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