Does wolf hall get better?

[Cantonet]

I've just watched the first episode of the first series in preparation for the new series.
I feel like I'm watching a deeply repressive, utterly grim play. Is this series a slow burner? Or shall I give up watching now?

Damien Lewis, judging by his interview in the Radio Times, appears either to be channelling Henry or, more likely, to be a bit of a dick all by himself.
Unattractive.

Yeah, I don't get the 'cheap' comment either. From what I can see, no expense was spared on the costumes and sets. But the Tudor court was not a glitzy place. Dark, draughty castles. Rarely washed clothes made from scratchy fibers. Courtiers with missing teeth and pockmarked faces. Also, most of the action took place indoors so it's not as if they needed to spend loads on expensive outdoor shots. And the likes of Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance don't come cheap either.

I loved the books and adored the series. However it is very marmite and I suspect if you didn't enjoy the first episodes it won't improve for you.

Mark Rylance is fabulous, but the late Bernard Hill was stupendous as Norfolk.

Yes, I really missed Bernard Hill

If you didn’t like what you saw, it’s unlikely to engage you later.

Me too. I really like Timpthy Spall, but Bernard Hill was amazing. Totally believable and frightening.

I'm really curious about this comment and what you feel is lacking? I'm struggling to articulate why I feel the complete opposite way but I think it boils down to just the authenticity of the locations and the subtle details of costume and mannerisms etc. Nothing too showy, just in keeping with the period even if it might appear odd to modern eyes.

I loved it. Love Mark Rylance, Claire Foy and Damian Lewis. Love a BBC period drama.

But I haven’t read the books, am not a medieval historian and haven’t seen the plays so have nothing to compare it to.

I have just read the Radio Times interview and can’t see what is wrong with what Damian has said.

What did he say?

Eta: found it. Will read now.

I didn't get on with the books but I found the audio book version read by Mark Rylance utterly compelling. He has completely absorbed what it means to be Cromwell and he, and everyone else through his eyes, comes across as real, fascinating, flawed and completely human.

Glad it's not just me. I persevered through episode 2 but I can't watch any more, it's too slow and really dull. Shame because I really wanted to like it.

Finally somebody that thinks the same as me.

I hated the books gave up on the first one pretty quickly

loved the tv series

He’s just talking about his interpretation of the character he is playing that I can tell.

Lucy Mangan has given last night’s episode a five star review. I need to watch the final episode of the first bit first as BBC took it off the iPlayer before I could last time (although I obviously know what happened!)

It never did it for me - book or tv. I usually love novels/dramas from that era. This was just heavy going. My mum loved it!

I struggled with it ten - ten! - years ago because of the lighting. It was so dark I gave up after episode 2. I really enjoyed the first episode of The Mirror and the Light last night so I'm going to give series 1 another try this week, hopefully I can watch all episodes before next Sunday. I'll try to increase the tv brightness setting to max.

Once I got my head into it - which did take a good 150 pages - I loved the books.

I felt Rylance wasn’t at all the Cromwell of the books, he doesn’t “look like a murderer” or have the physical menace Cromwell had despite his remarkable mind.

@MontyDonsBlueScarf - the audiobooks I heard were narrated by Ben Miles, who played Cromwell on stage and was Mantel’s choice. He was excellent.

I might give the audiobook a try

Yes me too. That or Riders by Jilly Cooper - just weighing up which...

I think Damian Lewis has captured Henry perfectly. He's not remotely likeable and isn't supposed to be. He was a psychopath, especially in his later years.

Haha! I can’t stand rylance and all the rylance worship! However much to my surprise Damian Lewis absolutely illuminated Henry and actively created a situation in which you could feel the excitement and terror of being the servant of such a capricious king.

Well it's not supposed to be a happy story! I found the first series dark, not in the sad sense, but literally without enough light and I couldn't see what was going on. The book was good though not a page Turner, but I couldn't finish the sequel.

I can't believe my comment was deleted!

All I said was that it was a disgraceful misrepresentation of history to have mixed race actors portray the mother and sister-in-law of Jane Seymour. Honestly, what's wrong with me stating facts? Like it or not, Margery Wentworth was not black, and nor was her daughter in law, Ann Stanhope!

Why are no longer allowed to freely express historical truth?!

So have now rewatched the first 2 episodes of Wolf Hall and in fact was surprised that the dialogue is so scrappy. By that I mean if you have no idea about that period of history it is all pretty banal, not very illuminating.

But in fact my response to Rylance 2nd time round is even worse.

Everyone else is being sort of "natural" and he seems to be curating every shot of thoough recreating a painting or something. Stiff and wooden. Maybe he needed little thought bubbles to let us share what it is he thinks he is imparting!!

But also, which I had forgotten no way, given his junior status at this stage in his life, would be have been allowed to bow (using that strange way of removing this headwear) AND keep his head up and stare at whoever he was bowing to. Not saying he would have been sent to the Tower but would have been considered not just rude but not showing due deference. Who thought this was a clever element to his character. So unfortunately as yet, I am unconvinced by his acting skills and interpretation of the character.

Did Hilary Mantel really approve. Its so anachronistic.

But agree with comments up thread. Benard Hill and Damien Lewis really convincing. And Jonathan Price.

Also the actor who plays Cromwell's father (just cant remember his name, but he has been in lots) very, very convincing.

Sadly as I usually think he is great, Anton Lesser was (so far) just a bit ...

Claire Foy - who does she thinks she is?

But the actress playing her sister is good.

So I suppose what I am saying is that I dont see how it has got the reputation it has.