Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham

". But for me that's the joy of the portrayal. It is precisely the humanness of this Henry that makes him so special. He comes across throughout the show at turns regal and pompous, spoiled and sometimes ridiculous, certainly to a modern eye. That's the way I think a king would be. I think many of us like to see these kings in history as having some superlative qualities but they were really just men. And like many movie stars of today, or many politicians or athletic superstars -- people who are adored and have yes-men following their every move --- they are as often spoiled and selfish and truly stupified when they don't get what they want. "

Yes - but all contemporary accounts stress how authoritative and intimidating Henry was in person. JRM just does not capture that. Part of it, as I've said before, is due to his physical smallness, but also because he simply does not have a very imposing demeanour.

When I think of all the "Henrys" I have seen on TV, none of them come across as particularly nice or particularly decent. Henry was not a very nice man, at least not by modern standards. But he was a King, and very aware of what that role entailed. JRM/Henry just comes across as a petulant brat with a lot of hangers-on to boss around. That's why, when it comes to 'serious' scenes involving religion or politics, JRM looks extremely uncomfortable and implausible. He is great in the love scenes, I agree, and that seems to have been the priority for the producers.

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