Discussion: Katherine Howard's portrayal this season?

"I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a devotee of Miss Howard in spite of (or perhaps because of) her wickedly wanton ways, but I've been dreading watching her episodes for fear that they would portray her as a slut and nothing else, with no further depth to her character. I'm not surprised that this seems the case, but I really like the point that is brought up about the audience connecting with her and feeling empathy. Doesn't it take away the drama and terror of her situation if she is already acting like a silly tramp? And it doesn't leave room for much of a love story (if that's what they are intending) between her and Culpeper."

"The rocks as contraception I think came from the (fiction) book The Autobiography of Henry VIII with Notes by his Fool Will Somers. He thought KH was pregnant and the doctor told him she had "miscarried stones". In the book, he felt sorry for her which is an unlikely story...lol. I don't know if she swallowed them or inserted them, but on another thread it was discussed and more information might be found on Tudors Medicine page here. At any rate, if she did, I would surmise it was to avoid getting pregnant by her lover(s)"

"Now that I've actually finished the season I can properly comment on Katherine's portrayal. First off, not to say anything cruel about the actress, who is indeed an attractive young woman, but she is portrayed as so sexually over-the-top...how is that sexy? Henry has proved - both on the show and in history (I think) - that he responded favorably to flirtation, sensuality, and an air of mystery. But this Catherine just comes across as so...easy. There is no challenge there - not much of a conquest.

It also begs the question: why in the world would the king choose to marry this strumpet, to make her his queen? Someone else had an interesting theory earlier: perhaps she does think she's pregnant and he marries her for that reason. As for this Katherine, I find it difficult to have much sympathy for her (as of yet) as she's presented here (though I will watch, of course I will). Since they've apparently already disposed of the Countess of Salisbury we can't even see Catherine's benevolence in attempting to have her released. It's disappointing because I find Catherine's story so fascinating and I feel like they are cheating it of it's intrigue by rushing so quickly into their affair - she seems little more than a fling for Henry, as opposed to a more lasting passion that may inspire his "renewed youth." But who knows, maybe next season when they introduce Culpeper that will spice things up!"

"Or when he asks about her English, and she replies that she knows enough to write a letter, then he inquires into who she is writing letters to, and she quickly responds no one!"

"I adored that Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George, that book is the perfect example of Historical Fiction. "