While Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (2024) has already dropped in the U.K., we here in the U.S. have to wait until March 2025 before we can watch it on BBC Masterpiece. That said, we can take a brief look at all that we know so far about the second installment of the critically acclaimed historical drama starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII.
What just happened?
It’s been almost 10 years since the first series debuted, so I don’t blame you if you can’t remember how everything left off. At the conclusion of the first series, Anne Boleyn had been put to death and Henry VIII had already moved on to his next bride, Jane Seymour. Cromwell, meanwhile, has to wrestle with his conscience over giving the king what he wanted: a divorce from Catherine of Aragon and then having to deal with the wreckage of his failed marriage to Anne Boleyn, all while navigating the massive cultural shift of the Reformation.
Who’s returning? Who’s recast?
Obviously, the two central characters, Thomas Cromwell (Rylance) and Henry VIII (Lewis), will be at the forefront of the drama. We also know that Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn has a brief reappearance in the first episode, but beyond that who else from the first series is going to be on screen?
There were a few recastings, as well. Lydia Leonard replaces Jessica Raine as the machinating Lady Rochford (please please let us see her comeuppance in this season!)
Is there a stupid controversy about something completely inane?
Yes, dear readers, there is. Apparently, the decision by director Peter Kosminsky to recast some roles with “colorblind casting” has gotten the knickers all twisted of the historical purists and people who think that any deviation from a white cast is capitulating to the “woke mob” or some dumb shit.
What about the costumes?
Joanna Eatwell returns as the series costumer for Season 2. Based on what we liked about the first series, it seems reasonable to expect more of the same. That said, there have been some stills that I’ve come across that I have some questions about. Though, if you remember, I also had questions about some of the costumes in the first series as well, despite praising the overall costuming.
Are you excited for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light? Tell us about it in the comments!
Oh may I join the Mark Rylance club? Amazing actor. Every movement, every glance, every turn of his head. (Rewatching ‘Wolf Hall’ on local PBS).
He is also one of the Patrons of The School of Historical Dress. Check out the photo!
https://theschoolofhistoricaldress.org.uk/?page_id=48
Loving it so far, but I’ve been reading records from the Revels Office to learn palaeography, and the masque outfits just don’t have enough bling and glitz about them. The acting and writing are superb, however.
Well that’s what happens when you have a TV drama budget rather than the actual Treasury to work with.
I’m taping the episodes that The BBC airs. And till now I’ve re-watched every episode, straight away, after I’ve finished watching it. And even teared-up the second time around when something touched me during the first viewing…it’s so👌🏻GOOD!!
The stories are really gripping. And I can’t wait for next weeks episode. (Because as I don’t live in GB, so I can’t binge-watch through “BBC iplayer”). But it is so worth the wait.
I’m in the UK, and I’m enjoying it so much. I’m watching it twice, because there is a lot to take in. You should keep Cromwell’s end in your mind as you watch it, because everything seems to be leading that way.
The iPlayer isn’t releasing the whole series, it’s putting each episode on the red button as it is aired. Which is mean but great as well.
The lighting is better this series. Lewis and Rylance are perfect.
We’re getting trailers for the series that is to come, the second series of the SAS in World War 2 series by Stephen Knight, so there might be more costumes of interest!
Should Jane Seymour’s hair be down in that one photo? I don’t know the context. :)
It’s her Royal Wedding.
Of course that’s it! No wonder poor Jane looks so resigned.
Queens got to wear their hair down for special occasions, like coronations. Anne Boleyn and her daughter were both crowned with their hair flowing. Am not sure what this signifies precisely, a sort of virginity: being anointed and sanctified or whatever? Oops–just checked–no coronation for Jane; there was plague going around.
I have a VPN, so I’ve watched the first 3 episodes of the series. I love it and I have no complaints about Cecilia Appiah and Maisie Richardson-Sellars being cast as Nan Seymour or Bess Oughtred.
Great to know, as I’ve been considering getting a VPN and trying to watch it ASAP!
Sorry, Sarah, but Jane Boleyn (Lady Rochford) will not get any comeuppance in this series, as she survived past Cromwell’s death in 1540. She will be executed on the same day as her mistress, Catherine Howard (February 13, 1542), having encouraged and abetted Catherine’s adultery. Rochford, at twice the queen’s age, should have known better, but her own mental/emotional decline could have been a factor. I really enjoyed Jessica Raine’s vinegary performance, and will miss her.
As for the Mark Rylance Fan Club, I think I was the founding US member back in 1995, although I’d seen him earlier than that in Prospero’s Books, in a small role. It was his performance in the adaptation of A.S. Byatt’s Angels and Insects that turned my head. Speaking of amazing costumes! If you haven’t seen it, you must.
I remember liking both the novel and the movie. Hadn’t seen Rylance or Kristen Scott Thomas before; they were very well cast, as were Patsy Kensit’s frocks!
Oh my, the Anna actress really does look like our lady of Kleve!
While not a member of the Mark Rylance fan club – I am a devout Stratfordian, say no more – one can only say that this season/sequel is up to the standards of it’s predecessor.
Actually, in one important respect it improves upon the first series for Mr Damian Lewis really takes this show by the scruff of it’s neck, in the proper Henrican manner (Having felt his performance in the previous series to be underpowered, I can now call him a highlight of this season); oddly, I felt that Mr Rylance had actually lost a step or two as Thomas Cromwell, though he seems to be picking up a bit as the series marches to it’s close.
In terms of the recasting, I’d say that that only the new Chapuys fails to equal his predecessor (and I’d argue he’s a significantly weaker presence than Me Matthieu Amalric, to the detriment of the show); Mr Bernard Hill is much missed, but for my money Mr Timothy Spall is even better suited to the role (Being more visibly vinegary); the new Greg Cromwell fits in more comfortably with the ensemble; the new Lady Rochford is as charming as the old; and the new Stephen Gardiner lacks a little of Mr Gatiss’ reptilian energy but makes a much more plausible courtier (and is still a little punk in Holy Orders).
Also, special credit to the wonderfully-named Miss Lilit Lesser for making a real impression as a clearly messed-up but strong-willed Lady Mary.
Honestly, there are real riches in this series and we keep getting new goodies even as the show goes on: THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY THE EIGHTH remains the Good Standard, but this production continues to mount a sustained challenge.
I can’t say WHS2 excited me as much in the 99% accurate costuming department so far considering Firebrand released this year has spoiled us to expect extreme levels of accuracy (just for context, they didn’t use boning even on extras costumes instead layering with bodied petticoats and stiffened kirtles) but for a series with significantly more costumes to make it is still stellar. Still not pleased by the French hoods- they all appear to have wildly different constructions and in contrast to headbands of season 1, too many big visors this time. The gable hoods on the other hand have been fully embraced, they even switched out lappets of the hood to match Jane’s gown fabrics. Cute nod to the asymmetric pinned up veils in the back even if the veil is not split. Can’t wait to see the german apparel, looks cute so far from promotional images
Kate Phillips’ Jane Seymour wore an especially beautiful Purple Gown in the Third episode.