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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:
MrsPeterQuill · 23/01/2015 12:02

holyterror has explained it brilliantly.

Enjoyed the book and I think the tv series has captured the mood of the novel quite well.

Also, about Anne's accent, I thought because she had spent all this time at the French court, she was seen as a bit exotic and a novelty when she returned which she played to her advantage.

DeliciousMonster · 23/01/2015 12:03

I watched Ep 1 last night and found it completely dull. I do like HM, and the period, and slow dramas and perhaps I just wasn't in the mood as I was bored stiff with all the stern faces being pulled.

approoachingfiftyandfat · 23/01/2015 12:06

Sometimes series like this need to be stuck with and don't fly straight away. I enjoyed it very much. I get up at 5am and usually glaze over by 9pm and haul myself off to bed. But I thought the story was well told, easy to follow and the characters set up well.. There was a hint of of the old mumbleitis coming from Henry 8th which I found a touch worrying though.

EvilTendency1 · 23/01/2015 12:06

IndridCold

I agree totally, it's nice to have drama on the TV that isn't mindless rubbish and something you have to think about.

I enjoy reading books about the Tudor period and especially love Phillipa Gregory's series around the dynstasty.

EvilTendency1 · 23/01/2015 12:07

Oops that should be dynasty Blush

FluffyTheEvilOne · 23/01/2015 12:22

I enjoyed it overall. Haven't read the book, but do know a little about Tudor history. I was annoyed with the jumping round in time, especially when it wasn't indicated clearly; I got confused when they said that Henry VIII had been married for 20 years, then everything went back eight years, but suddenly they were talking about him having been married for 18 years... I don't mind going backwards and forwards in time if it is clearly signposted and serves the overall plot, or to explain the characters' motives etc, but I feel the episode would have worked better more chronologically. I have to say the episode felt very disjointed, but I will stick with it for now.

I agree with MrsPeterQuill re Anne Boleyn playing up her foreign-ness, but found the 'Ccremwellll' a bit irritating!

winewolfhowls · 23/01/2015 12:45

I absolutely loved it.
Nice to see a drama where it isnt about all the core characters being unusually good looking. Liked the way that annes sister mary was included as she was quite a figure at court before anne outshone her

givemushypeasachance · 23/01/2015 12:59

I loved it, but then again I enjoyed the books and saw the RSC production in London last year; despite this I'm still apt to forget whether it's Norfolk or Suffolk who is the uncle of Anne, and the Boleyns were supposed to sort Harry Percy out, or was that someone else? It seems to make sense as you go along anyway, even if my grasp of the family relationships is a bit shaky!

The first episode has to be rather stuffed full of exposition and info-dumping since you're coming from a cold open and can't assume people even know what's happening between Henry and Catherine or the Pope; that has to be explained somewhere. I saw episode two at the BFI the other week and the "action" picks up more from then on.

HolyTerror · 23/01/2015 13:03

I can't see how the episode could have been made without the slightly clunky flashbacks, though. You have to see how Wolsey sowed the seeds of his own downfall by squashing the Boleyns over Anne's dalliance with /'starter marriage' to Harry Percy, so that he makes dangerous enemies of the lot of them when he's unable to secure Henry's annulment. And things like how a blacksmith's son even gets to be talking to the king.

And though I would have said virtually everyone knew the backstory about Katherine having originally been married to Henry's brother etc, the BBC probably wants to sell it abroad and can't assume a working knowledge of Tudor family politics, far less the dispensations necessary to marry a dead brother's widow etc?

Though every time a rather posh English voice comes out of Damian Lewis's mouth, I am taken aback, having only ever previously seen him on non-US accent mode when he was reading the CBeebies bedtime story. Grin

Hygellig · 23/01/2015 13:03

I've recorded it but haven't yet watched it. I found the book very hard going and boring to be honest and couldn't understand why it got such rave reviews.

LucilleBluth · 23/01/2015 13:03

May I suggest Alison Weir's books to anyone who wants an accessible introduction into Tudor History, she's fab

Sunnymeg · 23/01/2015 13:16

I enjoyed it on the whole, but then I did Tudor History for A level. DH who didn't, found it very difficult to follow. I must admit I found the book to be really hard going and I struggled to finish it. I just don't like Ms Mantel's style of writing.
.

SinglePringle · 23/01/2015 13:23

I adored it. Loved the way it forced me to concentrate. Loved the understated directing and acting - fabulous to have drama that isn't 'paint by numbers' like Downton.

MH was fabulous - loved the sardonic humour. Cannot wait for the rest of series!

MehsMum · 23/01/2015 13:25

Watched it on iPlayer last night and loved it. I am a terrible pedant and normally end up ranting about 'all the wrong furniture' and how 'those windows are about two centuries out of period', and I thoroughly enjoyed all the candlelight, and the brand new oak furniture in the background, and the nearness of nature - the birdsong coming through the windows, the stacks of firewood chopped and ready.

Lots better than Downton: as at least one pp has said, you have to think about this one. I can see why the first episode might be a bit clunky: there's an awful lot to fit in, to make sure everyone knows at the least the basics of what's going on.

I loved watching Cromwell's mind working, and I cried when the children died....

But then, I did love the books.

SinglePringle · 23/01/2015 13:30

What usually pisses me off in period dramas is that ALL the furniture is from the exact period - if it's the 30's, it's all from the 30s! For gawds sake, people would have furniture that was 30 years old or so! Especially then!

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2015 13:33

I got bored after 10 minutes

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 23/01/2015 13:35

MR too wiffty to be TC imo

when he picked up the hammer in the scene with his horrible dad he looked like he wouldn't know what to do with it

I imagine TC as thick necked, bullish and schemey. Have said on another thread Eccleston should have got it. Rylance more your Thomas More and Simon Russell Beale could've done a big fat Wolsey to my mind.

I thought Anne was GREAT though. She was quite spectacularly horrid

Tiredemma · 23/01/2015 13:36

I loved it. Going to watch it again in a bit when DD is asleep.

kentishgirl · 23/01/2015 13:37

I know someone who worked on it, and she says Episode one is quite slow as it's to set the scene, give the background, and introduce the characters. It's more of an intro, than the actual story. The rest of the series is much pacier, so if you are giving up because of that, you might enjoy episode two much more.

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 23/01/2015 13:40

oooh and whoever was debating letting an 11yo watch it- I'd advise not, if of sensitive disposition

sure I heard on radio that execution scene(s) v realistic

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 23/01/2015 13:50

I enjoyed it, the pace was fast enough for me yes it takes a while for it all to sink into my brick-like noggin

My only bug bear which isn't at all relevant to the book or the production is that there were too many men called Thomas surrounding Henry VIII. I mean would it have killed their parents to have gone for something like Balonz Cromwell Wink Grin

littlepeas · 23/01/2015 13:53

I enjoyed it, but unfortunately Mark Rylance provides the voice for a character in my ds's favourite programme (Flop, in Bing, if anyone is interested) and it is so distinctive it was all I could hear while watching it!

SisterMoonshine · 23/01/2015 14:01

Same here littlepeas. I found it. quite distracting that it was Flop - especially when he says "indeed"
I guess we watch too much Bing.

Aherdofmims · 23/01/2015 14:05

I loved the book and the sequel (although not quite so much).

I know quite alot about the Tudor period and therefore could follow quite easily. However I thought it was a bit boring. It seemed to get interesting at the end though so maybe it will be better in the subsequent episodes.

And I never thought I would find anything set in Tudor times a bit boring.

littlepeas · 23/01/2015 14:06

I kept thinking of the episode where they make a smoothie and he is singing 'la la la la banana'.