So, as a Portuguese I was eager to see what would come out of the weeding between princess Margaret and the king of Portugal. And honestly, the result of this episode 4 was very "surprising" (not in a very good way, to say the least).
For this I have to highlight two points: 1- historical facts and 2- characterization of a nation.
Historically speaking, this marriage didn't occur nor the old decrepit and cartoonished portuguese king presented in this episode ever existed. For the specific time frame of when the action of this episode is supposed to happen, one of two portuguese kings could be pictured: D.Manuel I that ruled until 1521 and died with 52years (had 3 wives, none of them related with the Tudors) and D.João III with 19years that ruled afterwords (had one wife also not related with the Tudors). Princess Margaret (sister of king Henry VIII) married three times and none of them was a portuguese king. Perhaps this is why the portuguese king in the series never is presented with a name... And yes, spoiler free, I'm not going to refer the last scene of the episode as it is absurd.
The characterization (more ridicularization) of the portuguese king and his court is simply ridiculous and I would say very offensive and ultrageous to Portugal and the Portuguese people. Besides the fact that this king never existed, he is shown as an ugly, big eared, decrepit, rude, illiterate, filthy (scene with the dirty feet) and sexually gluttonous old man. The members of his court are presented as men without any civility and the women as old almost with the appearance of witches. On the weeding night scene the Portuguese court is presented with an infamous and gossipy curiosity as they try to observe the copulation (why???). The showrunners of the series didn't even bother to present ONE person of Portugal with a presentable/likeable appearance.
I know and understand that the necessity to slightly modify or even conceal some historical events exists when making a series or a movie based on the same but I believe that this was to much. I haven't seen the following episodes yet but I cannot see the purpose of dragging Portugal to the series when the historical facts are clearly not respected and the worst part is lowering the image of Portugal and of the Portuguese people. Honestly, what was the point?
Series - actor that plays the King part + facts
For this I have to highlight two points: 1- historical facts and 2- characterization of a nation.
Historically speaking, this marriage didn't occur nor the old decrepit and cartoonished portuguese king presented in this episode ever existed. For the specific time frame of when the action of this episode is supposed to happen, one of two portuguese kings could be pictured: D.Manuel I that ruled until 1521 and died with 52years (had 3 wives, none of them related with the Tudors) and D.João III with 19years that ruled afterwords (had one wife also not related with the Tudors). Princess Margaret (sister of king Henry VIII) married three times and none of them was a portuguese king. Perhaps this is why the portuguese king in the series never is presented with a name... And yes, spoiler free, I'm not going to refer the last scene of the episode as it is absurd.
The characterization (more ridicularization) of the portuguese king and his court is simply ridiculous and I would say very offensive and ultrageous to Portugal and the Portuguese people. Besides the fact that this king never existed, he is shown as an ugly, big eared, decrepit, rude, illiterate, filthy (scene with the dirty feet) and sexually gluttonous old man. The members of his court are presented as men without any civility and the women as old almost with the appearance of witches. On the weeding night scene the Portuguese court is presented with an infamous and gossipy curiosity as they try to observe the copulation (why???). The showrunners of the series didn't even bother to present ONE person of Portugal with a presentable/likeable appearance.
I know and understand that the necessity to slightly modify or even conceal some historical events exists when making a series or a movie based on the same but I believe that this was to much. I haven't seen the following episodes yet but I cannot see the purpose of dragging Portugal to the series when the historical facts are clearly not respected and the worst part is lowering the image of Portugal and of the Portuguese people. Honestly, what was the point?
Series - actor that plays the King part + facts
