Tudors 4x05

Some heads are gonna roll on The Tudors! Don’t you just know it? Henry has received an anonymous letter accusing Catherine Howard of licentiousness while staying at Lambeth with the Dowager Duchess, maintaining intimate relations with her music teacher Manox and that derelict Dereham who’s now her majesty’s personal secretary. The king disbelieves the allegations, but nevertheless demands a thorough investigation and places the queen under house arrest. The British Inquisition goes into full swing, and soon people start admitting the truth, if only after severe torture. Dereham claims that he was contracted to marry Catherine, before she left for the royal court, but denies that he had intercourse with after she became queen. Soon, though, Catherine’s adulterous affair with that charmingly cunning Culpeper is discovered. The king responds swiftly and coldly refuses to grant the queen mercy. First Culpeper and Dereham are executed for treason -- the later hanged, drawn & quartered. And while Catherine prepares herself for her execution, Henry has invited two dozen lovely ladies for a lavish soiree. At last Lady Rochford and Catherine are publicly beheaded. I can’t say I’m sad to see that annoying little lass gone. After four increasingly tiresome episodes, this was a welcome injection of excitement. Let’s see what this Catherine Parr is all about!