John and I spent the Fourth of July melting into puddles on the floor of our apartment. I also read a book, while trying to move as little as possible in the heat, and later hit upon the idea of the Tudors. We watched about six episodes, and sorta remained nailed to the couch via dint of narrative causality.

John only knows a little of the history, which means I have to cautiously comment in order not to spoil things. He know Henry VIII had a lot of wives, and that Anne Boleyn was one of them, and that Henry founded the Church of England. But of Wolsey and More and Anne Boleyn's brother and Cromwell and Tom Tallis, he does not know. Of course, we are dealing with fictionalised versions of history--narrative causality and TV ratings decreed that it was more interesting for Henry's bastard, FitzHenry, to die at the age of three, instead of 17, because then they could tie it into Henry's brush with death and the divorce actions.

It is a good thing I enjoy the history aspects, because I find myself unable to enjoy Jonathan Rhys Myers as eye-candy. While he is very delicious looking, and I get to see a lot of him, shirtless, or displaying his arms, it is a sad truth that I only find men attractive when I find the majority of their actions attractive as well. And if there is anything you can say about Henry VIII, it's that he was a historical asshole misogynist. I am doubly amused by John's reaction to Henry, because he wants to go and play Medieval Total War so he can take France or Spain or any country but England and wipe Henry's forces from the map.

We spent a lot of time discussing 16th century medicine, royal relations, historical footnotes, and the weird clutches of religion as it dictated the actions of kings and ordinary people. Thomas More, for example, is one of the most rational and sane people in this series, and even he is gripped by a sort of religious fatalism.

Anyway, that's how we spent our Independence Day. Watching The Tudors.

(Oh, if'n you comment, try not to put spoilers in for the series, even though it's history. We're not quite to the end of Season One yet. Thanks.)