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The Tudors

(Rated TV-MA, Drama, Starring Sam Neill, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Gabrielle Anwar, Where to watch: Showtime, DVD, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Henry VIII courts drama in adult period piece.

Themes in this show include:   revenge

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    This is a historical tale about royal politics. It involves deception, betrayal, treason, affairs, and all sorts of nefarious plotting from the top down.

  • Role models:

    Virtually every character in the show is driven by ambition, greed, or some other selfish goal. There's no end to characters' plotting and deception. Even those who are convinced they're acting for the right reasons usually have two or three agendas at any given time. Women are largely background characters.

  • Violence:

    Bloody scenes, including plenty of murders. Pools of blood are seen in places like the jousting court as well. Women are sometimes hit/beaten.

  • Sex:

    Explicit. Sex scenes are full-blown, with both partial and full nudity. Some same-sex kissing/sexual relationships between men.

  • Language:

    Some profanity (unbleeped), like "s--t."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of wine drinking, with occasional drunkeness.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Tudors

Parents need to know that this pay-cable series has plenty of graphic sex and violence. Some of the sex is particularly explicit and only barely hides actual penetration. For example, one scene shows a young man thrusting vigorously into a young woman from behind when her father bursts into the room (he later hits her across the face, bloodying her nose). Several scenes show topless women and views of naked men from behind. There are also violent scenes of murder, and men are wounded in fights and athletic events. The plot revolves around complicated political intrigue and is neck-deep in deception, treason, affairs, and bargaining with people's lives. Women are largely background figures.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about period pieces. What's appealing about costume dramas? What would be a different way of telling a familiar historical tale like this one?
  • Are there any similarities between today's politics and those of Britain in the 1500s? How accurate do you think the show is, from a historical perspective? Was there really this much constant sex and violence?
  • Did anything you saw surprise you? How could you find out more about the period if you wanted to? What are the benefits and drawbacks about learning history through TV shows and movies?
Tools and tips that can help

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Our Members Say

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See all 10 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Heiress
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 3.0

    Fine for teens

    It's a good drama and accurate enough historically. Should be watched with a parent for there are strong sexual content in some scenes/

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    yayaco_90
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0

    so sexy

    what a wonderful scene

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  3. Adult Reviewer
    kate91
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    love it

    im a newbie to wacthin that show. om became hooked great story lines and etc.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    SmartGirl
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Yes, with a Parent

    This Tv show does have strong sexual scenes, sounds sights, but not all out nudity and full sex scenes. Mild swearing, nothing someone my age would'nt hear at school. Violence, nothing you would'nt see in a PG-13 movie, even a little milder than that I think. I have to say that this show does does contain historical merit in all the fluff. It is an interesting way to be interested in history for older teens.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Adult Reviewer
    triadrr
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 5.0

    big guilty pleasure

    Love this show! I was disappointed that the HBO show "Rome" was finished but then came "The Tudors" on Showtime!! Great for adults an absolute NO for kids.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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