Starts this Wednesday. I have to say im really looking forward to this. Im expecting a whole lot of briliance from Mark Rylance. Anyone else going to be following this series?
Here is a link to the BBC page for the show. A few brief preview clips available.
All I need now is for the Beeb to get it’'s finger out and complete it’s adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. That will be me sorted for an overdose of period drama and fantasy in 2015.
Can’t wait - if the adaptation does the material justice it’s going to be the treat of the year. Early reviews, based on first two hours, says the team nail it.
So engrossing, the hour just disappeared. Rylance is pretty mesmerising. I felt almost exhilarated at the end. The space, the quietness, the pacing, acting, script … the direction!
I enjoyed it too. Apart from the family scenes(I don’t wish to give too much away) Rylance was not called on to give a particularly meaningful performance, but has been excellent so far. It was fun to see Damien Lewis as Henry VIII. I think such a small role for an actor in his moneymaking prime shows the pulling power of the series. I doubt the producers were able to pay him the sort of salary he can now command.
Reporting back after E3 of 6 to say, actually to quote, ‘this is Event Television’. It is wonderful.
My only caveat would be it’ll probably be easier to hang on to the threads if you are familair with the period of history and/or Hilary Mantel’s works. tbh, the only way to begin to do justice to the work is to watch twice and sprinkle liberally with Wikipedia.
Yet it doesn’t feel heavy or intense.
Case in point is the beautifully calibrated introduction to Jane Seymour and her family, over three hours and so gradual you hardly know. If you then say ‘Jane who?’ it’s understandable but you’re missing much art in that storyline and probably others.
If there is a work to match this in 2015 it’ll be a vintage year.
Nothing will touch this. Absolutely stunning. I finished the second audiobook yesterday and the series today, and found that the detail was (necessarily) missing from the tv script, but the pay off was in the emotional resonance. Mark Rylance’s performance was a powerhouse of understatement and subtlety - amazing. Just in the last couple of episodes - the 4-way interrogation, the grasp of his son’s arm, the crossed wrists ‘I am in complete agreement’ - truly wonderful.
I wish it had been longer but the bbc has caught flak for the expense as it is, so any longer would have been worse in that respect.
My only criticism was that the final episode felt a bit rushed. Everything else was magnificent. Rylance was impressive as ever. That final hug from Henry was a thing of sinister beauty.
I have no criticism, only admiration. It was remarkable in so many respects and could take a record number of BAFTAs
It felt very old fashioned and I really don’t think it will work for a big chunk of the modern audience.
No studios, no musical embelishments, no trickery. It was completely driven by the quality of acting, script and direction - you’ve got to have some giant balls to play for 6 hours without a safety net:
Just watched the finale via Tunnelbear. That was intense! So many great performances. I haven’t seen any of Mark Rylance’s stage work, so I was extra-impressed. I’ve only seen Claire Foy in Wreckers, I think, and she was amazing, especially in that last episode. Never watched Homeland, so the last immersion I had with Damien Lewis was Band of Brothers (a million years ago). He really brought it. I agree, that closing clench with Cromwell is so ominous. Others I really liked were Norwich and More. Really, there were no bad performances.
Back when the BBC was filming Parade’s End, I got the thousand-page book from the library, just to glance at before I watched the series. I surprised myself by easily reading and enjoying the whole thing. So though I didn’t feel lost during this show, I’m thinking I will be seeking out and reading the Hilary Mantel books now.
Do seek out a copy of his Twelfth Night at the Globe (or any of the Globe productions – they’re all worth watching). Sadly, his performance there of Richard II doesn’t seem to have been released on DVD – it was broadcast live some years ago on BBC4, and it was totally enthralling.
I wonder if Rylance shared his technique for walking in a 16th century dress with any of the actresses on Wolf Hall?
Was pretty good, though I kinda doubt I would’ve been able to follow it without having read the books first. A few more lines of exposition wouldn’t have hurt.
I’ve tried reading “Wolf Hall” twice now, and I just can get into it. Hopefully the PBS showing of the BBC adaptation will be the kick in the pants I need to try again.
