
Save on gas (and everything else) with a $15 BJ’s membership
TL;DR: Score a one-year BJ’s membership for $15 (reg. $60) and save up to 20¢/gal. on gas through April 30 — just in time for spring shopping and road trips.
Credit: BJ’s Wholesale Club
The warmer weather tends to sneak up fast, and so do those grocery bills and gas receipts. A one-year membership to BJ’s Wholesale Club is one of those simple upgrades that can make everyday shopping feel a little more manageable.
You can currently grab a Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for just $15 (reg. $60) through April 30, which opens the door to savings across groceries, household essentials, and even your weekend cookout prep.
Mashable Deals
Let’s start with the obvious, though. Gas prices. Members already get everyday savings at BJ’s Gas, but during this promo window, you’ll get an extra 15¢ off per gallon stacked on top of the usual 5¢ discount — bringing your total to 20¢ off per gallon through April 30.
Inside the club, it’s all about stretching your dollar further. BJ’s is known for offering competitive pricing on national brands, plus a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, bakery items, and deli favorites. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, stocking up for a party, or just trying to cut down on weekly grocery runs, buying in bulk can help simplify things.
Mashable Trend Report
There’s also something to be said for convenience. Fewer trips to the store, more options in one place, and access to seasonal items that make spring and summer feel extra special.
Get a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for just $15 (reg. $60) and enjoy an extra 15¢ off per gallon at any of the 199 BJ’s gas stations through April 30.
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Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. Prices subject to change.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $43 bundle quietly upgrades your entire PC experience
TL;DR: This rare Microsoft bundle deal gives you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) through May 17.
$42.97
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Save $376.02
Looking for an affordable way to make your old PC feel new again? If you don’t have the funds to buy a brand new computer, don’t worry. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle is the next best thing, offering your computer a total upgrade for only $42.97 through May 17.
Don’t count out your dusty old PC. This Microsoft bundle is here to give it a total facelift for less than $50. It kicks off with a lifetime license to some of the brand’s most popular tools — Microsoft Office, which you’ll pay for once and enjoy without any subscription fees.
Mashable Deals
You’ll get permanent access to a suite of eight helpful apps with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows. It includes staples that have been around for decades, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You’ll also get newer favorites like Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
Once you’ve loaded the apps onto your device, you can upgrade your OS to Windows 11 Pro. It’s an operating system made for modern professionals, with tools that support your workflow. Enjoy a more powerful search experience, improved voice typing, a seamless interface, snap layouts, and much more.
You can rest easy knowing Windows 11 Pro takes your cybersecurity seriously. You’ll have biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and advanced antivirus defenses to keep your data secure.
Mashable Deals
Show your PC some love with the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro bundle for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) now until May 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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