Tag: Lydia Leonard

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 5 Mirror

“Have you not read it in The Book Called Henry which I wrote for you? Never say what the King will not do. – Thomas Cromwell

In the penultimate episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, everything that could go wrong goes wrong for Cromwell, reminding us what the Imperial Ambassador Chapuys tells him in Episode 1 Wreckage:

“For when all is said, you are a blacksmith’s son. Your whole life depends on the next beat of Henry’s heart and your future on his smile or frown.”

We have seen Cromwell guiding the King’s thoughts in the direction that he prefers for a long time. However, as his tasks pile up, Cromwell is not able to spend as much time with the king as he would like. He is well aware of his vulnerability: that he has more enemies than friends in the court and there is a lot of conversation going on without him especially after Gardiner’s return from France. And the fever that keeps Cromwell away from Henry for some time gives Gardiner enough time to get closer to the King and poison him against Cromwell. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 5 Mirror”

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 4 Jenneke

“What good is my rule if I can’t save John? If he [Henry] can burn John Lambert, he can burn any of us. Any of us. I should have spoken.” – Thomas Cromwell

This episode stands out for me as the best of the four we’ve seen so far. I love it that we get to see both Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII at their most human in happiness and sadness. But then as someone who teaches politics for a living, I also love the political intrigue with everybody playing mind games to get ahead in the court by eliminating others. Cromwell has a big target on his back as the second powerful man in England and his humanity makes him vulnerable.

Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light – Episode 4 Jenneke”

Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 3 Defiance

“The Rebels demand that “vile blood” be drained from the Council. It’s your blood, I imagine.” – Imperial Ambassador Eustache Chapuys

The talk of the court is suitors,  marriages, pregnancies, heirs, newborns and children in this episode as an uprising erupts in the East and spreads to the North.

Cromwell is not in a good place. He may come across as a 16th century terminator, but he is a human being. He is deeply hurt by Dorothea’s false claim that he betrayed the Cardinal and her words keep haunting him in his dreams. And he wakes up only to get bad news. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 3 Defiance”

Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 2 Obedience

“The King never does an unpleasant thing. Lord Cromwell does it for him.” — Queen Jane

Episode 2 Obedience opens with a refresher from the first series reminding us of Cardinal Wolsey’s fall. When Wolsey is forced to go to Yorkshire, Cromwell, Wolsey’s most trusted man, chooses to stay in London. Here is my detailed review of Wolf Hall  Episode 2: Entirely Beloved focusing on Cromwell working his ass of to get under Henry’s skin. There are rumors about him that he is now serving himself, not the Cardinal; but Cromwell’s ultimate goal is to become the King’s most trusted servant and persuade him to have Wolsey reinstated as the Lord Chancellor. Continue reading “Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Episode 2 Obedience”