I think I've developed a weird crush on Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall *

[KatParr]

As Thomas Cromwell. Those tortured brown eyes! He's the embodiment of suppressed emotion. But. The weird skull cap and hat combo. Would love to be enveloped in his fur-trimmed cloak however.

Hilary Mantel has done a blinder with the character of Cromwell and Mark Rylance plays him so beautifully.

• Disclaimer, I'm probably ovulating, which accounts for weird crush.

Well, when Tommy C bellowed "I would have managed it better" after Jane Seymour died in last night's ep 😍

And I felt for him so much when he was dismissed from the King's chamber while Stephen Gardiner got to stay with the King and Gardiner was all but going "Na-na-na-nah NAH" at him. Cromwell's fall from grace is really gathering pace now.

I've been drooling over him (or perhaps the character) too. When Dorothea refused his proposal I felt like saying I'll have him.

Oooh yes, last night's WH was a belter. Cromwell is unravelling and Mark Rylance is acting his little socks off....the tears, recriminations, flashbacks, nightmares, you can really sense the forces gathering against him. Bring on Anne of Cleves!

And when TC strode manfully across the room (after being provoked by Gardiner) to rough-up Norfolk for insulting Wolsey, I came over a little peculiar...😍

His dream of growing old in the Abbey with the beehives - sob! Yet even when Jenneke offered him a way out, he refused. He's definitely the architect of his own downfall in many ways.

I'm not sure how I'm going to manage watching MR portraying the execution scene. Let's hope the final image is Cromwell, in a vision, strolling through the Abbey grounds again.

Yes this episode was much better than the other three. I thought the actress who played Jenneka was so pretty and I was so hoping TC would have gone with her, but he was a real nasty bastard in real life look what he did to Anne Boleyn and all the Monasterys, but I think every one in the Royal Court and the King were all the worst anyone could be.
Not looking forward to seeing M R in the Tower or getting his head chopped off. 😳

Discovered Cromwell in the Shardlake novels.
Fascinating character and person.
Love Rylance on the radio. Those four seasonal plays where he is the caretaker of a nature reserve.
But as Flop he can fuck right off.

I used to love watching Bing purely to hear his voice!
Agree latest episode of Wolf Hall was exceptional.

Watching the latest episode, 4, the encroaching doom was palpable, almost stifling in its progressive intensity.

At the end, I was quite overcome at the thought that Cromwell has only two weeks tv life left before his gruesome demise.

It will be unbearable to watch his plea for mercy, mercy, mercy being ignored by the abominable Henry.

We will have to endure the sorrow and bear witness for TC / MR that he was horribly wronged. Sob 😭

I don't want anything bad to happen to MR . 😭However TC was ruthless to his enemies and certainly showed no mercy mercy mercy to his victims. He deliberately set Ann Boleyn up as they were bitter rivals for the King's favour . He also blamed her for the demise of Woolsey who couldn't deliver the divorce she wanted .
He was a clever man but life in Tudor Courts were fraught with danger. Any trifling reason for displeasure could result in death or destruction of estates. It's almost hard to understand what motivation besides wealth would make a man desire the perilous power.

<SOB>

Just that really.

Was that the last one ? The building dread as Henry became more displeased was intense.

You're not wrong OP.

He is also wonderful in Dunkirk

There are 6 episodes in total:

1. Wreckage
2. Obedience
3. Defiance
4. Jenneka
5. Mirror

There’s one more episode to come:

6.Light:

‘Cromwell is stripped of his titles and brought to the Tower of London on a charge of treason. He has no friends to speak for him but plenty of enemies among his prosecutors.’ BBC iPlayer.

I’m dreading watching it.😢

Eek! A most depressing and off-putting film and I’m still flabbergasted Fox agreed to that on-screen! So did Rylance, but of course only she got the flack. And I read a strange interview by her husband saying they discussed it and he thought it was ok because it wasn’t penetrative sex… That would have crossed the line, apparently! Sorry, a bit OT!

He also liked a post I wrote on FB. It was the " I Love Anne Boleyn" group, or certainly something about the Tudors.
Nothing remotely erudite!
I didn't think it was genuine, but now you have me wondering!

I loved the way he shouted at Norfolk about being a man and stop using his fucking nieces to get the power he craves. He should have got rid of Norfolk when he had the chance. He should have left with Jennika and he should have married Jane Seymore's sister, she seemed very keen on him. He has taken his protection of Lady Mary too far also. He should have looked out for his own safety, im surprised he didnt, he knew what life at court was like and how Henry turned on a sixpence. If you were in power in those days you must have been on edge 24/7. Why would you do it.🤷‍♀️

Thanks @custardcreme77

I once attended an RSC event at Westminster abbey the actors and visitors wander around and randomly quote sections from Shakespeare.

Mark Rylance picked on me to give a speech to and I was mesmerised, I have never thought him attractive but he has such an aura of power I felt I was going to weep.

That whole evening was electric and is a wonderful memory.

Omg @fairislecable I think I'd have spontaneously combusted