Of all the pieces that Henry Cavill has worked on over the years, The Tudors is arguably ranked among the best. For one, not only did he give an epic performance in the role of Charles Brandon, but even the character arc that the series allowed him was remarkable, allowing him character development and a proper, conclusive ending that did justice to his character.
Cavill was introduced as Brandon, the first Duke of Suffolk, who was also Henry VIII’s best friend (on whom the entire story is based). Initially, he was portrayed as a charming, impulsive womanizer whose loyalty to Henry shields him from consequences. And being the king’s closest friend, he indulges in affairs, reckless choices, and a carefree approach to responsibility.
In seasons one and two, his initial character and early arc involved a significant act of defiance from him when he secretly married Henry’s sister, Princess Margaret Tudor, without the King’s consent. This event even temporarily strained their friendship despite his being the king’s most trusted and loyal companion and a key figure in court intrigues, even leading to his banishment from court. But he is eventually forgiven due to their strong bond.
Then the series progressed to show the political climate of Henry’s court becoming more brutal. But amidst this, Brandon’s character matured significantly. For one, he becomes a seasoned military commander and a high-ranking official, taking on more serious responsibilities. He also learns not to overstep his boundaries with the King and proceeds to carry out Henry’s orders, no matter his personal feelings.
Over the course of the series, Brandon showed a more defined moral compass than some of the other power-hungry courtiers in the series, like Thomas Cromwell. Yes, he does have a hand in the downfall of figures like Cardinal Wolsey and Anne Boleyn. Yet, he also grows notably upset and increasingly disillusioned with the cruelty and the bloody events of the reign.
Plus, these later seasons also focused on Henry Cavill’s character’s personal life. This included his marriages and his role as a father, which further added depth to his character beyond his court duties. Eventually, his ultimate arc is concluded as a survivor: One who manages to retain the King’s favor until his own death. To say the least, he outlives many who fell victim to Henry’s volatile nature while navigating the treacherous world of Tudor power and politics.
Though even early on, Brandon showed flashes of self-awareness as he recognized his own hypocrisy, his impetuous marriage to Henry’s sister, Princess Margaret Tudor, and the harm caused by his own desires, his character development has been really evident over the course of the 4 seasons of the series. Plus, these very seeds grow into genuine remorse, especially after Margaret’s death, which becomes a turning point in his maturity.
Just like that, Charles Brandon really went from being a charismatic and ambitious young teenager to a mature yet ultimately disillusioned man, tormented by the blood that was shed and the cruelty of it all, while remaining steadfast in his loyalty to King Henry VIII as an older courtier.
The Tudors Gave Henry Cavill’s Character the Proper Ending
Created by Michael Hirst, the series followed the story of King Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), beginning with when his kingdom was tested by international conflicts and political intrigue in his own court, and meeting Anne Boleyn (played by Natalie Dormer) while married to Queen Catherine of Aragon (played by Maria Doyle Kennedy).
When Henry Cavill’s Charles Brandon debuted in it, he was portrayed as a playboy, with his constant infidelity even making his marriage an unhappy one. However, he matured as the show evolved, and even more so after marrying Catherine Willoughby.
The final episodes of the series were the most remarkable for him, as they saw Henry becoming increasingly frail due to illness, while Brandon was also shown to be dealing with an undisclosed illness at the same time. Their final meeting was even more touching, as the two met one last time to reminisce about the golden days of their youth. In the end, Charles Brandon died in Episode 9, “Sight of God,” and King Henry VIII died in the final episode.
This character development and remarkable arc, compiled with Charles Brandon’s loyalty and his emotional intelligence and humility, made him the moral anchor of the series. Because of that very reason, as well as his unparalleled performance as the character, this show also continues to be regarded among Henry Cavill’s finer works to date.
Henry Cavill’s Performance in The Tudors Made Him a Fan-Favorite
While his character development, arc, and the way his story was concluded in The Tudors were truly remarkable, Henry Cavill’s performance in the series made him even more of a fan favorite. If anything, he ended up becoming one of the most beloved characters in the entire series, even more so than the leading ones, like King Henry VIII.
Here’s a look at some of the fans’ opinions on his character and performance in the series, on Reddit:
With all of this out there, it can’t really be denied that not only did Henry Cavill do a pretty exceptional job at bringing his character to life, but even his character arc was done justice – unlike some other of his series, like The Witcher, which had him leaving pretty abruptly despite being a major fan of the games and the books of the lore.
What do you think about this particular character portrayed by Cavill? Have you already witnessed his praiseworthy performance in the hit television series, or do you plan to watch it anytime soon? Whatever your thoughts and opinions on this may be, make sure to share them with us in the comments section below!
You can currently stream the four seasons of The Tudors on Amazon Prime Video.
