I absolutely love the Wolf Hall trilogy of books! Such a good read! And Series 1 was AMAZING! Since it came out I’ve been a big big fan! I got it on DVD way back in 2015 and it’s a series that I always head back to watching - the acting and script is impeccable for series 1. I was soooo excited when I heard the BBC were making a second series - but couldn’t belive that they managed to get so many of the original cast back as well considering it’s been about 9 years! I agree with what you’re saying about it feeling very muted but as a positive, it gives it such a real feel to it, the characters we are watching feel real, the world around them feel very lived in. The cast as for series two were amazing - I have to say some of the recasts weren’t as great! Such as Timothy Spall as the Duke of Norfolk - he didn’t capture the same energy and great presence and timing as his predecessor the late Bernard Hill. But of course his ill health then sad passing is a sad thing that the production of course couldn’t have stopped. I’d say Lydia Lenards does a serviceable job as Lady Rochefort, but her character has far less todo within this plot line so it’s understandable. I’d say a great recast that the series did was of Bishopmill Gardiner - I feel Alex Jennings as Stephen Gardiner feels real this time around and has agency, where as Mark Gatiss from the first series felt very strange and odd and was painted as a slight panto villain (which is one of my main complaints about series one). I also feel the inclusion of Harry Melling as Call-Me was far superior to the first series. I do LOVE the inclusion of Dame Harriet Walter as Lady Margaret Pole! But I was extremely gutted when she only appeared as a cameo role in one rather short scene! That was a big let down. Locations were far superior in the seconds series I’d say! And the use of the real Hampton Court! It just did feel grander this time around, I’m sure that may be as they may have had a larger budget this time around? But the same can be said for the costumes! They are wonderful and I’d say the women’s hoods are more accurate to real life than the first series! But when you look at Queen Jane or Lady Mary’s costumes and jewels they are just exquisite, as is Henry’s own. And yes even in series one, one or two costumes especially of males did seem rather too modern and on the “cheap” side. I love that you brought natural light up as I loved it - I know it wasn’t to everyone’s cup of tea and there were complaints about that from the first series, but I think it is really well used! I also loved Showtimes the Tudors! I would love to see a version of that made with this kind of cast, with more of a real look and feel to it! I’m not a big fan of reused footage from previous series - especially if it’s used lots and lots, but this second series didn’t use it to much, this time I think it did use dream sequences a little to much. I feel both series could have been about eight episodes instead of six as some parts do feel a little rushed. Thank you so much for your detailed review! I loved it!
Tudor England doesn't usually float my boat. My historical juices usually flow from post Industrial Revolution. However, I really enjoyed Wolf Hall 2. Fantastic acting, and beautiful sets, made me feel I was actually there - and best of all I learned a lot. I enjoyed it so much, I found Elizabeth R (Glenda Jackson) on iPlayer, and loved binge watching that too, over a couple of nights! Loved your review. Such enthusiasm and knowledge. Just how history should be.
Great review and comments. Can really sense your enthusiasm and care to detail. Not a huge issue for me with the racial recasting, though it can be distracting and immersion breaking at times. Just gonna say they’d likely never cast Caucasian actors to play black roles in other productions.
Totalling agree thats why it is so ridiculous silly and unnecessary to cast black faces in a production of a piece of "English Tudor 1500s Court History. At least get the basics right for a production of the period of English culture History
The Ridiculous woke casting of introducing black faces ruined it for me that was totally unnecessary for this period when producing a piece of "English Tudor 1500s History. At least get the basics right for a piece of English Tudor History
I absolutely love the Wolf Hall trilogy of books! Such a good read! And Series 1 was AMAZING! Since it came out I’ve been a big big fan! I got it on DVD way back in 2015 and it’s a series that I always head back to watching - the acting and script is impeccable for series 1. I was soooo excited when I heard the BBC were making a second series - but couldn’t belive that they managed to get so many of the original cast back as well considering it’s been about 9 years! I agree with what you’re saying about it feeling very muted but as a positive, it gives it such a real feel to it, the characters we are watching feel real, the world around them feel very lived in. The cast as for series two were amazing - I have to say some of the recasts weren’t as great! Such as Timothy Spall as the Duke of Norfolk - he didn’t capture the same energy and great presence and timing as his predecessor the late Bernard Hill. But of course his ill health then sad passing is a sad thing that the production of course couldn’t have stopped.
I’d say Lydia Lenards does a serviceable job as Lady Rochefort, but her character has far less todo within this plot line so it’s understandable. I’d say a great recast that the series did was of Bishopmill Gardiner - I feel Alex Jennings as Stephen Gardiner feels real this time around and has agency, where as Mark Gatiss from the first series felt very strange and odd and was painted as a slight panto villain (which is one of my main complaints about series one). I also feel the inclusion of Harry Melling as Call-Me was far superior to the first series. I do LOVE the inclusion of Dame Harriet Walter as Lady Margaret Pole! But I was extremely gutted when she only appeared as a cameo role in one rather short scene! That was a big let down.
Locations were far superior in the seconds series I’d say! And the use of the real Hampton Court! It just did feel grander this time around, I’m sure that may be as they may have had a larger budget this time around? But the same can be said for the costumes! They are wonderful and I’d say the women’s hoods are more accurate to real life than the first series! But when you look at Queen Jane or Lady Mary’s costumes and jewels they are just exquisite, as is Henry’s own. And yes even in series one, one or two costumes especially of males did seem rather too modern and on the “cheap” side.
I love that you brought natural light up as I loved it - I know it wasn’t to everyone’s cup of tea and there were complaints about that from the first series, but I think it is really well used! I also loved Showtimes the Tudors! I would love to see a version of that made with this kind of cast, with more of a real look and feel to it! I’m not a big fan of reused footage from previous series - especially if it’s used lots and lots, but this second series didn’t use it to much, this time I think it did use dream sequences a little to much.
I feel both series could have been about eight episodes instead of six as some parts do feel a little rushed.
Thank you so much for your detailed review! I loved it!
Charlotte you are so engaging… love your channel and style
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I have to wait until March to see Part II in Canada.
Tudor England doesn't usually float my boat. My historical juices usually flow from post Industrial Revolution. However, I really enjoyed Wolf Hall 2. Fantastic acting, and beautiful sets, made me feel I was actually there - and best of all I learned a lot.
I enjoyed it so much, I found Elizabeth R (Glenda Jackson) on iPlayer, and loved binge watching that too, over a couple of nights!
Loved your review. Such enthusiasm and knowledge. Just how history should be.
Great review and comments. Can really sense your enthusiasm and care to detail.
Not a huge issue for me with the racial recasting, though it can be distracting and immersion breaking at times.
Just gonna say they’d likely never cast Caucasian actors to play black roles in other productions.
Totalling agree thats why it is so ridiculous silly and unnecessary to cast black faces in a production of a piece of "English Tudor 1500s Court History.
At least get the basics right for a production of the period of English culture History
The Ridiculous woke casting of introducing black faces ruined it for me that was totally unnecessary for this period when producing a piece of "English Tudor 1500s History.
At least get the basics right for a piece of English Tudor History