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Original poster

...to find Wolf Hall really hard going

211 replies

catslave · 23/01/2015 09:49

I like a period drama, really I do - but I'm sorry to say that Wolf Hall was incredibly dull. For starters: hopping about all over the place in time, miserable, one of history's most interesting characters - Anne Boleyn - was a spoilt cow with an 'Allo 'Allo accent...

Nothing was explained properly, either, apart form the blindingly obvious. Loads of shots of Cromwell's dad being a wrong'un, in case you missed it the first 20 times, then 'Oh, I need to be an MP again' (Cromwell). Eh? When were you an MP the first time?

I 'did' the Tudors at A-level 20 years ago, so my memory of the period is ok, but the specifics are fuzzy, and there's no way I'd remember the ins and outs of Thomas Cromwell's parliamentary career. Argh! I've cancelled series link... Or is it just me?

OP posts:
funnyossity · 23/01/2015 10:19

I have a real soft spot for the Tudors series - it was like Dallas in costume!

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 23/01/2015 10:20

Yeah I loved it too, and am another one who knows a lot about that period of history. I think the term "period drama" sums up this idea of Downton Abbey style easy watching these days, this is a more serious, detailed and historically correct "viewing experience".

LaurieMarlow · 23/01/2015 10:29

I flipping adored the books so was very excited about the adaptation. Don't get me wrong, it's a great piece of television, but not a patch on the novels.

Mantel is an extraordinary writer and her talent is most apparent when portraying Cromwell's complex inner life. Difficult for the TV show to do justice to this and instead of these internal monologues we get a lot of Mark Rylance looking enigmatic - not so satisfying.

So ill keep watching, but I guess it was never going to live up to my hopes.

PasstheDaimbars · 23/01/2015 10:34

I had this chat at work, I really enjoyed it but others that I thought would have didn't.

And it had Damien Lewis, I know I know I'm shallow....

Stormingateacup · 23/01/2015 10:38

I know little about the Tudors and haven't read the books. I thought it was incredibly dull but stuck through it till the end and am just about interested enough to give the second episode a go.

JADS · 23/01/2015 10:39

funny Dallas in costume is a brilliant way to describe The Tudors! I loved the costumes and the atmosphere. I also loved the Henry/Brandon bromance (Jonathan Rhys Myers and Henry Cavil are both gorgeous). The dodgy historical details made me want to scream though.

Wolf Hall was never going to be fluffy, I'm looking forward to the next one. I think Thomas Cromwell is a fascinating character.

saintlyjimjams · 23/01/2015 10:48

I watched it with wiki open to look up the characters so I could out who was who. I got momentarily confused between More and Gardiner (all the black hats weren't helping) but I found it engaging and atmospheric.

I haven't read the books because I tried a few pages in a book shop and felt I wouldn't cope with the style. Or needed to be less worn out than I am at the moment to cope with it.

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 23/01/2015 10:49

I was bored silly by the book and confused by half the characters being called Cromwell. Much preferring TV version. And Anne was meant to have a silly French accent and is meant to be annoying, we're seeing history from Cromwell's pov and he doesn't like her one bit.

DreamingofSummer · 23/01/2015 10:52

I can never understand why people say the books were hard work. A straightfoward story but told in great detail with tremendous characterisation. The TV can't match it but got off to a decent start. Damien Lewis looks perfect as Henry.

ConferencePear · 23/01/2015 10:54

I haven't read the books, but I think the TV drama is the best TV I've watched in ages.
Brilliant, subtle script, wonderful actors, sets and costumes. I am going to watch Part 1 again before I watch Part2. An absolute joy.

MrsToddsShortcut · 23/01/2015 11:01

I must say, I loved it. I too studied the Tudors at A Level and although I don't remember too much of it (Blush) it is a really interesting period in history.

I wonder if one of the reasons why it seems like hard going is because we are so used to 'easy' tv nowadays, where a lot of the thinking is done for us? I found it hard remembering who was who and what the relationships were, but actually I don't mind that too much - keeps me on my toes!

HolyTerror · 23/01/2015 11:02

You're confusing the BBC adaptation with something objective, like 'what Tudor historians generally agree on', whereas this is a TV version of a novel, which makes a fictional interpretation of historical fact. We get Mantel's revisionist version of the traditional 'arch-villain' Cromwell, and we get the Tudor court entirely from his point of view, so we get a gracious, charming, brilliant Wolsey (because he loves him like a father), a hypocritical misery guts Thomas More(because he's Wolsey's enemy, and therefore Cromwell's), and an Anne Boleyn who is both a shrewish flat-chested upstart who has inexplicably entranced the king and also dangerous (because Cromwell is immune to her charms and yet sees how his fortunes are linked to hers).

I thought Cromwell was miscast (should have been Simon Russell Beale) and Wolsey, and the info dump at the start was clunky, but I liked it more than I expected.

Doesn't it help us know something about Tudor life to realise how dimly-lit their world was after dark? Like how dangerous travel could be, or how difficult it would be to distinguish someone's expression clearly at a candle-lit dinner?

janesaysl · 23/01/2015 11:19

Loved it and have read the books.
Am I the only who sobbed at his family dying? Possibly feeling hormonal tho Smile

SavoyCabbage · 23/01/2015 11:26

Do you think I could watch this with my 11 year old? She's interested in the Tudors after reading some of those 'My Story' books. I don't want to put her off it all though.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/01/2015 11:30

I didn't even attempt to watch it, because I hated the book (although I did drag myself through to the bitter end of it). I've read three of hers, and have come to the conclusion that she is really not a very good writer. I won't bother with any more.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/01/2015 11:32

Oh and I know quite a lot about the period, but still found the book extremely irritating and clunkily written.

FriendlyLadybird · 23/01/2015 11:32

I sobbed at his family dying. I thought it was great -- though I agree that Simon Russell Beale would have been an excellent Cromwell, and certainly matched my expectations of him physically.

I loved the way that Henry was such a presence throughout the whole of the (dark) episode, though unseen, then he just exploded on the screen in the last four minutes. The relationship between him and Cromwell is going to be absolutely cracking.

LaurieMarlow · 23/01/2015 11:38

I'm all for kids being stretched, but I don't think an 11 year old will get much out of this. It's very slow moving and ponderous, it's hard to follow the who's who of characters (even for those very au fait with the period). Plus the scenes with Cromwell's father are sickeningly violent and I'd want to protect an 11 year old from their harsh realities. Just no.

molesbreath · 23/01/2015 11:42

cumberlover I am totally with you.

I tried to read this book as I honestly wanted to get into it but I struggled a lot.but I finished it and gave it away. Years later when everyone started Raving about it I found another copy in the charity shop and gave it a go. But didn't finish it and bought the audio book instead.

Whatever you do don't read a place of greater safety- that was even worse.

I did quite enjoy the tv programme though...

SavoyCabbage · 23/01/2015 11:43

Ok, thanks laurie.

brainwashed · 23/01/2015 11:46

I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the books (hurry up with the third one please!) and was worried it would be ruined. I thought it was very true to the books in how the characters were portrayed. Nice to have a different take on a familiar story.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 23/01/2015 11:48

Obviously not just you, but I loved the book and really enjoyed watching the adaptation.

I want sure about the casting of Cromwell, but I was so wrong, he was fantastic. And I thought Anne's accent was great - I've always imagined her as being haughty and affected.

StarsOfTrackAndField · 23/01/2015 11:55

I really liked it. I am not massively into Tudor history, but thought Mark Rylance's performance was brilliantly understated.

I was disappointed they didn't get Jonathan Rhys Meyers to reprise his bejesus, begorah tis a grand day to be Henry o' Viii turn from 'The Tudors'

colleysmill · 23/01/2015 11:58

We watched it as I really wanted to having heard a lot about the books (but not read them)

I'm afraid dh was not impressed and it's now known as Wolf Snore in our house as dh fell asleep in the first 15 minutes and woke up at the credits. Best snooze he said he'd had in weeks.

I shall try to persevere in an effort to be cultured Grin

SandStorm · 23/01/2015 12:00

I watched it because there's been so much hype about it and there's so little good stuff on TV at the moment. I made it all the way through episode one but, to be honest, I doubt very much that I'll bother with the rest of it. I couldn't follow who was who, didn't see much of a story and really can't see where it's going. Bit of a shame as I was looking forward to something to sit down with in the evenings.