Subject: Best and worst history shows on TV
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Mar 21 19
For Christmas, my son and daughter (in-law) gave me a subscription to Britbox and I've been really enjoying the ITV program 'Britain's Secret Treasures'. The history- based show I like least is 'The Tudors', a show packed full of amalgamated characters, incidents that never happened, and outright ignorance. As if the real story of theTudors wasn't dramatic enough! How about you.
Posted by: Cymruambyth
Date: Mar 21 19
For Christmas, my son and daughter (in-law) gave me a subscription to Britbox and I've been really enjoying the ITV program 'Britain's Secret Treasures'. The history- based show I like least is 'The Tudors', a show packed full of amalgamated characters, incidents that never happened, and outright ignorance. As if the real story of theTudors wasn't dramatic enough! How about you.
21 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
Mixamatosis 
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I enjoyed Wolf Hall and also Versailles, though Versailles had its inaccuracies and in series 3 it strayed fully into the realm of 'urban myth'. That was my least favorite of the series. I didn't like the inaccuracies in character it made for some of the main characters, but it was still gripping and beautiful to watch. What I really dislike is 'history' as romantic fiction where everything is romanticised 'The White Queen' about Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV was one such programme. Reply #1. Mar 22 19, 1:31 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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I don't have Britbox by the way. Reply #2. Mar 22 19, 1:32 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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The Tudors was watchable, perhaps too much so. Henry VIII never really got old and fat until he was just about to die. The women seemed too modern somehow and they amalgamated Henry's 2 sisters, Mary and Margaret, into one woman. I seem to remember they called her Margaret. Since the women had very different histories, that was annoying. Reply #3. Mar 22 19, 1:37 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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My favourite history series of all time is 'Elizabeth R' with Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth. She was superb in it, and the history was well portrayed too. I saw it on TV again recently, so I've seen it about 3 times now and it still grips me. I did that period for A level so it's particularly interesting for me, but I think it would interest anyone with a general interest in history. Reply #4. Mar 22 19, 1:43 PM |
C30
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Agree Mixam..........Glenda Jackson was superb as Elizabeth, arguably the best ever portrayal. Would also rate "I Claudius" just as highly.............and HBO's "Rome" (inaccuracies and all) as it brought that era "to life". Reply #5. Mar 22 19, 2:35 PM |
Cymruambyth
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C30, I agree with you about 'I, Claudius'. Derek Jacobi was superb in that series, just as he was as Brother Cadfael, another of my favourite historical shows. It gave us a fascinating glimpse into life in the middle of the twelfth century. Reply #6. Mar 26 19, 8:32 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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Yes, I forgot about the Romans. I agree with you there, C30, I loved 'I, Claudius' and 'Rome'. Brilliant series both. Reply #7. Mar 27 19, 12:47 AM |
| C30
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Yes Cym..........forget Brother Cadfael....another excellent series. Would also add the 1970's series "Wings" (set in 1915 and about the RFC). Reply #8. Mar 27 19, 3:11 AM |
| C30
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"forgot", not "forget"....sorry, typo snuck through. Reply #9. Mar 27 19, 3:12 AM |
Athosx
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Shogun Reply #10. Jun 24 19, 1:34 PM |
daver852
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"Hell Below," on the Smithsonian Channel. Reply #11. Jun 28 19, 3:25 PM |
The_J_Might
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Best history show that graced the TV was Band of Brothers. Reply #12. Nov 13 19, 9:57 AM |
Calpurnia09
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I started to watch "The White Princess" but it was appalling. There is a three part series on YouTube, "The English Civil War" that is worth watching. The first part is about the origins and progress of the war; the second is a biography of Oliver Cromwell; the third shows the trial of the regicides. Here is a link to the first part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7jfpgFdX2E Reply #13. Dec 23 19, 4:46 AM |
| C30
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One thing tends to irritate (well several things do, but never mind that. Lol), and that is where they get a simple, well documented thing totally wrong...............a western film on TV last night (name escapes me). The plot was the clash of loyalties, with the advent of Civil War.........thus set in 1860/61.............so why depict the troops wearing 1880's style US Cavalry uniforms? Don't film makers research anything? I mean uniforms change, the US Cavalry uniform of 1860, was not that of the "plains wars", no more than Vietnam War uniform was same as WW2. Totally ruins for me, what might have been an interesting film. Reply #14. Dec 23 19, 5:31 AM |
boxjaw
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I loved watching a show on CBS when I was young called "You Are There". I found it to be quite fascinating. It dealt with historic events that were dramatized. Walter Cronkite was host. Reply #15. Jan 12 20, 2:15 PM |
| Cymruambyth
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I remember 'You Are There', Boxjaw - great show. Lately, I've been watching 'The Crown', and sincerely hoping that no one in the future ever believes that this soap-opera-with-a-tiara bears any resemblance to reality! Entertaining as all get out, but hardly true to life. How about 'Roots'. I enjoyed that one. Reply #16. Jan 31 20, 7:14 PM |
| C30
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I suppose technically anything that happened before today, is "history", but difficult to realise that with events that I have lived through.......such as depicted with "The Crown", as enjoyable as I found the series to be. Not without it's errors though............in a "flashback" to 1940, Lancaster Bombers are shown flying over Windsor Castle.....they did not become operational, with RAF until March 1942. Reply #17. Feb 02 20, 5:12 AM |
| daver852
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A lot shows on the National Geographic Channel are garbage. Not all, but a fair number. Reply #18. Mar 11 20, 4:18 PM |
| boxjaw
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Most new television shows are garbage. Especially all the 'talking heads'. George Orwell was a smart. Reply #19. Mar 15 20, 3:53 PM |
| Mixamatosis
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PBS Seems to have interesting history programmes. Reply #20. Apr 18 20, 2:47 PM |
21 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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