Tag: Cardinal Wolsey

Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 2 Obedience

“The King never does an unpleasant thing. Lord Cromwell does it for him.” — Queen Jane

I started my recap for the first episode last week with a paragraph about how much I cherished Wolf Hall. And I am thrilled to report that British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) TV Awards agrees with me! Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light received nominations for BAFTA TV Awards in three categories early this week:

Drama Series – Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light (BAFTA TV Awards)

Director – Peter Kosminsky (BAFTA TV Craft Awards)

Best Supporting Actor – Damian Lewis (BAFTA TV Awards)

I can’t be happier about these nominations, particularly the last one. It has been some time since I was rooting for Damian at an Awards Ceremony. Come May 11, I will be rooting for him and glued to the social media to find out. Mental note: Find out if you can watch BAFTA TV Awards Ceremony via VPN 🙂

Now let’s get to it.

Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 2 Obedience”

Best of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 1 “Wreckage”

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 1: Wreckage
USA Air Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Plot Summary: As Anne Boleyn’s blood is sluiced from the scaffold, Thomas Cromwell picks his way through the wreckage of her death to take his place as principal councillor to King Henry VIII.

Gingersnap

Who Wore It Best – The bride, Jane Seymour

Kate Phillips as Jane Seymour and Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII
Kate Phillips as the bride Jane Seymour

Tudor Fashion House is all about wealth and status, all spoken through intricate fabric and color choices. Jane Seymour’s wedding ensemble of lush silver and gold silk, though weighty, screamed luxurious. The finely woven ornate brocade pattern and voluminous draped arms was elegantly accompanied by her simple pearl necklace and hairpiece. Simply divine. Continue reading “Best of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 1 “Wreckage””

Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 1 Wreckage

“So, good Privy Seal, as you love me and love my service, you will bring this matter to a conclusion.”

– Henry VIII

My favorite bromance is back 🙂

I have said it before and will say it again. Wolf Hall is the best thing that has happened to TV. It is a slow-cooking, dark, witty political drama with a contemporary feel. Peter Straughan’s script is wonderfully condensed, with most of the conversation coming directly from Mantel’s pen. Hearing some of the best lines I have ever read spoken by the characters is delightful. Peter Kosminsky’s directing is flawless. Every shot feels like a painting. And while some characters needed to be recast, the continuity is beyond impressive that you don’t feel the nine-year interval between the two productions. Mark Rylance is as nuanced as ever as Thomas Cromwell, and Damian Lewis is quietly terrifying as Henry VIII. And while the two leads are electric together, the entire cast gives a masterclass in acting. So yes, the long wait is entirely worth it. Now, let’s get to it. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 1 Wreckage”

TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2024: Henry VIII in Wolf Hall The Mirror And The Light

“It seems fairly redundant to say “Damian Lewis is a good actor”, but, well, here we are: his Henry is outstanding, the biggest guy in the room in name and stature if not ever actual presence, something flawed in the hull and he knows it.”

– The Guardian

Wolf Hall is one of the best things that ever happened to TV. A slow-cooking, dark, and witty political drama, it has a contemporary feel. Peter Straughan’s script is wonderfully condensed, with most of the conversation coming directly from Mantel’s pen. Hearing some of the best lines I have ever read spoken by the characters is delightful. Peter Kosminsky’s directing is flawless. Every shot feels like a painting. And while some characters needed to be recast, the continuity is beyond impressive that you don’t feel the nine-year interval between the two productions.  The entire cast gives a masterclass in acting. Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis, as the two leads, are electric together. So yes the long wait was entirely worth it.

Continue reading “TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2024: Henry VIII in Wolf Hall The Mirror And The Light”

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 6 Light

“Valentines, sorceries, purple doublets. Any jury would laugh you out of the court. But then there won’t be a jury, will there?” – Thomas Cromwell

No jury. No trial. Only an interrogation team, perfectly convinced about Thomas Cromwell being a traitor, asking ridiculous questions. And an Act of Attainder which Cromwell himself also used against others.

Upon arresting him, Kingston brings Cromwell to the Tower, to the very room that Cromwell himself built for Anne Boleyn before her coronation. It is also the same room the late queen spent her days before her execution. Now, in  his solitary confinement, it is inevitable for Cromwell to reflect on his past. And characters from that past, varying from Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey to Dorothea to the French executioner haunt his dreams. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 6 Light”