Wolf Hall - The Mirror and the Light

[virgocatlover]

Series 2 is confirmed to start Sunday 10th November.

Almost 10 years after the first series, I'm excited to see the third and final novel brought to life.

exactly- a drama or even a documentary if there was sufficient material about black people in tudor england would be fascinating

Robert Bolt is the playwright

Ah I see, thanks!

The only thing I didn't like really was Chapuys, who I felt was a bit over played by the actor and I found Gregory's age up a bit jarring, though I suppose Tom Holland was too busy

It was Matthieu Amalric before (as Chapuys) and he was great. Maybe he wasn’t available hence the recasting.

I think it's wonderful. I'm just upset I can't binge watch it!

I have no issue with colour-blind casting whatsoever. It's been going on in theatre for decades. I remember going to an RSC production of one of Shakespeare's history plays in the early '90s with mixed casting. It's not 'distracting' unless you want it to be. Plus, the intention obviously isn't to literally suggest there were black nobles in Tudor England. It's just an actor playing a part who happens to have a darker skin tone.

We make huge numbers of films, tv dramas and theatre productions in this country that are set pre-1950s. Personally I'm much more comfortable with colour-blind casting than I am with the idea of 'whites only' casting calls.

It's only moved on a few months though in Tudor times?

True.
But in real terms the cast have aged 10 years in the interim.
My point was that the lovely Thomas B-S still looks as young as he was in series one. Lucky man!

Nit picking, I know, but I preferred the Chapuys of the first series.
Feel a bit bad to say, too, that I didn't like Tim Spall's portrayal of The Duke of Norfolk. Bernard Hill made him loud, rude and bruisingly menacing.

I think it's wonderful. I'm just upset I can't binge watch it!

I actually think it's the type of series which is suited to 'traditional' once a week type viewing. It's not like we're on the edges of our seats waiting to know what will happen next. Most people will be familiar with at least the broad outlines of the events, even if they haven't read the books. I think it's the type of TV best savoured in small portions, whetting the appetite for the next serving!

Every time I see Thomas B-S on screen I think 2 things.

1. He still looks like a kid
2. I can't believe he's married to Elon Musk's 2x ex-wife!

Yes he looks very youthful

Henry felt betrayed by Cromwell as he asked Hans Holbein to make the portrait of Anne of Cleves ‘more attractive’ than she actually was.
The famous words ‘ I like her not’ spoken to Cromwell after their first meeting.

Looking forward to seeing her too, a gentle soul

Dana Herfurth as Anne of Cleves.

I had hoped to be posting a photo of Dana as Anne of Cleves! Didn't work.

It's towards the end of this Radio Time page.
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/wolf-hall-season-2-cast-characters-mirror-light/

The famous words ‘ I like her not’ spoken to Cromwell after their first meeting.

And the morning after their failed attempt to consummate the marriage Henry is believed to have said to Cromwell 'I liked her before not well, but now I like her much worse'.

Oh dear.

I still remember Jonathan Rees Meyers in 'The Tudors' stomping around shouting 'I like her not!' at Cromwell. Poor Anne. I very much doubt she was that unattractive, and Henry was hardly a dreamboat at this stage in his life.

If their portraits were anything like reality then Anne looks pleasant and more attractive than Jane Seymour!

Apparently she tried to get Henry to remarry her after Catherine Howard's death. Starkey mentions it in his Six Wives book but it's been many years since I read it.

Seeing the Holbein drawings earlier this year at the King's Gallery was incredible, and realising that these were the actual people at court, so breathtakingly realistic. I do think they've got a lot of the faces right - they look very Tudor.

If you ever get to go to New York, make sure you go to The Frick. It’s closed at the moment (reopening next spring) but it houses what is considered to be the best copy of the Holbein original portrait. We saw it 12 years ago, the whole collection is amazing and they also have Holbein’s portrait of Thomas More.

Thank you OP for your PSA, I watched the first episode yesterday early evening via iPlayer, couldn't wait the extra hours. I have spent a good number of years avoiding reading The Mirror and the Light because I didn't want this version of Cromwell to end, Mantel's writing is so compelling. But I've forced myself this year to read it all the way through, in preparation of this adaptation.

I loved Rylance in Wolf Hall and to my eyes, he's not noticeably more haggard now (he was always dour and lined). But so mesmerising! And Jane Seymour is no longer as fresh faced as she was, but still beautifully played.

I miss Mathieu Almaric though. And I looked up the new Wriothesley - that actor played Dudley Dursley, bit of a surprise.

I still love MR as Cromwell. His beautiful wrinkly face is just right. Maybe he's not physically imposing but he still conveys menace. Iron hand in velvet glove.

Damian Lewis was brilliant too. He excels at playing these teetering on the edge characters ( Bobby Axelrod in Billions).

Loved Jane Seymour's passive aggressive dig at Mary- I am only 7 years older than you- and the way Henry enjoyed these two women fawning around him.

Anne Cleves had a fabulous life, really. As good a life as women of that age could have. If any of you have seen "Six"' it's so funny about Anne and the Holbein portrait of her. "I didn't match my profile picture."

The National Portrait Gallery also has the picture of Christina of someplace ( Denmark?), one of the women Henry planned to marry after Jane. But she rejected him and probably saved her head.

Mark Rylance isn’t my Cromwell or the Cromwell of the books BUT nonetheless he is magnificent in the role and capture so much of his essence. I’m rewatching the original series before I start Mirror and the Light and I’m intrigued to see how the recasts work.

Just started this

Can someone explain why Thomas Cromwell was thought to be physically menacing and so MR portrayal isn't felt by some to work ?

I'm rewatching WH before starting the new series and find his benign air whilst manipulating rather fascinating !
Personally I find it more realistic than an arch villain portrayal-even though he clearly was one.

It’s just laughable now how casting is done. It seems to be a requirement to have mixed races in everything regardless of historical accuracy. I doubt a Japanese film made in Japan for example would feature a redhead . It’s ridiculous. For Gods sake let’s stick to the historical facts, otherwise Cromwell could be portrayed as a fifteen year old girl soon.

@VoteDappy

I'm rewatching too, his stillness is excellent and he's a brilliant actor. But Thomas Cromwell to me has to have a physical presence too, he was a soldier, the interesting thing to me was the air I;the book that he could easily have beaten someone up but didn't....he used words instead.

Holbein's portrait of him shows a burly, stocky man.
Someone you could easily imagine being a fighter.

He reminds me of a typical Bouncer.