Wolf Hall 1.01. Three Hat Trick

[selenak]

So far, so well done. They kept the jumping between eras of Mantel's first volume - but imo at least, it was not difficult to follow which time period we were in at which point - , and for the first episode, focused on the fall of Wolsey as a unifying theme, with Cromwell not meeting Henry (as in, actually talking to him) until the very end. Naturally, there's a lot of exposition - this is where everyone gets introduced - but the only time it came across as "as you know, Bob" clumsy to me was when Wolsey summed up Henry's marital history with Katherine for Cromwell. All the other times the information felt like a natural part of the dialogue.

Mark Rylance is very good as Cromwelll, getting across the man's intelligence and constant observation of everyone else. Not yet the ruthlessness because at this point he hasn't had a chance to exhibit it yet, but the toughness. The first episode's main emotional emphasis was in his relationship with Wolsey (and they kept the flashbacks to Cromwell Senior's treatment of him until we're two thirds in, so the audience is allowed to conclude Wolsey is Cromwell's replacement father on its own before that) and with his wife and daughters. (If you've read the novels, the younger daughter wearing her angel wings willl make you wince for more than one reason.) By contrast, the various courtiers and later players are briefly sketched. Mark Gatiss wins for character with only a few lines yet completely getting the personality and type of relationship with Cromwell across, very memorable. (He plays Gardiner.) Damian Lewis is no slouch, either, in that last scene as Henry VIII., whom everyone keeps talking about in the course of the episode, so basically he's the Harry Lime of Wolf Hall with the heavily delayed entrace. Said scene paints Henry as intelligent, still having some residual affection for the Cardinal but also no intention whatsoever to save him, and quickly deducing Cromwell can be useful.

Scenes only of significance if you either are aware of history or have read the novels: Mark Smeaton (though the last name hasn't been spoken out loud yet). "You may not think of us, Mark, but we think of you" indeed. I wonder whether anyone is watching it unspoiled by both und what they make of them?

They've cast Thomas Brodie Sangster as Rafe, and he's adorable (again); I've never had much investment in Rafe in the novels, so that was welcome (considering Rafe is one of Cromwell's most constant dialogue partners in upcoming events).

Lastly, the look: is gorgeous. All the candlelight minus electricity when filming certainly paid off. The costumes certainly look authentic (especially when compared to, err, certain other productions set within the same era). Oh, and bonus points for a Katherine of Aragon who isn't black haired but auburn (which according to all descriptions she was). She still speaks with a Spanish accent, though, which personally I doubt she still did at that point of her life (I mean, the woman has lived in England since she was 16, now it's more than two decades later).

Comments

[kerrypolka]

The lighting was absolutely stunning; I was impressed with a lot of it (the acting, the casting, the script) but the lighting was the part that is still making me go WOW two days later.

I do have to say I winced at an As You Know Bob fairly late in the episode, when they made Gatiss (who I agree was excellent) drop some info about the Holy Roman Emperor then say something like, "Oh, I see your boy doesn't understand." and explain why that was important. I was like, "okay, by 'your boy' you clearly mean 'the audience', but surely the set-up for Political Motivation Exposition could have been a little less OKAY IT IS TIME FOR EXPLAINING NOW"

[cadma]

I really enjoyed it. I was pretty shocked by what happened to Cromwell's family -- when he got home I was expecting one child to have died. I couldn't tell how long before Wolsey's fall it happened but it seems to be setting up his political career as the only thing he has left. He has male relatives left but he's getting them (or at least Ralph) involved in politics too. I'll be interested to see if his son appears.

I saw what you meant as well when you said before that Mantel was a bit in love with Cromwell -- he did come off as almost flawless. If some ruthlessness shows up later maybe that will change it a bit. I found him much more interesting when he was in conflict with someone, especially Anne Boleyn but More was good too. Looking forward to the next episode for more of that. It's a good performance even when he's just watching or agreeing with Wolsey though. Gatiss was great too, I hope there's more of him as well.

[d_generate_girl]

I'm not a huge fan of the books (or most of the period in general), but I was intending on binge-watching it mostly to perv over Damian Lewis. Gatiss and Brodie-Sangster and Rylance sound like nice bonuses, and considering my girl Joanne Whalley is apparently rocking it as Catherine, I'm moving this up my list.

[kalypso]

when Wolsey summed up Henry's marital history with Katherine for Cromwell

I rolled my eyes at that point. How exactly was Cromwell supposed to have missed out on that story?

I'm not sure about it yet, particularly Anne, but probably there isn't anyone who could live up to the Anne in my head.

Re Katherine, she may be the sort of in-between person who still sounds Spanish to the English but would sound English if she went back to Spain.

I did shudder when we met poor Mark.