The Tudors Season Recap: What's Happened so Far

The Showtime series The Tudors began on April 1^st, and viewers haven't been able to move from their couches on Sunday night since. With only two episodes left in the first season, here is a recap of what has happened so far.

In episode one, Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is frustrated with his wife Katherine of Aragon's (Maria Doyle Kennedy) inability to produce a male heir, with his only legitimate child being a girl, Princess Mary (Blathnaid McKeown). The French assassinates Henry's uncle in Italy and Henry is determined to go to war. However, we meet Cardinal Wolsey (Sam Neill) and discover his determination to keep peace with France comes from shady deals he has in play. We are also introduced to Henry's trusted advisor Thomas More who is portrayed to want peace with France for the sake of peace. We also discover Henry's love for the ladies and discover that one of his many lovers; Lady Blount (Ruta Gedmintas) is pregnant.

Episode two gives Henry a son by Lady Blount. Henry signs a peace treaty with France and promises his daughter Princess Mary to the Dauphin of France. The Duke of Buckingham decides to pursue his claim to the throne only to lose his head as a traitor. The King takes Mary Boleyn (Perdita Weeks), Anne's older sister, as his mistress but soon tires of her. The Boelyn's continue to search for a way to capture the king's attention and increase their influence.

In episode three the king knights a series of his friends including Thomas More, Henry's young son, and Charles Brandon (Henry Cavill). Lord Brandon then escorts the King's sister Princess Margaret (Gabrielle Anwar) to Portugal to marry the aging King. However, love blossoms along the journey between Lord Brandon and Princess Margaret. Queen Katherine's nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor, and Henry's wish to join forces with him and go to war against France and he is promised Princess Mary's hand in marriage.

Princess Margaret marries the King of Portugal in episode four, only to smother him in his sleep shortly after the wedding. Before returning to court, Princess Margaret weds Lord Brandon without the King's permission. Henry is injured in a jousting match, which makes his anxiety for a male heir grow. Henry meets Anne Boelyn (Natalie Dormer) and begins to fall for her.

Episode five provides great political intrigue as the relationships between Queen Katherine of Aragon, Charles the Holy Roman Emperor, Cardinal Wolsey, and the King. The Queen wishes to keep her relationship with her nephew the Holy Roman Emperor strong as she fears Henry's request for a divorce is inevitable. Meanwhile, things continue to heat up between Henry and Anne Boelyn, as she refuses his offer to become his sole mistress. Henry then decides that a divorce from Katherine of Aragon must be attained.

In episode six Cardinal Wolsey sets out to form a commission of religious representatives from the Catholic Church in an attempt to gain the authority to grant Henry's divorce himself but his efforts are met with disapproval. Anne Boelyn continues to hold Henry's interest and his desire to marry her becomes greater with every challenge.

A plague engulfs the kingdom in episode seven as one of Henry's closest friends, Lord Compton (Kristen Holden- Reid) dies suddenly. A great panic fills the palace as Henry does everything possible to protect himself from the sweeping plague. Paranoia fills every character in this episode. Even Anne Boelyn becomes ill and Henry fears he will lose her. However, she recovers and his effort to secure a divorce from Queen Katherine begins again.

The trial to grant Henry's divorce from Katherine of Aragon begins. Katherine refuses to retire to a convent as Henry wishes her to do. She pleads with Henry at the trial to recognize her as his legitimate wife and she storms out of the court proceeding proclaiming that only the Pope has the authority to hear the matter. Henry receives word from Thomas Cromwell (James Frain) who has had an audience with the Pope. He conveys that the Pope will do nothing in the way of granting Henry his divorce.

Episodes nine and ten will air on Showtime on June 3^rd and June 10^th. It looks like the Cardinal is finally going to be revealed for whom he truly is and Henry's determination to marry Anne Boelyn will cause heads to roll.