Blood Sex and Royalty is a British historical documentary, released on Netflix on 23rd November 2022. The series combines dramatisation with a documentary-style commentary, to explore the inner lives of some of history’s most scandalous monarchs – Queen Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII.
The cast of the series includes Amy James-Kelly as Anne Boleyn and Max Parker as King Henry VIII, along with Adam Astill, Lois Brabin-Platt, Jhon Lumsden, Sophie Boettge, Nikhita Lesler, Callum Coates and Stephen Fewell. The documentary also includes various historians and authors who explain further details about the period.
-Blood Sex and Royalty Review Does Not Contain Any Spoilers-
In the 16th century, Anne Boleyn navigated treacherous sexual politics and rises to become Queen of England. She forges history as she reshapes King Henry VIII’s worldview, but she’s expected to give birth to a male heir and makes powerful enemies along the way.
Also Read: The Swimmers Review: Story of the Girl Who Swam for Those Who Failed
There are three episodes in total, with a runtime of about 43-46 minutes. The first episode starts off in 1536, Tower of London – where Anne Boleyn, the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 was placed before her trial. She is the second wife of King Henry VIII out of his six wives in total.
She is known as the most influential and important queen consort England has ever had, as she brought a change in the conservative church-controlled society by making Henry VIII annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and declare the English church’s independence from the Vatican.
But there’s little documentation of her as many memories were destructed in the wake of her dramatic fall from grace. Henry was known for airbrushing former wives and favourites from history, and Anne was no exception. With the help of archives, portraits and accounts of people who knew her, she has inspired many films and series before.
In the series, adult and on the verge of her death, Anne recounts her memories from the early days and how she came across her husband, Henry VIII. We see that the young Anne Boleyn grows to be a freethinker after spending time at the French court — and her outspoken ways soon catch the eye of a powerful suitor.
The historians describe her as a feisty, outspoken, fiercely intelligent woman who defies the male-dominated world of the Tudors and seizes control of her own destiny. She reads controversial books and believes in education for all, reforming society with her radical religious beliefs – that eventually changed the course of England.
Anne truly is an enigma and easily charms the most powerful man in the kingdom. But as compared to her sister Mary Boleyn, she refuses to become some mistress that is treated like dirty laundry. She wants to be with the one she loves but not behind the curtains, rather owned up in front of the world. And she does achieves that until the burden of being a female sits heavy on her shoulders.
Being married to the king means only one thing – producing a male heir. Especially when you have dethroned the previous wife because she couldn’t give birth to a son – the pressure is real. And not being able to give what is expected, will obviously end badly.
Summing Up: Blood Sex and Royalty
The documentary series is a quick modern history lesson for the young generation with some French hip-hop and American soul tracks, to make it hip enough. However, I have some qualms about the dialogue used which doesn’t differentiate itself from the current lingo and does not really match the period piece aesthetic.
Blood, Sex and Royalty is currently streaming on Netflix.