The Tudors: Season One

Well, my wife and I just finished watching Showtime's The Tudors: The First season last night (a Christmas gift from the in-laws). And I must say, it was a rather amazing bit of film making. Now, I am fully aware that as a historical guide the show leaves volumes to be desired. But I must say that I am rather in agreement with the creator when he said that "any confusion created by the changes [from history] is outweighed by the interest the series may inspire in the period and its figures." Just so long as people go into it knowing that this is no more history than a Shakespearean history, they they really should be okay.

I really was impressed with the casting and the writing of the show. Natalie Dormer was absolutely riveting in the role of Ann Boleyn. In the show, Boleyn is written as a highly educated and headstrong seductress who actually develops feelings for Henry. While I have no idea how accurate this is, the dramatic portrayal is powerful, and Dormer's ability to piratically look into the camera and look through you with a very dark, deliberate stare just makes the character that much more amazing.

While again, I know little of the personality of the real Henry VIII, Jonathan Rhys Meyers depiction of a mercurial, arrogant, and spoiled monarch was actually captivating, even thought I really had no sympathy for the man. While I am not normally one to consider profanity a major contributing point to a character, Henry uses the F word sparingly enough in the show that when he does say it (actually, he screams it most of the time), its like setting off a landmine in the middle of the set. Despite the fact that I probably actually out-mass the actor by at least a hundred pounds, I was actually stunned during these scenes because his depiction of an enraged man was so complete. I found myself actually shaken by the volatility of his temper.

Surprisingly, I think my favorite character in the first season was that of Cardinal Wolsey. This is a considerable surprise to me because Wolsey (the real person) was a well documented politician, administrator, architect, and was, more or less, corrupt to the core. While wearing the garments of a Cardinal, he advances secular interests (and his own on a large number of occasions) while always trying to curry favor with the king.

While the specific corruptions depicted in the show can likely be debated and picked apart to no end, I must say that Sam Neal's acting resonated with me from about the third episode on. I never really felt sorry for the man, he made his own bed, and ultimately admitted to himself that he had to sleep in it. I think the scene that haunts me the most was Wolsey's final scene in the show, where he is in prison under charge of treason. its there, in a touching monologue, that the character makes peace with God for what has happened, and what will happen still. The speech and the cinematography were priceless, spot on, and amazing. While I still felt no sympathy for the man, I did find a new-found respect for the character.

I'm not normally one to complain about nudity in a Showtime TV show (I mean, its Showtime, the're almost as bad a Playboy, so its not like you don't know what your getting into when you watch them), But I will say that I think the director was trying to raise a few eyebrows with some of his scenes. The major eye-popper for me was the opening scene in the season finally. If you've seen it, than you know what I'm taking about, if not... Well, personally I consider you fortunate because I felt the scene in question to be inappropriate and gratuitous.

However, in total, I felt that the show stood up to scrutiny as a dramatic piece well, and should be watched by SCAers if for no other reason than to get a glimpse into the types of court politics, dynamics and interactions that probably did shape the character of the English court in the late fifteen hundreds.

We'll probably start Season 2 next either this week, or next.



Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
Nordsteorra Herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Google Voice - (405) 385-9214

King's Round Table

Well, I must say that King's round table is a whole new experience when you are a regional officer. I know this is technically my second such round-table, but last time I had officially been in the office all of three days. Now, I'm coming to it after six months in office.

For starters, weather I wanted to or not, I am now on the seeming cutting edge of a curriculum modification for new heraldic officers. The Herald's Warranting class was always a lot of material, but after HLTadhg  was done reorganizing the class, we had 4 pages worth of typed material, and that was barely able to fit into two hours worth of class.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that I was the one teaching that class. Yep, I managed to fumble my way through my first herald's warranting class without breaking any major laws or sencabilities. That's not to say that the class was flawless... no no, far from it. A lot could have gone better, I admit. But again, the people who were there did get what they needed to get, and they took home enough paperwork to fill in the gaps (I hope, anyway).

But yeah, when that was over, Tadhg and I kind of mutually agreed that the class needed to be shorter, and split into two parts. I didn't hear Star voice an opinion one way or the other on the subject, but right now, I am glad to operate under the "in silence there is consent" model of administration (see me crossing fingers and toes on that one, especially since she is one of the more regular readers of this blog).

Without going into too much detail, I am glad to say that I able to mend a bridge I between myself and a Landed hat. It would be foolish of me to detail the conversation, but I can say that I took something critical away from it. No mater how mad you are at someone, concentrating on common goals is always the best bridge builder.

And to be clear, I currently hold the landed noble in question in high regard, and have no ill feelings over the previous clash.

And on  a side note, I will probably refrain from using the acronym "GOofS" when referring to the Greater officers of state. This is old news, but I was more or less told that the short version was highly disrespectful, and I was told as much by someone who just has a penchant for making lives miserable is they so choose. Consequently, I am just going to give up and say "Great Officers", a personal practice I was making good use of this past weekend.

The College of Herald's open meeting was certainly interesting. I can't say that I agreed with all opinions given, or that my ideas were necessarily met with universal approval either, but it was amazingly informative. I must admit that there were definitely some varied opinions on some situations, but variety only makes things interesting, I must say.

Aside from that, most of the goings on for the day were administrative, and likewise necessary but largely boring.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
Nordsteorra Herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Google Voice - (405) 385-9214

Interesting Times

Well, let it never be said that life doesn't tend to throw you a curve ball every now and then. And for the record, this one caught me right between the eyes.

Last weekend, Sir Jean Paul de Seans threw the final blow of Crown tournament, making him the first local Mooneschadeen to hold the title of Heir to the throne of Ansteorra.

Well... yeah. I'll be honest with you, I didn't see that one coming. Maybe others did, maybe the whole kingdom did for all I know, but I just didn't see it happening until I heard about it from my wife. And also, I will point out that I have had some stuff happening in my mundane life that had my attention that day, so this wasn't idle ignorance.

So, what does this mean to me as a herald? And to a lesser extent, what does this mean to me as a Mooneschadeen?

Actually, a good amount on both.

As a herald, that means that I now have new access to the crown and a new and very different perspective on how and why they conduct themselves. True, I don't consider myself one of His Highness's inner circle, but I do know him far better than I do any other person to sit the throne.  I'm probably going to have a better chance to interact with a Golden Staff than ever before, and as HRH's attendance is almost guaranteed at any Mooneschadowe event, my local exposure to a crown will be as high, if not higher, than it was under Her Grace Vanessa's second time on the throne.

On a semi-political note; I made what some will likely label a ploy when I last spoke with High Highness. Knowing that they were still looking for a Golden Staff (Crown herald), I asked if he would speak to his choice about taking me on as a student of sorts.  Why not just throw my name in as Golden staff? Simple, I don't have that high an opinion of myself, and neither does JP (rightfully so, I might add). I told him when I spoke that this wasn't any sort of attempt to get in good with anyone. The bottom line was that this was probably going to be my best chance to get an inside perspective on the office of Golden Staff. I do want the job, someday, and that day won't get any closer unless I start learning.

It will be an interesting time, without question. And I'm not even going to hazard a guess if that is going to be good or bad, mainly because I don't want to jinx what luck I have.

As a Mooneschadeen, the effects are no less dramatic. With Owen, and now Jean Paul set as members of the royal family, this will be represent a full year of northern representation on the throne. As I recall, Sir made the finals both this time and last, and after he steps down, Owen might very well intend to try and trade off reigns with JP, though that is only my own speculation.

Why is this important? Several reasons.

First of all, there are a lot of people in the kingdom that don't understand Mooneschadowe. That's okay, mind you. I don't understand a lot of the other groups, and trust me when I say that they all are very unique in how they work. But the problem is that Mooneschadowe isn't a shire, a canton or a barony. We're the only province in the Kingdom, and one of only a handful in the SCA known world. There have been more than just a few hard feelings and even some harsh words exchanged over our status, and a lot of it originates with people totally misunderstanding how and why we went province rather than Barony. I'm not saying that we want to change how people think, but I think have a Mooneschadeen crown on the thrown will go a long way towards getting people to rethink their original opinions of us. Or at least I can hope, right?

I guess, in the end, JP's victory at crown can only affect me as much as I want it to. It represents a huge opportunity for a lot of us in Mooneschadowe, but at the same time, it also is just part of the cycle that is Ansteorra's Royalist Government.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
Nordsteorra Herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"
Google Voice - (405) 385-9214

Hard Decisions.

There are times when the best option at your disposal can best be described as the least bitter pill to swallow. I've had more than I care to already, and today was another one.

To date, I have worked to build my relationships within the SCA on the foundations of trust, respect, understanding and communications. I'm not saying that I have always succeeded, by any means. But none the less, that has certainly been my goal.

Now, I am setting out on a truly unique venture, the construction of a working relationship that has none of these at its start.

Advice is welcome, because I am going into this one blind.


Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
Nordsteorra Herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!

Google Voice - (405) 385-9214

Networking

If nothing else, I think that the years of heraldry in the SCA have taught me that most of what we learn and accomplish truly comes from networking. That's not to say that classes and experience don't count for anything, quite the opposite. But in the end, no one had a right to herald. I've seen the most seasoned and veteran court heralds ordered aside for reasons both noble and idiotic. And Rookie heralds pressed to the front of court for much the same. Few if any of my heraldry chances were self-made. Actually, most of them were the result of a friendship, or a chance conversation that I decided to pursue. My decision to go further in heraldry was started by a chance chat with a Golden staff. My Heraldry for and with the Barony of Northkeep was based on the faith and trust that others had in me (namely Lord Kevin and their Excellencies Ian and Kalandra). My reputation on the list field preceded me in Wiesefeuer, and as half of Namron seems to be active duty heralds, it small wonder that I was welcomed there with open arms. I think the real point of my commentary right now is not to reconsider how we do heraldry classes, but rather to press home to heralds and prospective heralds alike that what we say and to with our fellow heralds outside of court or the list is probably just as important as what we say and do in court or the list.
 
Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Protege to Master Robert Fitzmorgan
Nordsteorra Herald
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

"Non unus step tergum"

Google Voice - (405) 385-9214