Wolf Hall

2015 • PBS
4.7
245 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

Season 1 episodes (7)

1 Three Card Trick
4/5/15
Having failed to secure the annulment of the King’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon, Cardinal Wolsey is stripped of his powers. His hopes of returning to the King’s favor lie in the ever-loyal Thomas Cromwell.
2 Entirely Beloved
4/12/15
Cardinal Wolsey has been forced to move to York. Cromwell remains in London, seeking to return the cardinal to the king’s favor. As Cromwell’s relationship with Henry deepens, there is unexpected news from the north.
3 Anna Regina
4/19/15
With the cardinal dead, it falls to Cromwell to orchestrate a marriage between the king and Anne Boleyn. The king rewards Cromwell for his loyalty, but he is being closely watched by his enemies.
4 The Devil's Spit
4/26/15
Anne gives birth to a baby girl, failing to produce Henry’s longed-for male heir. Cromwell demands the nobility and church swear an oath acknowledging Anne as lawful queen, but will Thomas More agree?
5 Crows
5/3/15
With Anne pregnant again and away from court, Henry begins to take notice of Jane Seymour. Anne hears of this and threatens Cromwell to make terms with her before her son is born. But has she overplayed her cards?
6 Master of Phantoms
5/9/15
Henry’s love for Anne Boleyn has given way to anger and distrust and he instructs Cromwell to rid him of his second Queen. Sensing her loss of favor, the Queen’s enemies gather.
101 PBS Previews - Wolf Hall
3/23/15
PBS talks with the creators and cast of Wolf Hall. Includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Damian Lewis (King Henry VIII), Executive Producer Colin Callender, Director Peter Kosminsky and Masterpiece Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton.

About this show

Tony® Award-winning actor Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night) and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Damian Lewis (Homeland) star in the six-hour miniseries adapted from Hilary Mantel’s best-selling Booker Prize-winning novels: Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. From humble beginnings and with an enigmatic past, Thomas Cromwell (Rylance) is the brilliant consigliere to King Henry VIII (Lewis). Told from Cromwell’s perspective, Wolf Hall follows the complex machinations and back room dealings of this pragmatic and accomplished power broker who must serve king and country while dealing with deadly political intrigue, Henry VIII’s tempestuous relationship with Anne Boleyn (Claire Foy, Little Dorrit), and the religious upheavals of the Protestant reformation. A historical drama for a modern audience, this unromanticized re-telling lifts the veil on the internal struggles England faced on the brink of Reformation. At the center of it all is Cromwell, navigating the moral complexities that accompany the exercise of power, trapped between his desire to do what is right and his instinct to survive.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
245 reviews
Little Wanderers NYC
June 15, 2016
An entirely unromanticized account of Thomas Cromwell's influence during the reign of Henry VIII. It's gripping, and by being not only unromanticized but also without gratuitous sex and violence- a rare combination in so many period pieces. Its simply an account presented in all its reality of the given circumstances- and is completely fascinsting. Any fair-minded person is left with a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of life during these times.
Did you find this helpful?
Blue Clover
December 21, 2015
Best period production I've ever seen. The acting and directing is subtle and true, while capturing the high-stakes and treacherous life of people living during the reign of Henry VIII. From death by disease or political/religious non-conformity, lives are captured in urgency and authenticity. The yarn is multi-layered and dense; however I enjoyed watching entire episodes over and over. That being said, it's sometimes difficult to follow even after a number of viewings.
Did you find this helpful?
Patti Cowan
April 15, 2015
Wolf hall is brilliant! Great cast, talented acting, beautiful sets, locations & I love the medieval feel of this series. Mark Rylance steals every scene he's in! I love the fresh way these character's are portrayed! Really made me view the events of Henry VIII's great matter differently. Trust me! Don't miss this!
12 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?

Rate this show

Tell us what you think.