Hey welcome back to tumblr (even thought i left in 2017 too). As one of the most well known (to me) detractors of Henry the 8th, what do you think of SIX the musical?
I have MANY thoughts about it. I have a YouTube video planned on this very topic!
I guess a summary is that I love how they've designed the costumes and made the outfits so modern, and I love how they've hit that Little Mix stan culture vibe. I've definitely seen a lot of new people wanting to learn about the women, and that's always good.
I like the music very much, think the cast are impeccable, and I think in the cases of Kathryn Howard and Anne of Cleves, the writers have achieved what many haven't managed, which is to make them human and get us to root for them. It's one of the only things that I've seen address the abuse Kathryn likely suffered, and I like how they've actually *used* the idea of her as some man-eater, and then deconstructed it by making it a bit of a front. I also love that she's the one who manages to answer the general knowledge question! People think of her as unintelligent, when really she was just young!
When it comes to Anne Boleyn, I feel conflicted, because I think the show defeats its own premise. It seems to want to move away from archetypes, but then it tries to create new ones. For example, Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon's beef in the show seems like they're fighting over a man, rather than looking at their HUGE religious differences. I hate some of the lyrics to Anne's song 'politics, not my thing!' - that makes me cringe. Also the idea that her dad told her to get close to Henry. From a modern lens we're looking more like this guy has a full obsession with her, she holds him off because it would ruin her, and then she gets vilified somehow as the 'other woman' and blamed for the man's actions. That's something we see today!
It's annoying because some things are really great, like I love how they kind of modernise that personality trait she seems to have had where she can say things in the heat of the moment and then think, oh God, maybe I shouldn't have said that!
I guess it's a good 'girl power' musical, but ultimately, I feel like in unifying term in a group almost undoes the positives. Because these are a group of women with ideological differences who actually probably deserve more than that.
I'm still thinking about it all as I prepare my video, but it's such a mixed bag. It's genuinely a really fun musical and all the references are brilliant. The way they mix the history with modern culture is genius. Even having some famous ladies in waiting in the band is a genius move.
I'd say it's a triumph for most of the women, but less so for Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, who really do deserve to be known for more than 'fighting over a man'.
Anne Boleyn was a fierce reformer. I feel it does her a disservice for them to avoid talking about the misogynistic smear campaign and abuse she suffered. There's also no George mention, which feels like a missed opportunity. Like at least have her go on to write lyrics with her bro and their friends (who she was accused with). I imagine her fronting an indie band with George on the guitar and doing extra vocals, the others on drums etc. They should really have gone more punk with Anne I think, made her a bit of an activist, too 'mouthy' and getting over-involved with politics. Maybe given her a Miley Cyrus or even Taylor Swift vibe. (I'm thinking Anti-hero and Look What You Made Me Do!)
Also Catherine doesn't talk enough about both Catholicism and her daughter Mary. That's a shame to me. ALSO why can't she have a Spanish accent. I need for Catherine of Aragon to have the accent, and for Anne of Cleves to have a German accent!
Some of the wives get very sympathetic treatment, like Kathryn Howard and Jane Seymour, and also Katherine Parr, but Aragon and Boleyn just don't really get to tell the full tragedy of their tales.
ALSOOOO the guy Parr sings about goes on to creep around Elizabeth 1, and I feel like that should be addressed!
Thanks for the question!!!
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