❮ Wolf Hall
Season 1
Season Premiere:
Jan 21, 2015
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
86
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
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Season Episodes
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 3, 2015
100
It doesn’t matter if you know precisely where this story leads (whose head goes to which chopping block), Wolf Hall is about as compellingly and meticulously crafted as television gets.
User score
Generally Favorable
82% Positive
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
2% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
16% Negative
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
Jan 8, 2016
10
This is hands down my favorite show of 2016, so far--which admittedly is only 8 days old, but still! I think once thing to note is that this is *not* a typical period piece production, for the better. The sets are resplendent and the acting is superb, the accents (I'm assuming) are close, but there is so much more to this show than that. In the way that you watch a Kubrick or Malick movie and there is some ineffable quality to it, this movie captures that. Imagine a far more interesting and intriguing "Barry Lyndon," Kubrick's rumination on light and shadow, with a dash of dialogue. This on the other hand, captures all the superb design and production of that, but with dialogue and pacing that keeps the story moving, even though you already know the ending (everyone dies in Tudor England.) Lastly, the music is a total joy to listen to and sets the scene perfectly, in a way that no period drama has done for me, ever. Highly recommend.
Apr 26, 2015
10
Wonderfully cast with an exceptionally good Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. This shakes of the old schoolbook notions of who these people were and gives us a re-interpretation that is thrilling to behold. The writing is thought provoking and makes history come to life in every single character who appears on screen without patronising an audience who may, or may not, know their Tudor history. This is so much better than the play seen in London's West End. Stunningly good.
Apr 6, 2015
90
It will be interesting to see how Rylance’s superb performance evolves as Cromwell gets within spitting distance of the throne. For the moment, he’s a perfect model of stoicism, and the few flickers of feeling that cross his face (a smattering of tears after the death of his wife and children) hint that when Cromwell’s downfall comes--as history says it must--it won’t be pretty. The supporting actors are equally excellent.
Apr 2, 2015
90
The fantastic Wolf Hall is ultra-English is so many ways.... This may be a restrained, morally complex drama, but it is far from inert and stodgy in its execution.
Apr 6, 2015
80
It’s a lush production--The costumes! The locations!--that’s still appropriately gritty for its 1529 setting and sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction. But it may be a bit slow-paced for fans of Showtime’s “The Tudors,” which told the same story with more soapy shenanigans and gusto. Mr. Rylance gives a quietly commanding performance as the intelligent, politically astute Cromwell.
Apr 1, 2015
75
Although Wolf Hall does require an unusual amount of work on the viewer’s part, as well as the patience of, well, a saint, the performances and how they eventually elucidate the theme of what power can do to a man and a nation when it becomes too personal, make it mostly but belatedly worthwhile.
Apr 7, 2015
10
The first hour was damn near perfect. Beautiful soundtrack, gorgeously shot, top-notch acting. It is slower paced, but never boring. I can't wait to soak in the final five hours as many say the acting talent pays off in stellar moments later.
Sep 27, 2015
9
Stunning. You've seen this (hi)story before but never like this. I have not read the novels on which it is based but this is uncompromisingly told. You know --sort of-- what's gong to happen but you can't stop watching, and being amazed. The actors are superb, much of the photography is dark and borderline scary but not for cheap effect. We are transported into the period, a long time ago but it all comes to life. They say that TV dramas are getting better. I don't think anything can get much better than this.
Apr 7, 2015
3
As boring as the book on which it's based, and with same purposeless, annoying time jumps. The book never improved enough to motivate me to finish it; hopefully this production will gather some steam. Somehow Cromwell, who is supposed to be quite the clever fellow, comes across as a dullard. Combined with a lack of affect presumably intended to convey stoicism and depth, every other character is more interesting,
Oct 4, 2017
0
Cette série est un épouvantable somnifère où tout se traîne comme une limace sous neuros : malgré pourtant une distribution remarquable, les comédiens donnent l'impression à chaque réplique qu'ils vont tourner de l'oeil d'une seconde à l'autre. Même l'estimable Damian Lewis n'y peut rien et de toute façon, la série est centrée sur le personnage de Cromwell qui va nous faire mourir d'inanité. La réalisation à deux de tension (voire beaucoup moins, tension négative même) participe à ce désastre, d'autant que la série ne compte que 6 épisodes seulement : on salue le nouveau tour de force ! quel génie de l'ennui ! je crois que même les tortues sont parties faire un flipper, car c'est rigoureusement insoutenable. Pourtant, les frasques historiques d'Henri VIII fournissent la matière romanesque et vile à la fois, comploteuse et politique... La série des Tudor en a tiré 4 saisons d'une grande qualité à des années-lumière de cette purge lénifiante.
Dec 4, 2015
0
I couldnt get through the first episode, I found it that boring and way too serious. I loved "The Tudors", a series that was so gorgeous with a very intruiging Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the definition of handsomeness himself, Henri Cavill.
