Line #21 Series/CharlesIIThePowerAndThePassion


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/charles_ii_the_power_and_the_passion.jpg]]
2
3	->''"We have a pretty witty king,\
4	Whose word no man relies on;\
5	He never said a foolish thing,\
6	Nor ever did a wise one."''
7	-->-- '''Earl of Rochester'''
8
9	A 2003 Creator/{{BBC}} series about the life and reign of UsefulNotes/CharlesII. Creator/RufusSewell plays the eponymous monarch. Creator/DianaRigg, Rupert Graves, Creator/MartinFreeman and Creator/ShirleyHenderson also play substantial roles.
10
11	----
12	!!This show provides examples of:
13
14	* ArrangedMarriage: Most royal marriages were this. The one between Henriette-Anne and Philippe of France is particularly unhappy.
15	* BastardBastard: The Duke of Monmouth.
16	* BettyAndVeronica: Queen Catherine and Castlemaine to the king. Later also, Nell Gwyn and the Duchess of Portsmouth to a lesser extent.
17	* BrainlessBeauty: Louise de Kerouaille.
18	* BritishSeries
19	* BrotherSisterTeam: Charles and Henriette-Anne.
20	* TheConscience: Queen Catherine
21	* CostumePorn: Though not as extreme as what came in the decade afterward.
22	* CultureClash: England and France. It's clear that Charles's family all got 'corrupted' by French influences to different extents. This was very suspect in England at that time, because France was the Ancient enemy and Catholic.
23	** Even worse with Portugal and England. Queen Catharine and her attendents get mocked for their clothes and habits.
24	* DeadpanSnarker: Nell Gwyn.
25	* DepravedHomosexual: Philippe of France and his lover.
26	* EffeminateMisogynisticGuy: Philippe of France again.
27	* EvilMatriarch: Queen Henriette-Maria
28	* FaceDeathWithDignity: Charles I, in the opening scene.
29	* {{Fanservice}}
30	* ForegoneConclusion: Well, it's an historical drama for one.
31	** Charles has also concluded, correctly, that his brother won't last on the throne for four years.
32	* HonoraryUncle: Edward Hyde to Charles.
33	* HonorBeforeReason: The Duke of York and his openness about being a Catholic.
34	* IdiotBall: James, Duke of York, ranting hysterically about protestant icon [[UsefulNotes/ElizabethI Elizabeth I]] to protestants who already suspect him. Never mind that she died more than half a century before.
35	* ILoveTheDead: When Barbara Villiers and the Earl of Rochester visit the body of a man who died centuries ago.
36	* InTheBack: Charles making a secret alliance with France against the Dutch, while still being allied with the later. Since France is seen as a Catholic threat by most English, this causes much disapproval.
37	* KickTheDog: Henrietta Maria when she refuses to see her son Henry, even though he's on his deathbed, since he's a protestant.
38	* MaliciousSlander: Titus Oates does this against Catholics.
39	* TheMistress: Lots.
40	* MsFanservice: Barbara Villiers and Nell Gwyn
41	* OneLiner: The Earl of Rochester
42	* PetTheDog: Though duplicitous in his politics, Charles is often kind to his family, mistresses and friends.
43	* PimpedOutDress
44	* RagsToRoyalty: Snow White style.
45	* ReallyGetsAround: Charles.
46	** Barbara too.
47	* RequisiteRoyalRegalia: Charles makes good use of these when dealing with a hostile parliament.
48	* SelfDeprecation: "I am the Protestant Whore!"
49	** Nell Gwyn is good at this in general.
50	* ShotgunWedding: The Duke of York tries to get out of this, but Charles and the bride's father insist he stays married to her.
51	* StandardRoyalCourt
52	* WitchHunt: After Titus Oates makes his accussations, a lot of innocent Catholics get prosecuted.
53	* WholesomeCrossdresser: Queen Catharine

Context Series / CharlesIIThePowerAndThePassion