A Tale of Two Series: Wolf Hall Season 2

After 10 years, the (literal) death of the author, a world-wide pandemic, and a third book, Wolf Hall has returned to screens. The hype surrounding the return was duly earned: the first season had been immaculate, with costuming, cast, and set design being impeccable. Yet, there were going to be some differences: many of the actors from season 1 had since gone on to become much more famous, and the show runners could not afford to have them back. The best example of this was Gregory Cromwell's actor, Tom Holland: he had used Wolf Hall as a launchpad for his career, and had since become Hollywood famous after he took the role of Peter Parker shortly after his stint in Tudor history. Yet, other characters' changes in actor weren't as clear, such as Amalric as Chapuys and both Richard Riche's and Wriosley's actors. The first episode handles the changes of actors in the cast pretty well: because they wanted to recap how Anne Boleyn was executed, a few of the scenes were re-shot to include the new actor. I didn't even recognise him, nor the fact it was changed at first! Yet the rest of the show was so poorly executed (pun intended): not only do some characters change actors, they also change personalities; Joel MacCormack's Call-Me Risley was a very meek, ginger haired man who hesitated to question the intentions of the lords around him, while Harry Melling's (who played Dudley in Harry Potter) dark haired portrayal is more like that of season 1's Richard Riche, who has also gone from ginger haired, to meek and brown haired. Chapuy was played by Mathieu Almaric as a bitchy Frenchman who was constantly lecturing Cromwell as to how the behaviors of his king were going to fail in the long run, yet his successor, a very faux French Karim Kadjar is much more naive and gregarious; not only a departure from the character in season 1, but the books. Even the characterisation of Cromwell faces irresponsible changes: in season 1, Cromwell was portrayed as a very private, thoughtful person. Season 2's Cromwell, however keeps announcing his darkest secrets, flirting with every young woman he sees, and seems to be showing some sort of cognitive deterioration. There are some glimmers of the old Cromwell from time-to-time, yet seeing how Cromwell is in season 2 is akin to watching a beloved family member die of dementia: this is just the way he is now, and we have to prepare for the worst, now. The writing has also taken a nose-dive: unlike many other reviewers, I really enjoyed the slow, yet meticulous pacing of season 1. Yet season 2 is so eager to reach the end of the story, many plot points have been lost in the fray. Jane Seymour and her marriage to the king is a main part of this season, yet her pregnancy, death, and funeral are all lost: Jane is a few months pregnant at the end of episode 3, heavily pregnant during the cold open of episode 4, and the hardship of the birth is not touched. The real Jane labored for 3 days before her longed for son was born, yet in Wolf Hall, it is the work of a moment, as if Jane had sneezed in the night and Edward fell out. Even in the books, the long labor fuels the outburst that Cromwell later has when Jane dies, that if she had been his wife, that he would have been better to her. Yet in the show, for all the viewer knows, Jane had a normal childbirth and got food poisoning after giving birth (another deviation from the book). Henry doesn't mourn her outside of wearing black-and-white once and then returning to normal clothing and duties. Also in the books, the council has to handle Henry's immense grief over the loss of his wife, and rule in his stead. There is also talk of the funeral, as well as how the loss affects England. None of this happens in the show. Now, we should probably address the elephant in the room: Wolf Hall season 2 partakes in colorblind casting, and there are a handful of POC in the show. Particularly, people are very upset about the fact that Elizabeth Seymour is played by Guyanese actress Maisie Richardson-Sellers. To be quite frank, I don't give a damn: we had this same fight when the Hollow Crown premiered their season 2, and everyone's grandparents have been fighting about this since. I'm exhausted by this conversation, especially when it comes to things like Shakespeare. So long as the actor is good for the role, they deserve to be in the role. I'll also point out that we should have more representation of this time period in other cultures, allowing for mostly overlooked stories to be told, but the color blind casting thing doesn't bother me that much. Now, back to the meat of the problem. I don't think I can watch the rest of this show: I am so discouraged, especially after episode 4 superimposed Damien Lewis' face onto Henry's body in a portrait. It's beginning to feel like it's slipping down the road of The Tudors, which is my comfort show, but not a good period drama. I am tired of being disappointed, and I feel as if Hilary Mantel would have been deeply offended by how this show is going. Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light has two more episodes here in the US before it's over, and whether you have the strength to finish it is up to you. I would not recommend this show, however.

The Tale of Two Series: Wolf Hall, Season 1

In 2009, Hilary Mantel wrote a revolutionary novel: Wolf Hall. Unlike the novel's forebears, the book took the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, the infamous chancellor of King Henry VIII, who has often been portrayed as a villain in media. The plot follows Cromwell from 1525 into the middle of the reign of Anne Boleyn. The book was a hit; critics praised Mantell for her writing style, and her meticulousness when it came to the portrayal of history. Mantel would later write two more books, Bring Up The Bodies, which follows the fall of Anne Boleyn and her execution in 1536, and The Mirror And The Light, which follows the reign of Henry's third wife, Jane, through to the death of Cromwell. The last book would be released in 2020, years after the first two, and unfortunately would be Mantel's last before she died of a heart attack two years later. In 2015, Mantel's first two books were adapted into a miniseries, called simply "Wolf Hall." Spanning 6 episodes, the series would include big names such as Mark Rylace (Other Boleyn Girl), Damien Lewis (Band Of Brothers, Homeland), Tom Holland (Avengers), Harry Lloyd (Game Of Thrones, The Lost King, Jane Eyre), Johnathon Price (The Storyteller), Claire Foy (The Crown), Bernard Hill (Lord of the Rings, Titanic), and Luke Roberts (Game of Thrones, Silent Hill 2) to name a few. Many of the actors starred in the show before they became big names, interestingly enough. The show boasted immaculate historical accuracy, with the only detractors being some of the french hoods and the codpieces being smaller. The lead costumer stated that The Tudor Tailor, a book that was created by Historical Palaces and uses real life examples of historical clothes, was used to create the costumes. Wolf Hall proved to be a breath of fresh air after a decade of smut like The Tudors, The White Queen series, and Reign; the show runners seem to genuinely take historical accuracy into account, and the actors could actually act. Wolf Hall did find some detractors, however: many people complained that the show was dry and boring, that Claire Foy's Anne Boleyn was "too mean," and that Antoine Lesser's Thomas More was not historically accurate. I will admit that I was not pleased with the portrayal of More in the show, yet Anne Boleyn's character is the basis of one of my favorite songs by the band Alt-J; "Deadcrush."

The biggest strength of Wolf Hall is its settings: each scene is in an immersive Tudor place, whether it's in the lushious gardens of Whitehall, or the petition hall at Greenwich. Even Cromwell's house comes off as cosy and inviting in the show. On top of that, the furnishings are period appropriate, adding another layer of immersion. Mark Rylace plays Cromwell as a father figure to many young people at court: he has been there, done that, and has the wisdom many of them need to hear when things get rough. He is gentle with the people around him, yet firm and even physically abrasive when needed. Many of his scenes with Gregory feel genuine: the way he gives his son advice on jousting while terrified of his son's future is very realistic. His little quarrels with Henry VIII in the beginning of the show feel like banter between relatives. Rylace plays the role with ease, as if the character of Cromwell is an extension of himself. I would have to say my favorite character is the series is Eustache Chapuys: Mathieu Amalric brings the character alive in his performance. Chapuys has always been described by historians as "a bit of a gossip girl" and Amalric nails that characterisation to a T. I cannot imagine the character any other way, now. Overall, Wolf Hall is a must watch for the Tudor fanatic: slow paced, with gorgeous costumes and wonderful actors, it brings comfort to any enthusiast who feels they have been snubbed by other dramas. Definitely check it out on Masterpiece! IU

On This Day In History, April 15th, 1912: The HMS Titanic Sinks

When the HMS Titanic made it's way to England in preparation for its maiden voyage, it was heralded as "the unsinkable ship." Boasting of luxury accomodations for its first and second classes, the Titanic had a (now infamous) grand staircase, gorgeous dining room, a Turkish bath, and gymnasium. It was the cream de la creme, and its maiden voyage was highly anticipated. As thousands boarded the ship on 10th of April, 1912, hope hung in the air: this was to be an historic launch. Unfortunately, they weren't wrong, but for the wrong reasons. Sometime around midnight on April 15th, Titanic scraped an iceberg somewhere in the North Atlantic. As the ice dragged across her iron hull, it pocked holes in her side, and the boat began to take on water. Attempts were made to evacuate, with emphasis on women and children, but it soon became clear that Titanic was not equipped with enough life boats, and so emphasis was made on getting the richer passengers to safety, leaving the third class to fend for themselves. To make matters worse, Titanic's crew had not been trained to evacuate in the event of a sinking, so protoccol was not clear. It is believed by most historians that lifeboats were only filled to 60%, proving the ineptitude of the crew. Distress signals were sent out to all nearby boats, but only the Carpathia responded by sheer luck. Within two hours of the iceberg striking the ship, it sank: the nature of the holes in her side caused the hull to raise up, exposing the propellers, causing gravity to split the ship in half, plunging all who weren't evacuated into the -2 degree celcius water. Those were not lucky found themselves either sucked into the smoke stacks or crushed by them as they fell. Others found themselves smashed between the freezing water and the boat itself. 1,517 people died that night: 63% of passengers, 76% of crew. A scant 39% of the First class died that night- mainly men, while a whopping 58% of Second Class met their demises. 76% of all Third Class passengers perished in the wreck. I have linked a video of a replica of the sinking of the HMS Titanic in real time. Feel free to watch it. Although the survivors of her disasterous maiden voyage are long gone, Titanic lives on in pop culture thanks to the 1997 movie of the same name. Although the movie is innacurate due to the love plot that steals the show, it is quite historically accurate in its depictions of the Titanic herself, as well as costuming and other sets. James Cameron is said to have genuinely poured his heart and soul into the project, even going so far as to study the ship from a submarine. He is one of the leading voices on not only the Titanic, but deep sea exploration. Unfortunately, as of 2023, Titanic gained a handful more victims when the Titan submersible imploded, killing all on board during a tour of the wreck. I have a lot of very stern words and sentiments on the matter, but this is not the place nor the time to talk about them. All I will say is that the submersible was unsafe, and OceanGate should never have been. On the submersible was the leading voice on the Titanic and its history, Paul Henri Nargoleot. He had been a part of 35 trips to see the wreckage, and his death was a blow to the history community. Although she sank long ago, The HMS Titanic left her mark on history with her disasterous maiden voyage and ill prepared crew. If not for the failures of many people during the 1910's, we would not have had Leonardo DiCaprio in suspenders, or that very odd time period in history where empire waist prom dresses were a thing. May all who died rest in peace.

On This Day In History, April 14th, 1471: The Battle of Barnet

The year of 1471 began much different than the last decade had: instead of the tall, handsome, and young Edward IV on the throne when the New Year rang out among Englishmen, King Henry VI, the unpopular and possibly disabled heir of the legendary King Henry V sat the throne, surrounded by supporters. The House of York was fractured: two of the brothers, King Edward and his youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester found themselves across the narrow sea in Flemish territory, while George, Duke of Clarence rubbed elbows with the faction that had murdered his brother and father back in England. Politics were in an uproar: a deposed king had never been reinstated, and so what decorum would be and how things would be dealt with were unprecedented. Another concern hung in the air: Henry VI was infamous for his bouts of catatonia, and many of those who had dealt with the realm politic during his first bout had since died, leaving the Earl of Warwick the only survivor of the previous schirmish. The future of England was unknown, although there was a glimmer of hope: within the confines of Westminster Abbey, a very pregnant Elizabeth Woodville had taken sanctuary with her daughters and intermediate family, and there had given birth to a son, who was named Edward. It seemed that, although the Lancastrians had succeeded at returning their king to the throne, the victory would be short lived.

In March 1471, Edward and Richard's ships were seen on the horizon near Hull, ready to dock and make their way back to London. Although the landing would prove hazardous (thanks to a crash near Ravenspur), the brothers would arrive rather unscathed. Moving in secret, they eventually returned to London, where Edward met his infant son for the first time. With less than a week to prep, the Yorkists planned to meet the Lancastrian faction at Barnet, north of London, to see who God had ordained as the rightful king. As the day approached, The Yorkists began to march towards their choice of camp, hesitation thick in the air: on the other side was George, the King's brother, and The Earl of Warwick. It was family against family, now; brother against brother. Although a necessary stepping stone towards returning things to the way they had been in 1469, it would be as if ripping off a bandaid, yet worse.

Edward arrived to the encampment on the 13th, and negotiations with the Duke of Clarence began. The brothers had known already the tragedy of losing a brother to war: their 17 year-old brother, Edmund had been captured and beheaded at St. Albans, a little over a decade prior. It could be imagined that the wound was still quite fresh for the princes, still aching in their chests. Thankfully, their attempts to unite the House of York were not in vain: George rejoined the fold last minute, leaving only one enemy: The Earl of Warwick, George's father-in-law. The battle began in the early hours, sometime between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning. The field was hung with a thick fog, like a funeral shroud. An 18 year old Richard, Duke of Gloucester commanded, alongside the king and William, Earl of Hastings; while the Lancastrians relied on command from the Earls of Warwick, Oxford, and Exeter, as well as Lord Montagu and the Duke of Somerset. The Lancastrian army outnumbered the Yorkists by about 2,000 men, and relied heavily on cannonfire, which proved inaffective in the fog. Once on the field, the visibility was incredibly low, and proved to be a disadvantage to the Yorkist faction, and the left wing collapsed very early into the fight. As the fight waged on, however, the Lancastrians began to suffer similarly as well, and their left wing collapsed. The Duke of Gloucester used the fog to his advantage, however, and with the disadvantage of fighting on a slope, was able to beat off Exeter's forces. Warwick, seeing what Gloucester was doing, decided to fight in the center of the army. Warwick had trained Gloucester when he was a child for combat, so whether this prowess from his young former ward brought either frustration or pride is unknown. Within the disarray of the men mixed with the confusion of the fog, Lord Montagu was struck in the back and killed by an unknown soldier. This sealed the fate of the Lancastrians. Warwick was to be captured alive, and Edward sent a group to retrieve him, but within the fray, he was murdered. Both Montagu and Warwick were amoung 1500 killed that day, including both of The Duke of Gloucester's squires. Yet, the day was a success, and proved a strong message to the Lancastrians that God was on Edward's side. That Sunday was Easter, and according to legend, the statue of St. Anne's cabinet opened, and the statue wept tears of blood. That was also taken as a good omen for the Yorkists. Yet, things would not last: Margaret of Anjou would land at Weymouth with her son, Edward of Westminster, and they would lead a pursuit across the country, which ended at Tewksbury, in the midlands. Yet, that is a post for another day. For more information about the Battle of Barnet, check out here, here, and here. There is also a Barnet museum that can be visited, and they have talks about the battle, as well as the rest of the history of the town. The Battle of Barnet was the beginning of the end for the second part of the Wars of The Roses, and proved Edward to be a capable king. Although it seems to be a footnote, especially in the face of it's successor, The Battle of Tewksbury, it was an important part of history, and changed the trejectory of the Wars of The Roses- forever.