After a long wait – nine years, to be precise – the tense and acclaimed Tudor drama Wolf Hall returned to the BBC and BBC iPlayer for season 2 with an explosive opening in episode 1, “The Mirror and the Light”. The series immerses viewers in the treacherous world of the Tudor court, chronicling the extraordinary rise of Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance) from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of power. The new season was highly anticipated after the release of the first images from Wolf Hall Season 2 this spring.
Wolf Hall season 1 has an incredible 99% critical score on Rotten tomatoessimilar to the impressive 100% score of The Snake Queen. Viewers who love high-quality period pieces – and perhaps were disappointed by The Snake Queen being canceled despite 100% – may find some solace in this equally gripping historical drama returning to the small screen. Particularly impressive is its standing as an excellent, historically accurate TV show, that applies to Wolf Hallthe precise description of the tragic execution process of the intelligent and admirable Anne Boleyn (Claire Foy).
Wolf Hall’s second season featured Anne Boleyn’s execution in the opening
The Tragic Reminder of Wolf Hall Season 1 Scene in Motion
Because of the long wait between seasons 1 and 2, the producers decided to open the new season with a truncated version of events near the end of the last season – the execution of Anne Boleyn. Although the huge gap between Wolf HallThe seasons of needed a recap, the brutal opening left some viewers “traumatized“to see these events happen again, almost a decade after the impactful scene in season 1 (via The mirror). Anne Boleyn was executed on May 19, 1536.
Fine clothes are removed from Anne on the scaffold while Henry is given more layers of elegance.
The scene, a condensed version of the same sequence from Season 1, juxtaposes Anne’s preparation for execution with Henry’s (Damian Lewis) preparations for his wedding to Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips). This has a fantastic dramatic effect as the fine clothes are removed from Anne on the scaffold while Henry is given more layers of elegance. However, in real life, Henry married Jane two weeks after Anne’s execution – the twist, albeit short, is emphasized by the show’s artistic choice.
Anne’s death is especially significant for Wolf Hall which, based on the book of the same name by Hilary Mantel, centers on Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell played an important role in orchestrating the accusations against Anne Boleyn. This plays out dramatically in the story because Cromwell is the figure who helped pave Anne’s path to the throne in the first place, only to send her to her damnation. capitalizing on her miscarriage (via Tudor Times). In addition to his loyalty to Henry VIII, there also seemed to be conflict between Cromwell and Boleyn.
Wolf Hall depicts Anne Boleyn’s method of execution
Anne Boleyn was given a sword instead of an ax
The final document on Anne Boleyn’s execution reveals that she was originally sentenced to be burned at the stake or beheadedand the choice was the prerogative of King Henry VIII. Paints the decapitation method as a mercy: “Moved by pity, we do not want the same Ana to be hospitalized to be burned in the fire. We, however, order that […] upon the Green within our aforementioned Tower of London, the head of the same Anne will be cut off” (through National Archives).
Henry, facing the end of his second marriage, identified with King Arthur, casting Anne Boleyn as the adulterous Guinevere, destined for a similar fate.
Another detail depicted in Wolf Hall is Henry’s demand for additional insight”compassion,“may Anne receive a sword instead of the usual axe. Henry, facing the end of his second marriage, identified with King Arthur, casting Anne Boleyn as the adulterous Guinevere, destined for a similar fate. “The choice of a sword – the symbol of Camelot, a rightful king and manhood – was Henry’s alone,” (through Tudor by Leande de Lisle). Anne Boleyn was the only Tudor figure to be executed with a sword rather than an axe.
Wolf Hall it also correctly describes the specific employment of a French swordsman. In the scene, he is shown spinning to distract Anne and looking to the left before making the move for quick decapitation. The expert, the famous swordsman of Calais, was imported from France specifically for the execution because of the apparent civility of French beheadings compared to English ones. Another detail Wolf Hall seems to have paid attention is that he wore shoes with soft soles so as not to alarm the victim (via The Anne Boleyn Archives).
Her French executioner may have been an oddly small source of comfort for Ana, who spent nearly a decade of her early years in France. His education in Queen Claude’s household taught him much about the customs of “courtly love,“which involved a lot of harmless flirting. Unfortunately, this playful disposition only served to fuel rumors of infidelity, which helped Cromwell build a case against her, as recounted in Wolf Hall.
There appears to be a small audience for Anne’s execution at Wolf Hall
This is one Wolf Hall detail that is debated among history buffs
The attendance at Anne Boleyn’s execution has been a controversial issue in history. Reportedly, there was a rather large crowd present at the execution – around 1,000 spectators. However, Wolf Hall, along with several other dramatizations, it shows a smaller crowd. This is in line with some claims that there were not many spectators. However, although dying in the Tower was considered a “private“death, was open to the public. It was relatively attended by fewer people because the exact time was not announced and it suffered several delays.
Most scenes from the execution scene in Wolf Hall They are close-ups, making it unclear how many people are present. Anne is seen distributing gold from her purse to some people at the front before heading to the scaffold, but as she places it in outstretched hands with the people holding them hidden, it is unclear whether they are meant to be members of the public. They may be members of the court in charge of distributing gold to the poor.
William Kingston, The Tower of London police officer expressed anxiety about Anne’s potential public declaration of innocence to a sympathetic public. Despite efforts to limit the crowd, determined spectators still gathered. “Kingston was ordered by Cromwell to cleanse the Tower of “strangers”, that is, foreigners. Apparently this was to thwart any attempts by foreigners to write sympathetic descriptions of the execution that reflected poorly on the king.“(through The freelance history writer) This shows that, in addition to concerns about public opinion, there was concern about the arrival of gossip in foreign courts.
The uncertainty surrounding gifts gives producers a lot of creative license.
The uncertainty surrounding gifts gives producers a lot of creative license. For example, in The other Boleyn girl, Anne’s sister, Mary Boleyn, is present because the entire film focuses on their relationship, but there is no evidence of this in history. Maria does not appear to be present at the Wolf Hall scene. In fact, apart from her uncle and aunt, none of Anne Boleyn’s family attended.
Wolf Hall depicts Anne’s last words
Anne publicly accepted the law, calling Henry merciful
In the opening of season 2, episode 1 of Wolf Hall, the showrunners chose to use a summarized version of last season’s events. They only show Anne’s mumbled prayers in this episodeandbut they already showed their last words in the first season. According to accounts of the execution, Anne Boleyn publicly accepted the court’s decision in her final words to the witnesses.
The reasons behind this are interesting, as Anne bravely insisted on her innocence – she swore this to the host until the end. This great tragedy is part of what makes Wolf Hall one of the best period dramas to watch. The detail of Anne looking up at the Tower until the end is also true, according to reports – she had hope that Henry might have mercy on her and send her to a convent instead of sentencing her to death. This context imbues his last words with tragedy:
“I came here to die, for according to the law and by the law I am condemned to die, and therefore I will say nothing against it. […] I pray that God saves the king […] for there never was a gentler nor more merciful prince.” (through PRH).
Wolf Hall shows the careful formulation of what the law governs, emphasizing the innocence she knew in her heart but was powerless to defend. A poem she wrote in the Tower of London while awaiting her execution refers to her “tired and guiltless ghost.” One of the reasons she accepted her fate publicly was probably to protect her daughter, Elizabeth, who would be declared illegitimate upon her death. In 1543, Henry reinstated Elizabeth, then 10 years old, into the line of succession through the Third Succession Act .
Source: The mirror, Tudor Times, National Archives, Tudor by Leande de Lisle, The Anne Boleyn Archives, The freelance history writer, PRH
Wolf Hall is a historical drama series starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. Set in the early 16th century, it chronicles Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of King Henry VIII, played by Damian Lewis. The series is an adaptation of the novels “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up the Bodies” by Hilary Mantel, depicting the political maneuverings and personal drama of the Tudor era.
- Cast
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Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis, Claire Foy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Joss Porter
- Release date
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January 21, 2015
- Creator(s)
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Peter Straughan, Peter Kosminsky, Hilary Mantel