After a considerable hiatus, Wolf Hall returns, picking up precisely where it left off: with the still-settling dust of Anne Boleyn’s execution. “Wreckage,” the second season premiere, finds Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance) at the zenith of his influence, but the foundation upon which his power rests is anything but stable. Having engineered the queen’s downfall, he now faces the consequences, a court full of simmering resentments and newly emboldened rivals eager to see him stumble.
This second season, based on Hilary Mantel’s concluding novel, Bring Up the Bodies, is expected to bring the same meticulous attention to historical detail and lavish production values that marked the first. Rylance, of course, remains the show’s gravitational center, and “Wreckage” wastes no time reminding viewers of his character’s cunning and capacity for ruthlessness. The episode establishes a palpable sense of unease, a quiet tension hanging over Cromwell’s apparent triumph. While he may have secured the king’s (Damian Lewis) favor (at least for now), the long game in the Tudor court is fraught with peril.
“Wreckage” also efficiently sets up the central conflicts that are likely to drive the season. Cromwell’s machinations have created powerful adversaries. The whispers against him grow louder, and the episode effectively conveys the precariousness of his position. While he may be the architect of the current political landscape, the ground beneath his feet is constantly shifting, threatening to swallow him whole.
Wolf Hall Season 2, Episode 1 “Wreckage” airs Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. on BBC One.
