Step inside the Tudor Dynasty with us as we handpick our favorite superlatives for each episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – from ‘who wore it best’ fashionable costume and top villain, to outstanding scene and perfect cinematography – and everything else in between! Up this week:
Episode 4: Jenneke
USA Air Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
Plot Summary: The birth of a Prince gives England the heir that Henry longs for, but at a terrible price. As the court grieves for Jane, it falls to Cromwell to find a fourth bride for the King.
Gingersnap
Who Wore It Best – King Henry VIII
All decked out in white, Henry almost looked angelic…my little puffy snowball.
Most Elaborate Bassinet – Prince Edward VI
Baby Edward VI made a show stopping entrance to much fanfare in the most royal and ornate Tudor bassinet, a hand-carved wood work adorned with the finest of fabrics, inset jewels, tassels, and a painting. It even comes with its very own tiny silk pillow. All that is missing is a gold rattle 😉
Crackling Cinematography – Cromwell’s Library
I have a love for books so this was straight up porn for me. The fireplace crackling, the candle chandeliers, all the wood work. I could almost smell it.
Supreme Symbolism – The Tudor Chessboard
This unique chessboard has handmade pieces, probably of maple and walnut. Chess was a popular game among the upper classes during the Tudor period. Evidence from the Royal household accounts and inventories, such as those of Catharine of Aragon (Henry’s first wife), show that chessboards and chessmen were owned and used by the Tudor Court. The tactics learned no doubt symbolize a larger concept among rulers, leaders, monarchs and sovereigns…that of strategizing a skillful out-maneuvering of one’s opponent, say, gaining a decisive advantage over Spain or France, or learning a successful defense.
Though it looks completely different, if you want your very own Tower of London chess set, which includes Henry VIII (King), Anne Boleyn (Queen), Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (Bishop), and Beefeaters (Pawns), check out this little gem here.
Lady Trader
Who Wore It Best – King Henry VIII
When Queen Jane dies, there are no ladies at Court, so this week’s Best Dressed goes to the King. This white outfit was just superb. The costumes of Wolf Hall are all amazing and so detail oriented that it really is hard to pick ‘a best of’ each week.
Anyone For Chess?
As someone who plays chess (I’m awful, but I like to play) I love seeing different sets, and this was so unique. I also like how Henry (wearing white) was white, and Cromwell (wearing black) was black. It’s the little things in this series that make it magnificent.
Are You Sure This Isn’t an Italian Dinner?
Now everybody knows it’s not a real Sunday Italian dinner unless hands are thrown. And Cromwell did spend time in Italy, so he was just keeping with tradition!
Damianista
Who Wore It Best – Jenneke
Joanna Eatwell is the goddess of costume design. And the dress she’s made for Cromwell’s fictional daughter Jenneke is simply beautiful. My take away is that 16th century Antwerp women’s fashion was quite different from that in England.
Here is the making of the dress from Eatwell’s Instagram.
The Lion King Award – Henry VIII and Prince Edward
The scene where the King proudly takes his baby son into his arms and introduces him to the Court reminds me of King Mufasa’s presentation of baby Simba in The Lion King 🙂
Inseparable BFFs – Gardiner and Norfolk
As much as I dislike their characters, I love the chemistry between Timothy Spall as Norfolk and Alex Jennings as Gardiner. They are brilliant actors!
Best Metaphor – The Chess Game Between Henry and Cromwell
I obviously don’t know if Henry and Cromwell sat to play chess in their time, but this is symbolic story-telling at its best. There is an on-going chess game between Henry and Cromwell where the latter tries his best to guess Henry’s next move. And look at them, Henry is in white while Cromwell is in black. It is unsettling for Cromwell when he can’t see Henry’s next move – like in the case of Bishop Gardiner returning from France!
I always like when we all have different things in our “best of” posts because I love seeing our different points of view. That being said, I do love how this week we all had the chess game in our post!
The chess game has so many things going on there – physically and emotionally – it is no wonder it made it into everyone’s “best of” list this week!
And we all liked the Turkish costume/gold masks from episode 2! <3
How can you not like a Turkish costume?
🙂
Oh that’s right! I forgot!