What to Expect When We are Expecting Wolf Hall :)

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

You already know what’s coming if you have read the books. If not, please please do not get upset if you don’t get to see Henry VIII as often as you want in Wolf Hall, in particular the first episode. After all, this is Thomas Cromwell’s story.

Gaby Wood explains in her recent Telegraph article:

“Lewis compares playing Henry VIII to being a substitute on a football team – in particular, he compares him to ‘Supersub’ David Fairclough, who played for Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s. ‘He was a redhead,’ he says, identifying closely with the footballer. ‘He rarely started a game for Liverpool – he was always a substitute, and he had a knack for coming on and scoring a winner. And I feel that in this version, it’s a bit like what Henry VIII is. He comes on occasionally, dazzles, and goes away again.” Continue reading “What to Expect When We are Expecting Wolf Hall :)”

Henry the God-like King vs Henry the Tender Man

source: BBC
source: BBC

Thomas Cromwell is, of course, the heart and soul of Wolf Hall, and Hilary Mantel tells the story through his eyes.

The most central relationship in Wolf Hall is between Cromwell and the King Henry VIII. Mark Rylance talks about Henry VIII in a recent Telegraph article: “He has very complicated patterns in his mind, which Cromwell tries to guide and deal with.’ Rylance laughs. ‘Sometimes you felt a bit like a psychiatrist, playing Cromwell.’

As Cromwell constantly tries to understand Henry so that he can guide and deal with him,  I want to showcase Henry VIII today in Hilary Mantel’s brilliant words complete with my own over-analysis of my favorite Tudor 🙂

Here’s a very brief Wolf Hall clip with Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell:

The King says : “Who says I shouldn’t employ the son of an honest blacksmith? …Everything that you have will come from me.”

This is an all-powerful, controlling, ruthless, god-like King. Continue reading “Henry the God-like King vs Henry the Tender Man”

Wolf Hall ARRIVES in America!

Wolf Hall FUN has finally arrived in America, with a NEW hashtag in the king’s hands!

wolfhallpbs
source: PBS Press Room

Welcome to America, Henry!

Wolf Hall FUN in America started at a tea party hosted by the British Consul Chris O’Connor’s LA home on January 18. Continue reading “Wolf Hall ARRIVES in America!”

Wolf Hall Q&A with the Cast and the Director Peter Kosminsky

BBC2 held a preview screening for Wolf Hall on December 10 at SoHo’s Ham Yard Hotel, followed by a Q&A with the cast — including Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, and Claire Foy — and the director Peter Kosminsky.

Here is a photo tweeted by Rajiv Nathwani, social media manager of BBC1 and BBC2, from the Q&A. Thank you for sharing!

source: Rajiv Nathwani twitter

David Stephenson, Sunday Express TV Editor, tweeted from the event: “Great to see @lewis_damian staying to chat with everyone after #Wolfhall. His head to head with #markrylance in series will be fascinating.”

Continue reading “Wolf Hall Q&A with the Cast and the Director Peter Kosminsky”

The Talk of the Town is… codpiece!

henryviii3
source: farfarawaysite.com

Well, there has been one single most important controversy about Wolf Hall that got everyone talking about for months now… The codpiece 🙂

It was during the filming of Wolf Hall this past summer that I noticed some unusual interest in the codpiece. Historian Lucy Worsley, who interviewed Damian Lewis on the set of Wolf Hall, tweeted:

lucyworsleycodpiecetweet
source: Lucy Worsley twitter

Codpiece? Now, where did this come from? Continue reading “The Talk of the Town is… codpiece!”