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SemperEadem
SemperEadem
Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 17 2009, 12:38 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 17 2009, 12:38 AM EDT
From the Tudors Season 4 Predictions Page:

Will Hirst develop Catherine Brandon as the closet reformer she truly was? Submitted by Reggie19 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
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JoshylovesAnneB
JoshylovesAnneB
1. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 17 2009, 5:19 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 17 2009, 5:19 AM EDT
I sure hope so! I wanna see the hatred between her and Bishop Gardiner. Do you find this valuable?    
booklvr44
booklvr44
2. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 21 2009, 8:59 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 21 2009, 8:59 PM EDT
I hope so too. I really don't think that Hirst has done Catherine Brandon justice in his portrayal of her. She was much more witty, intelligent, and independant in real life. However, I think that Hirst is setting it up that she will be a Reformer. As seen in Season 3, Catherine does not always share the same opinions as her husband. So, I think that it is entirely possible that her religious views will also become increasingly different from her husband's in Season 4. Do you find this valuable?    
JoshylovesAnneB
JoshylovesAnneB
3. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 22 2009, 6:03 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 22 2009, 6:03 PM EDT
I agree w you booklvr44 :D

I love Catherine Brandon! Do you find this valuable?    
Boudica
Boudica
4. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 22 2009, 9:23 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 22 2009, 9:23 PM EDT
"I hope so too. I really don't think that Hirst has done Catherine Brandon justice in his portrayal of her. She was much more witty, intelligent, and independant in real life. However, I think that Hirst is setting it up that she will be a Reformer. As seen in Season 3, Catherine does not always share the same opinions as her husband. So, I think that it is entirely possible that her religious views will also become increasingly different from her husband's in Season 4. "
I think Hirst decided to show her the way you described (dependant, same opinions as her husband, etc.) to focus on the Charles/Catherine relationship as a romance and highlight Catherine as Charles' chance to mature and atone for the wrongs he did against Margaret. In reality Charles Brandon and Catherine weren't anywhere near close in age, despite the fact it was mentioned in season 2 that she was a teenager, Rebekah Wainwright who plays her doesn't look like an adolescent at all. Historically, their age difference at such a crucial time in English social history probably had a lot to do with the difference in religious views they had. It might have been easier for a younger person to ideologically side with the more radical Reformists than for somebody like Charles who grew up under different times. Since the series has them a little closer in age that difference in ideology might not be as apparent for Catherine and Charles in season 4.

Unless Catherine Parr has something to do with persuading Catherine to the Reformist's side in season 4, I don't think Catherine in The Tudors is going to suddenly wake up a Protestant. Do you find this valuable?    
booklvr44
booklvr44
5. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 23 2009, 10:25 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 23 2009, 10:25 PM EDT
I completely agree with your assessment of why Catherine Brandon is so docile in the series. She was essentially created to show how Charles has evolved as a character.

However, I don’t really believe that their closeness in age will have an impact on whether or not Catherine will be portrayed as a reformer. If Michael Hirst wants to make her a Protestant, I don’t think that the closeness in age between the characters will prevent Hirst from portraying her as such.

Also, I think that Season 3 is a harbinger for Catherine Brandon’s conversion to Protestantism I don’t think that Catherine Brandon was in scene in Season 3 when she wasn’t frowning disapprovingly at her husband, or showing her disdain for his actions and his beliefs. And during Season 4, I think that Charles’s past actions will be shown as a catalyst for her conversion. Another reason that I beleive that Catherine’s conversion will be shown is because I think that things are probably going to fall apart for Charles emotionally in Season 4, and Catherine’s “radical” religious beliefs will be an additional shock for him.

However, this might be wishful thinking on my part, since I am a big fan of the historical Catherine Brandon.

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JoshylovesAnneB
JoshylovesAnneB
6. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 25 2009, 4:43 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 25 2009, 4:43 AM EDT
I am a huge fan of Catherine Brandon as well!
Love the actress playing her. She is amazing!
During Mary I's reign Catherine had to flee for safety for her protestant beliefs. Do you find this valuable?    

neemarita
7. RE: Catherine Brandon - Closet reformer?
Jun 28 2009, 7:52 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 28 2009, 7:52 PM EDT
I really hope they do more with her; she was so interesting and it's a shame they've just delegated her to be Charles's conscience, or whatever. She was a fascinating lady.

Judging by her reaction to Charles's plotting and the downfall of Cromwell, it looks like they plan on it. Especially as she was very close with Katherine Parr! Maybe it's just wishful thinking here too, but why show those scenes with her being utterly disgusted with him/upset/et al without doing something about it? Do you find this valuable?