Boleyns For the Win – Tower Of London 1536 – The episode begins with a meeting between Anne Boleyn (Amy James-Kelly) and Thomas Cromwell (Stephen Fewell). She has a flashback of 20 Years Earlier in Amboise France. Mary Boleyn (Louis Brabin-Platt) suggests Anne get out more often before grabbing her boobs. She says King Francis (Matas Dirginucuis) has such great taste. Anne tells her that being a mistress is like being amid flames but never getting burnt. Mary says you can’t learn everything from books.

Mary escorts Anne to a party. King Francis beckons Mary to join him. Anne tells viewers that Mary is getting banged by the ruler of France, King Francis. Peeping through the door, she’s stunned by what sees, nudity and sex.

Back to the present – Anne tells Thomas that men were cheating on their wives and women were having sex everywhere at the French Court.

The French Court –Marguerite D’Angouleme (Georgia Sansom), sister of King Francis,  and discuss whether they’d have a mistress at the king.  Anne describes Marguerite as the “beating heart of the intellectual revolution.” Marguerite suggests she’ll always remember who she is and could be.

1520 France ‘The Field Of Cloth Of Gold’ – Anne is with her father, Thomas Boleyn (Adam Astill) when King Henry VIII (Max Parker) passes by.

Anne and Mary observe King Francis and Henry duel. When Henry is shoved to the ground, he looks over to see Anne laughing. He approaches her to ask what she finds so funny. He reminds her that it is treason to mock the King. She tells him that dueling drunk is “foolish.” As she prepares to walk away, he asks if he approved of her to leave.

Back to the present – Anne tells Cromwell that King Henry looked like he would either kill or kiss her.

1522 London –  Anne courtesies as Henry Tudor and Queen Katherine of Aragon are introduced.

Back to the present – Anne claims Henry and Mary had a fling.

Anne says her cousin, James Butler (James Nicholson) been chosen by her father to marry her. James Butler describes war as “brutal.” George Boleyn (Jhon Lumsden) assures her that she’ll grow to love him. Laughing, James says his war injury keeps him homebound with a pension, at least. He admits to agreeing with the King’s religious crackdown. Anne asks if the impoverished should burn before questioning why there isn’t a Bible in English. He reminds her of it being heresy. She says subconsciously, “Henry Percy, lust at first sight” before joining him across the room.

Anne pulls back as Henry Percy (Simonas Mozura) tries to kiss her when Katherine of Aragon and Cardinal Wolsey (Callum Coates) approach. Anne describes her as the “court snitcher.”

Hever Castle England – Thomas scolds Anne for making a mockery of the Boleyn name in front of the court. She tells him that her privacy is disrespected by everyone. He orders her to remain home until he says otherwise. She asks what’s more important than being with the person you love, he says, “Duty.”

Anne says you are what you read. Mary says the most important lessons don’t derive from books while rubbing her baby bump. Anne asks if Henry knows about the baby. Mary admits to not knowing who the baby belongs to.

Anne is with Jane Boleyn (Sophie Boettge) when a woman escorts a maid into the room. She informs her that the maid stole a book. Anne admits to giving it to her. The woman says the book should be banned from the house. Anne warns that she’ll be fired if she repeats the same mistake.

Thomas informs his children that the King appointed him the new Viscount Rochford. Anne asks if she can return to court. He assures her that he’ll consider it.

Katherine of Aragon (Jurgita Seduikyte) is none too happy to see Anne back at court as a lady-in-waiting. Anne tells the audience that a Katherine was pregnant when she managed an entire army on horseback. Anne’s best friend, Lady “Lady W” Worcester (Nikhita Lesler) asks if she was having an affair with Henry VIII.

Henry demands the Bible only be read in Latin, not English. William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English is in hiding.

Sir Thomas Wyatt (Aron Von Andrian) admits to having a crush on Anne when he was a lad. Henry approaches to greet Anne. While kissing her hand, he says now that she’s returned to court, they can see each other more often.

Anne asks King Henry if she can join him in a game of craps. When he wins, she gifts her with her ring. He says now my “real prize.”

Back to the present – Anne assures Cromwell that neither of them intended to have an affair.  She admits to having a lot of fun with Henry.

1526 – Anne and Lady W attend a jousting completion in which Henry’s a contestant. She closes her eyes and cheers when he comes out the victor. After stopping his horse in front of her, he puts his hand over a joust badge, “Declare Je N’ose.” Lady W asks what it represents. Anne says, “Declare, I dare not.” Katherine looks over at Anne.

Back to the present – Anne admits to holding back her feelings because Henry was with Mary. She assures Cromwell that she wasn’t special.

1527 – After reading Henry’s letter aloud, Anne says he sent her several gifts. She informs George of their planning to meet later. He warns her that “love is a dangerous game” when Thomas Wyatt approaches. She tries to walk past him but he blocks her. He asks what will it take to get her attention. She admits to having no interest in him before reminding him of his wife. He takes her necklace. She demands he return it. He suggests she stop by to pick it up tonight as she walks away.

Anne and Lady W watch Henry play croquet (Irish crooky). Holding up her ring, he says the next game is his game. Lady W suggests he’s referring to her. Thomas Wyatt holds up her necklace before saying it’s his game. Henry walks away.

After receiving a letter, Anne rushes to her room where Henry’s waiting. She assures him that Thomas Wyatt took the necklace from her. He says it’s important that he be able to trust her. She reminds him of Mary. He claims Mary didn’t think he was the father of her baby. She asks how is it possible to trust him with his heretics. He assures her that she cannot. She says they’ll play by her rules this time.

Back to the present – Anne admits to being addicted that very second. She says her reputation had to be protected so she returned home.

Hever Castle England – Anne reads a letter from Henry. He assures her that he’d do anything to have just a minute with her.

The Boleyn family eats venison gifted from Henry. Anne reads his letter aloud. Henry asks her if she would be his mistress. Disappointed, Anne admits to believing their relationship was special. Thomas suggests she must have known. She assures them that she’ll never be any man’s mistress before fleeing the room.

Anne admits to having thoughts about being queen. George assures her that she would be a great queen before reminding her of Katherine. Jane eavesdrops as Anne tells George that he’s the only man she needs.

King Henry tells Anne that he’d give her everything. She admits to being humiliated by his mistress offer. He asks if she knows what it’s like to have the love of the King. She suggests it would be the end of her future. He professes his love to her. She tells him that it isn’t enough before telling him it’s over. He warns her decision is a major mistake before walking away. Thomas says she’s a “foolish girl” for throwing the Boleyn family’s future away as the episode comes to an end.

Blood, Sex & Royalty Synopsis

Anne sat down with Cromwell to tell her story. Mary lives a somewhat licentious lifestyle while Anne’s more reserved but outspoken about her passions.

Anne appeared to be drawn to King Henry and possibly, he to her as well, right from the start. She remembered all too well, Henry and Mary’s affair.

Thomas Boleyn chose James Butler as Anne’s future husband. She didn’t agree with his religious views. She felt the Bible should be accessible to everyone, including the severely impoverished that only spoke English. Butler supported King Henry’s law that prohibited an English translation of the Bible.

Wolsey and Katherine caught Henry and Anne alone. When Thomas got wind of what happened, he confronted her. She was ordered to stay home indefinitely.

Mary confided in Anne about not knowing her baby’s father.

Anne and Jane Boleyn are close friends. Anne supported religious reform. When a maid was discovered with a banned book, she immediately came to the girl’s defense.

King Henry appointed Thomas the new Viscount Rochford. Anne returned to court as lady-in-waiting for Queen Katherine.

Sir Thomas Wyatt approached Anne at court to suggest they see more of each other. She readily refused his offer.

Anne gifted Henry her ring when he beats her at craps.

Following a jousting win, Henry confronts Anne by placing his hand over a joust badge, “Declare Je N’ose.”

Thomas Wyatt took Anne’s necklace in hopes of luring her to him. Henry claimed the next game of croquet while holding up Anne’s ring. It appeared he was going to play for her until Thomas Wyatt stepped up with her necklace.

Henry later confronted her about his need to trust her. After a bit of back and forth, she suggested they play by her rules this time.

Anne found it more and more difficult to avoid Henry’s persistence. She returned to Hever Castle to protect her reputation. Over the next year, he repeatedly writes her to express his emotions.

She felt humiliated when he invited her to be his mistress which she vowed to deny. He warned her decision would reap consequences. Her father openly supported the King, accusing her of disregarding the family’s future.

Blood, Sex & Royalty Review

Initially, the show was going nowhere. The dialogue and acting were tanking with each scene. Things began to turn around somewhere around the halfway point. It seems to have taken this long for the actors to find their footing.

As a not-so-big fan of expert input, I didn’t find it too intrusive. The experts (Suzannah Lipscomb, Tracy Borman, Owen Emmerson, Lauren Mackay) provided historical information (Anne Boleyn files) excluded from the dialogue.

Anne Boleyn’s story has been adapted into hundreds of movies, TV shows, and books.  I’ve always been intrigued with the British Monarchy, more specifically the English Monarchy, Tudors, and House of Lancaster.

Amy James-Kelly and Max Parker’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn and King Henry’s pent-up passion and frustration was splendid. The actors built a tight-knit onscreen relationship that will hopefully continue to grow.

The cinematography is subpar with scenes too dark to make out details

The pilot episode deserves a 6. Get more Blood Sex & Royalty recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.

Blood, Sex & Royalty Cast

• Jane Boleyn – Sophie Boettge
• Thomas Boleyn – Adam Astill
• Thomas Wyatt – Aron Von Adrian
• Mary Boleyn – Louis Brabin-Platt
• Lady Worchester “Lady W” – Nikhita Lesler
• Cardinal Wolsey – Callum Coates
• Katherine of Aragon – Jurgita Seduikyte
• Marguerite D’Angouleme – Georgia Sansom
• Jane Seymour – Roberta Sirgedaite
• Thomas Cromwell – Stephen Fewell
• George Boleyn – Jhon Lumsden
• King Henry VIII – Max Parker
• Anne Boleyn – Amy James-Kelly

Where To Watch Blood, Sex & Royalty?

The docu-series,written by Damian Hurley, son of Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Bedazzled, The Royals), premiered on Netflix on November, 23, 2022.

Who Is Max Parker?

Max Parker, best known for World on Fire, played John Cripps in Sky One’s Cobra and Danny in BBC One’s World on Fire.

Parker has agreed to join the cast of Strictly Confidential as Will, according to Entertainment Daily.