Across two strong seasons this period drama leaves TV fans ‘glued to the screen’, as some claim it encapsulates the atmosphere of the historic Tudor period ‘masterfully
Based on a series of best-selling books, this show has captivated viewers, who give it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, accumulated from real-life reviews.
Hilary Mantel’s fictionalised biography, which documents the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, was adapted to screen in the form of an award-winning series. Across six parts, the first season took the world by storm, and fans continue to discover its charm.
Wolf Hall is the TV drama in question, based on the novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, focusing on Thomas Cromwell’s life. It begins with the rapid rise of power he experienced in the court of Henry VIII and takes us through to his success in freeing the king from his marriage.
First released in 2015, it was soon apparent the show was proving to be a hit with viewers and the wider industry. It received eight nominations at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards and went on to win Best Miniseries or Television Film at the Golden Globes that same year.
With this praise in mind, one viewer wrote: “This is one of the best period pieces I’ve ever seen. It masterfully captured the lives of the characters at the time, and I was glued to the screen for every second of it. I definitely recommend it for drama and history fans!”
The story was adapted by writer Peter Straughan and directed by Peter Kosminsky, but it’s the star-studded cast that left a lasting impression on fans. Claire Foy stars as Anne Boleyn, alongside Damian Lewis as the Tudor king and Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell.
A viewer shared their thoughts, saying: “Peter Straughan is one of the best writers ever. A fascinating story that I could rewatch every single day. Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis and Claire Foy are phenomenal in every second of it.”
Others described the show as quite simply “phenomenal”, while others claimed it to be “incredible”. Some mentioned how its steadier pace allowed time for them to get to grips with the story as opposed to “shoving the story down our throats as so many modern shows do”.
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It is based on the life of Thomas Cromwell
Season two picks up where the first left off, after Anne’s execution, and continues to show Cromwell’s rise before Henry’s further marriages. As history tells it, the king has his marriage to his third and fourth queens, Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves, which eventually leads to his downfall and tragic execution.
It was announced that there will be no third addition of Wolf Hall, as the third and final novel was covered in the second season. And it’s this season that saw a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first close enough with 99%.
On watching the second instalment, one viewer shared: “Absolutely astounding! This show was incredible, and the performances from the cast made me feel like I was witnessing the actual events that were depicted in the show. All period pieces should use this show as a template because it was amazing in every way.