Blood, Sex & Royalty (2022– ) User Reviews

Unexpected Yet Good

[BABSBunny24 · 7/10 · 26 April 2023]

Some reviewers are complaining that this docudrama has been altered for millennials. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that millennials are roughly 30 to 40 years old. Perhaps they're thinking of Gen Zer's.

That said, I would definitely agree that this series has been modernized. I certainly wasn't expecting to hear pop songs and newer slang. However, after an adjustment period, I rather enjoyed it.

I've read a lot of historical fiction and nonfiction about Henry VIII, Anne, and the other "characters" as well as watched movies, documentaries, etc. I very much appreciated hearing the tale told from Anne's POV, and if the modernization makes it more accessible to newer audiences, great. We already have so many traditional forms of this particular section of history; it was rather refreshing to see the creators try something different.

I also really liked the blend of re-enactments with the historians commentary. Overall, I believe this rendition humanized Anne much more than many others have.

Educational, but not everyone's cup of tea

[mmn1803 · 7/10 · 3 December 2022]

Boomer here, and American. At first, the show was confusing (modern language, actions and music.) However, once I just accepted the mode of presentation, I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised with finding out new and interesting nuggets, including an expanded context for the creation of the Church of England and other historical information (like the card game!) Much of this info might be old hat to UK viewers, but I ended up enjoying the series.

Regarding the criticisms about "dumbing down" history for modern audiences: perhaps this series should be viewed as a gateway for younger audiences to relate, i.e., "approachable history" that draws them in. I grew up on the insufferably dry stuff, and find a bit of fresh air here. There is an applicable quote from one of humanity's best poets: The Times They Are a-Changin'

Expected more of this

[tannegie · 5/10 · 23 November 2022]

This is about Anne Boleyn. The second wife of Henry VIII of England. And how their romance became the reason why and how the Church of Ebgland was established. Though set up as a documentary with comment from history specialists and tough they have their facts right, the thing that bothers me most is the portrayal of events. Anne speaks to the vieuwer directly breaking the 4th wall, wich becomes amnoying. Furthermore the costuming is historically incorrect especially when the women aren't wearing headdresses. Anne is shown multiple times with her hair loose or simply tight back with a hairpin. She was famous for wearing the then fashionable 'French Hood'. With wich she is shown only once in this series. But also the Gable Hood was in vogue then and none of the ladies is wearing that Tudor style icon. It was regarded inappropiate for women to go in public with their hair uncovered. And Catherine of Aragon is yet again portrayed with darkbrown hair, when in reality she was a reddish blonde with blue eyes. It is something that is often done in series and films about the Tudors to emphazise that Catherine was from Spain.

Worth a watch

[sarahlouiserescue · 7/10 · 25 November 2022]

As a history buff of course i watched this. Its worth noting this is fir entertainment rather than educational. The interviews with the historians are great but again remember this has been made for entertainment. Modern use of language and slang. It gives you the very basic bare bone facts but that's all. It's entertaining but that's it. Take it with a pinch of salt and do your own research. Queen Anne Boleyn is one of, if the the most interesting queen in history. An amazing woman who is often mis-represented in history. The actress was a good in the role as Anne, the other actors I didn't really take too. It's only 3 episodes long which in my opinion is far too short and they tried to cram in far too much into these episodes.

A binge-watch and an Anne Boleyn with feminism

[lan-1688 · 7/10 · 27 November 2022]

Blood, Sex & Royalty, the three-episode mini adaptation of Henry VIII-Anne Boleyn's story is a binge-watch. To be honest, I finished it all at once and totally enjoyed the flow. Netflix continues to add elements of drama into documentary, making it difficult to define its genre. Indeed it is a modern adaptation of a classical story, as shown in its characterization, lines, and background music. Although these innovations might offend some conventional historical drama lovers, the contemporary elements add modernism to the series.

Being one of the most legendary queens, Anne Boleyn's story has been told over and over again yet still captures the audience's attention. Netflix's adaptation selects the most splendid occasions of her short life and makes her narrate her story from her POV. Definitely, it is still a documentary with some authors and professors making comments at the proper time.

This time, Anne Boleyn is interpreted from a feminist perspective. The plot adds some dominant-submissive elements in it, with Anne trying to make the King of England follow her rules but prove to fail her ambition. Anne believes the whip is her instrument to tame a man, but indeed it is only a toy to please the arrogant King.

With her destiny dependant on the man's love other than her own power, Anne is doomed to fail. Even though Catherine is beloved by the people and have strong allies in Europe, she could not compete with Henry VIII's will. By contrast, Anne comes from a common aristocratic family, and her whole power comes from Henry VIII. Anne believes she is the heroine of a fairy tale and wins over the King's heart. Indeed, her untamed triggers the interest of an alpha man, protecting her from experiencing the destiny of a typical mistress like her sister Mary. However, her crown and relationship with Henry VIII are based on her promise of a male heir. Once she can not accomplish her promise, Henry VIII takes her life as the price.

"On The Other Hand"

[Sarah423 · 7/10 · 3 December 2022]

I honestly started to turn off the television after a few minutes and it was only my laziness that kept me going.

Then I got intrigued.

It isn't inaccurate, but it feels a bit incomplete historically.

ON THE OTHER HAND, who's to say which interpretations (head canons) best fill in the points between the facts we have?

It isn't what I expected.

ON THE OTHER HAND, once you realize it's basically a mash up of the Tudors and Gossip Girl, you're all right.

I certainly hope no "hip" teacher will try to use this in their history classroom, but ON THE OTHER HAND, I'm perfectly ok with kids finding this on their own.

Figuring out the bare bones of history while being highly entertained.

Again, my impulse was to turn it off, toss it out, put it far away from myself. But if it opens the door and someone decides to read more on the Tudors? It would be a win.

Dumbed down version of history

[qui_j · 4/10 · 24 November 2022]

This series is like a course of "History made easy for Millennials". Rather than read and have the history portrayed in a way that reflects the era, this version turns it into a modern day Ann who uses dialog and twentieth century slang so as to endear it to the hearts and minds of the generation of communicate in this way. It just seems to cheapen the whole series when done in this way. At any moment in the series one expected that Ann would whip out her smartphone and fire off texts to Henry. Or perhaps they'd arrange a liaison in this way! Modernizing stories is fine as a novel approach, dumbing them down is another matter!

Different but decent

[maxwellabraham-19480 · 8/10 · 2 December 2022]

I personally don't find the acting as bad as some others say, the music doesn't fit the genre but for some reason I think it works. It's whole purpose is to explain the story of Anne Boleyn in a really simple way and even though I knew most of it already, it was still informative for smaller details. Literally the only issue I have with it is the fact that it only has three, 45 min long episodes so you finish it pretty quick and if you liked it, as I did, you feel like they should have tried to do an deeper dive into her younger life or even try and get another 3 episodes out with another historic king or queen and make it a 6 episode season.

Worth a watch.

[Flxrencegibsxn · 6/10 · 3 December 2022]

As a person who loves history especially the Tudors, I had to give this a watch. The story of Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor is one I knew of already but it was interesting to see the way this show portrayed it. I don't think it's as terrible as people in the reviews are making it seem at all. I think it makes the history of the Tudors fun to watch and in turn maybe more people will want to learn about them. I also liked hearing from Tudor historians, especially Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb as she happens to be one of my favourite historians. I enjoyed this quite a bit, hopefully they make more in this series.

POV

[enabeshello-57896 · 1/10 · 25 October 2023]

Apparently this is how Gen Z likes to view history and historical events. The music, the minimization of the most dramatic, sensitive and crucial moments, are ridiculous to the point of erasing the emotional side of attachment to the very important events that occurred during the Tudors dynasty. I remember watching The Tudors (the series) and I strongly recommend it if you want to see the real, factual history of Henry the VIII, how profoundly I felt the character and personality of Anne Boleyn, and how beautifully everyone is portrayed. This one felt like a mockery of history, and sadly, sometimes I feel like recent series and movies are trying so hard to detach us from the plot/fact, and shift our attention to details like garments, general non-verbal communication, the usual small-talk or gossip (drama qweens), little unimportant impressions and other elements that do not contribute at all in the film. It is also very obvious that rich dialogues and speeches are totally removed lately, cause maybe social media literally swiped our ability (especially younger generations) to fully comprehend complex phrases, situations, events etc. It is very sad to see openly how everything is also being submitted to political correctness and virtue signaling. Although I do not support historic movies falling to this scheme, it is okay to create fiction movies under that frame.

Finally, history from the perspective of women

[anita-ozvald · 10/10 · 9 December 2022]

Very entertaining and informative. I love history, heard Anne's story a lot of times, but always from the usual male perspective. This series tells the story of Anne from her point of view, with female historians' narration, and for the first time I understand what might have happened there.

Female perspective is in general missing from the science of history, in almost all the stories we know the dots were connected by men, and often they alone are not able to understand all aspects and so the stories can be incomplete.

You can say that it might be a bit too modern, but it can help attract a younger audience, and I don't think that the form hurts the content.

I really hope Netflix will continue with another story in another season, for example, I would love to see the story of Elisabeth I. The same way.

Disappointing production

[bkleinz · 2/10 · 27 November 2022]

I love documentaries about the tudor period but this one is far from good. Surroundings, furniture, hair and clothes that do not fit into the 16th century. The (modern) music is the most annoyable matter of this show. It is just as bad as Reign that I stopped watching because of the settings and the inappropriate music. Must be just like Reign a production for the American audience. It is very surprising that the most famous historians of Great Britain are part of this terrible show. There are much better documentaries than this one, for instance The Six Wifes of Henry VIII or King Henry VIII Man, Monarch, Monster etc.

Mockery of Anne Boleyn and Tudor history

[razvanpop-55893 · 1/10 · 24 November 2022]

It is below awful. I do not think I ever saw a video with desires to be labelled as a documentaries, historical drama that is worse than this. The dialogue is laughable, the historical accuracy is in the gutters, and the choice of music has nothing to do with a historical piece. I am amazed how at least 2 great historians agreed to participate in such a cheap, American style soap video. I would not recommend as it has nothing to do with depicting Tudor England, the true story of the fantastic women that was Anne Boleyn or her family, nor does her any respect, just a mockery of history, of Anne Boleyn...

Innovative + a new spin on documenting history

[willijah · 10/10 · 20 January 2023]

This show was made for the "innovative, let's see things with a new lens" type of crowd. I enjoyed every moment of it.

It was a great blend of modern and history; I loved it show so much I was like let me come out here to see the rating and was entirely disappointed by the negative comments.

If you like variety, you'll enjoy this version and accept it for what it is. Sure, we all want a realistic performance, but this show was pure art and a great way to take history and break it down for the younger generation (and their short attention spans, haha).

At first I was like what in the world but once I got into passed the unique spin loved every moment of this show and look forward to a new season.

I can see what they were trying to do.

[destiny_west · 3/10 · 27 November 2022]

With all the great quirky history series around at the moment - The Serpentine Queen, The Empress, and the black comedy/drama The Great. I think with this Blood, Sex and Royalty series, they wanted to make a quirky series that documented one of the most famous royals of all time - Anne Boleyn, and in doing so appeal perhaps to the ones not so much into their history.

However it just turned into a complete train wreck. As an English history buff, especially when it comes to the Monarchy, I felt quite insulted by this series.

Were they trying to make Blood, Sex and Royalty like an adult version of an episode of Horrible Histories? I'd much rather watch HH and actually learn something.

All that I can hope is that this series if it does catch the eye of English History novices, that they will continue onwards to explore more about the Tudor times and what was one of our most important times in history.

History vulgarisation for the Tik Tok generation ?!!!

[doriansansbury · 3/10 · 29 November 2022]

Being a history fan and after seeing Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, who usually makes interesting documentaries, speaking in the trailer. I had to check this one out.

But honestly i had enough after watching one episode. Not only is it yet another documentary about the romance between Anne Boleyn and Henry the VIII, nut a very cheap one at that.

I learned nothing new that i already knew about it and you only see the barebone facts of the story as it seems to be made for a 5 year old with a very short attention span.

About the visuals themselves i must say that i've seen better re-enactments over the years and the choice of actors is quistionable. Although most of Anne Boleyn's contemporary portraits were destroyed and many people wrote very negatively about her looks and appearence after her death.

There are some contemporary Physical descriptions like that of a. Venitian ambassador in 1532 that made following description "not one of the handsomest women in the world. She is of middling stature, with a swarthy complexion, long neck, wide mouth, bosom not much raised, and in fact has nothing but the King's great appetite, and her eyes, which are black and beautiful - and take great effect on those who served the Queen when she was on the throne. She lives like a queen, and the King accompanies her to Mass - and everywhere.' that can be trusted. So she looks nothing like the blue eyed beauty in this series

I have nothing against a modern take on things but even the choice of the music is total crap. Not a song worth noticing.

Conclusion: this series might be a way to get the short attention span Tik Tok generation interested in history. Although i think their intelligence is greatly underestimated. I rather see my kids watch the not so accurate depiction of "The Tudors" series then this. Histroy fans you ain't missing a thing not watching this !!!!

Nowhere near a 'docu' drama - appallingly bad

[julymermaid · 1/10 · 26 November 2022]

I'm not usually one for a one star rating ... just out of courtesy for the army of people who work on any creative venture - but this series is beyond awful. Making a mockery of anything in the name of historical accuracy and facts. I would even stomach an element of creative license on history but this goes well beyond that. And then there is the sub par acting, dialogues with no bearing on the periods depicted , and the unnecessary cheapening of women in general. If there was an oscars for bad drama - this series would come out the winner with flyng colours. Please save yourself the misery of watching this.

Don't bother!

[paul-rose7-246-61823 · 3/10 · 29 November 2022]

I'm not sure why Netflix made this given far better serious documentaries and far better lighter dramas like The Tudor's which cover the same material far far better. The mix of documentary and drama just doesn't work for starters. Secondly, it was full of historical inaccuracies, looking at the background supporting cast ghere were too many wike tick boxes being applied. The main charachters either due to poor script or weak acting didn't have any depth and generated little sympathy.

Only the lead actor as Henry VIII had any gravitas and looked authentic. There was too much modernisms in what is a historical drama and as for the use of modern rock music and worse stil garage or rap this completely over rode each scene and was completely out of context. Overall probably the worst series on one of the most important eras in British history ever made!

Awful modern nonsense

[jzrgppm · 2/10 · 5 December 2022]

?? Rap music, talking to the camera and over explaining - modern slang speech ? The recent film of Jane Austen's "Persuasion " was the same. I must be getting old or something but it's ruining it. There are supposed experts who are commenting in it too.

I realise they are trying to make it relevant and understandable for young people but it's ridiculous.

There are some relevant issues which have been missed and not explained as well in other programmes- especially about religion and Anne's heresy which I applaud but - it is too much of a modern take - even down to the red lipstick Anne wears !

Disappointing

[julietmunde · 2/10 · 25 November 2022]

I'm a Tudor buff and I was interested to see this series. I knew it was a docuseries, however it was just awful. The acting was awful, the music didn't fit and was distracting and characters breaking the 4th wall threw me off. It also just felt poorly put together and in some weird way I found it almost uncomfortable and sometimes "unbelievable." It should have been done with either the historians narrating and without Anne Boleyn breaking her 4th wall. The 2 together just had me a bit lost. It definitely felt like I was watching a poorly written soap opera instead of a docuseries. Big let dow.

I Wasn't Feeling It

[jerzeebliss-42279 · 4/10 · 6 December 2022]

I decided to give this show a chance since I'm pretty open to new things, but in my Randy voice " It's a no for me dawg"! I just couldn't get into this style of displaying Tudor history. The music was terrible and was very out of touch with that era. I like some rap music, but it does not belong in a period piece at all, please and thank you! The historians talking during the episode was kind of annoying and weird. It made it seem like they were explaining it as if the generation they were trying to target with all the modernization is too dumb to understand what it going on. Also, with the historians talking and giving detail and Anne also talking directly to us, it just didn't work and was all over the place!

Perversion of history

[ijamrocha · 2/10 · 1 December 2022]

I really wanted to like this series because I absolutely love Tudor history. This was terrible. It was totally dumbed down for this new generation of kids who cannot pay attention to anything for more than 5 seconds.

Not the best acting or casting. The music? Seriously? Rap music in a historical drama. The music alone made me want to turn it of.

Anne Boleyn and her relationship with Henry was so much more complex than what this series portrayed it to be. This was rushed too quickly and did not do Anne any justice whatsoever.

Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time. The Tudors is far superior to this production.

Not Modern, Just Bad

[randall-alyssa · 2/10 · 15 January 2023]

My best guess is this was written by Gen X for Gen Z and acted by millennials. It is just bad, bad, bad.

The actors did what they could with a horrible script, and if the entire thing wasn't so over the top trying to be cool, it might actually be reasonable.

I initially started watching thinking it was about different royals through history, and only started with Anne Boleyn (the most over done queen in history). But no such luck. Just 3 episodes of bad script, over the top acting (that I'm sure the director required) and a story line much better told across 20 other productions.

I'm not against modernizing the stories of history, but this was just brutal...

Was intrigued

[brittneywolfer · 3/10 · 25 November 2022]

I was initially intrigued by this, however the constant commentary while you're trying to actually get into the show is extremely frustrating. I have only made it 10 minutes into the first episode and I can already tell you that it is really hard to follow for the simple fact that you keep getting narrative.

The music is a bit distracting as well considering this is a timepiece, I get that it's supposed to be modernized but at the same time it's very, new age I just it's not it's not ideal.

We'll see if it gets any better however I highly doubt it, good luck on your own interpretation of this TV show.

A history lesson with Cardi B music

[fjescobedo · 4/10 · 19 August 2023]

Well, well, well Netflix brains are expolding, and only came up with this, Sophia Coppola's Mary Antoinette V 2.0, Really Netflix? History lesson for a generation that wont bother to watch it?

I like documentaries with the seriousness required, I mean history is history, is not a soap opera, is not a fairy tell, it has those elements for sure but, certainly I rather view them without Cardi B on the background.

I think that this generation does not respect our history,good or bad, because we are now teaching them facts glamourised with some degree of what they want and how they wanted to hear.