PBS will bring three period dramas in March, with Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light being one of them. This is a sequel to a series that aired 10 years ago!
The clue that this is a sequel is in the title of the show. After all, you know there’s a series called Wolf Hall, right? This sequel helps to continue the story of Thomas Cromwell, which didn’t see the best of endings during Henry VIII’s reign—who did get a good ending while he was alive?
Watch Wolf Hall first on PBS
If you haven’t already watched the first series, you’ll need to. Wolf Hall is available on PBS Masterpiece, and it’s where the story begins. As this is focused on Thomas Cromwell and not Henry VIII or his six wives, the series does pick up during Anne Boleyn’s reign as Queen Consort of England. She was Henry VIII’s second wife, lasting just three and a half years before accusations were made against her and Henry had her executed.
Wolf Hall takes a look at Cromwell’s involvement in the takedown of Anne Boleyn, who is expertly played by Claire Foy in the series. It ends with Anne Boleyn’s execution—look, real history is not a spoiler!—and that’s where this sequel series picks up.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light picks up with Jane Seymour
Kate Phillips takes on the role of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII, in this sequel series. It’s been 10 years since the first series, but there is still a lot of interest in Thomas Cromwell’s involvement in Jane’s rise in power and then the subsequent decisions after Jane’s untimely death.
Of course, Thomas Cromwell didn’t get a great ending. Again, sharing real history is not a spoiler, so it won’t be surprising to learn that Cromwell is eventually executed by King Henry VIII. Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light will tell the story of Cromwell’s eventual downfall. Just how did he lose favor of the king, and did the king ever regret any of his decisions in life?
The series is based on three books by Hilary Mantel, and she was a consultant on the two shows up to the time of her death in September 2022. The Mirror and the Light is the third book in the trilogy, and one that many fans wanted to see adapted. It’s almost time for it.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light premieres on Sunday, March 23 at 9/8c on PBS.
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