Step inside the Tudor Dynasty with us as we handpick our favorite superlatives for each episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – from ‘who wore it best’ fashionable costume and top villain, to outstanding scene and perfect cinematography – and everything else in between! Up this week:
Episode 5: Mirror USA Air Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025 Plot Summary: Cromwell’s marital diplomacy brings Princess Anne of Cleves to Henry’s Court. Will the alliance create a Protestant superpower in northern Europe, or has Cromwell’s luck run out?
“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 to Rafe Sadler
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”
Welcome back to Court and to episode four of “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light”
This week I thought we would look at the birth of Henry’s son Edward, his christening, and the death of Queen Jane, along with other fun facts about this week’s episode “Jenneke”.
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The episode opens to Henry admiring an enormous portrait of himself (and Jane) that is on display at the Palace of Whitehall. Henry wants Holbein to make copies to send abroad, and copies of this portrait were made which is why this portrait is one of the most known of Henry. This portrait shows Henry at fine health, and we know that is not the case. This portrait projects what Henry wants the Court and the world to see, not necessarily the reality. Fun fact about this portrait: when Henry’s daughter Elizabeth becomes Queen in 1558, she prominently displays this portrait in her Presence Chamber. This would be the first thing a courtier would see when entering, reminding everyone who her father was and her lineage. She wanted to make sure each person in her presence knew she was a Tudor and the legitimate Queen. Unfortunately, the portrait was destroyed in a fire in 1698. Continue reading “Lady Tudors’ Fun Facts About Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Ep 4 Jenneke”
Step inside the Tudor Dynasty with us as we handpick our favorite superlatives for each episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – from ‘who wore it best’ fashionable costume and top villain, to outstanding scene and perfect cinematography – and everything else in between! Up this week:
Episode 4: Jenneke USA Air Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025 Plot Summary: The birth of a Prince gives England the heir that Henry longs for, but at a terrible price. As the court grieves for Jane, it falls to Cromwell to find a fourth bride for the King.
“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.” – 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.
